‘That was all over the shop’: Exploring the COVID-19 response in disability residential settings

People with disability are an ‘at-risk’ group in a pandemic context for various clinical and structural reasons. However, in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, people with disability were not identified as a priority group, which exacerbated this risk, particularly for those living in congregate settings. This paper examines inter-organisational issues during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in disability residential settings gathered from senior managers, team leaders, and disability support workers. We use Victoria as a case study since several Victorian disability residential settings were in mid-transition from state provision to non-profit organisations. We argue that residential settings in mid-transition had clearer lines of organisational accountability and communication, which was thought to reduce the impact of outbreaks compared to residential settings in other States and Territories with multiple lines of communication and blurred accountability. The paper contributes to the literature on inter-organisational collaboration by reinforcing the necessity of clear lines of accountability and leadership in collaborative governance during emergencies. The evidence suggests how government and disability residential settings could better support residents and staff in future COVID-19 outbreaks or other pandemics.

Points for practitioners

• People with disability, particularly those living in congregate settings, are often at heightened risk during public health emergencies.
• Clearer lines of responsibility, administrative, and communication arrangements across organisations and governments, alongside tailored responses within residential settings, are required to keep ‘at-risk’ individuals safe.
• Emergency management block funding could be designed to alleviate the financial pressures identified in this study for residential disability services in future pandemic responses.