STRESS AND STAFF IN RESIDENTAL SETTINGS: THE MOVE FROM HOSPITAL TO THE COMMUNITY

Abstract

This paper describes a survey of direct care staff in three types of residential accommodation for people with learning disabilities. These were a hospital, community units and group homes. The questionnaire was based on a model of occupational stress developed by Payne (1979). Data was collected upon each individual's background characteristics, the types of demands, supports and constraints they perceived themselves to be under, and the amount of strain (stress) felt by each person. Replies were received from 34 hospital staff (72% response rate), 47 community unit staff (64%) and 31 group home staff (79%). The results indicate that the hospital and group home staff reported similar, relatively high levels of strain. However, the community unit group reported significantly lower levels. The complex relationship between perceived demands, supports and constraints with strain is discussed. Care needs to be taken in interpreting the data when relating it to the quality of service the resident receives, as no link has yet been shown between this and staff wellbeing. The problems of generalisation are also considered. However, some recommendations are made for further investigations and possible action.