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Evaluating neuropsychologically informed rehabilitation training for staff within a high secure intellectual disability service

Phyllis Annesley (Department of Clinical and Forensic Psychology, Rampton Hospital, Retford, UK)
Zoe Hamilton (Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Nottingham – Jubilee Campus, Nottingham, UK)
Roisin Galway (Department of Psychology, Bangor University, Bangor, UK)
Samantha Akiens (Department of Psychology, Arnold Lodge, Leicester, UK)
Rachel Hicks (Department of Clinical and Forensic Psychology, Rampton Hospital, Retford, UK)
Martin Clarke (Department of Research and Evidence, Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Nottingham, UK)

Journal of Intellectual Disabilities and Offending Behaviour

ISSN: 2050-8824

Publication date: 21 February 2020

Abstract

Purpose

Neuropsychologically informed rehabilitation (NIR) is one approach to supporting people with intellectual disabilities, cognitive impairment and challenging behaviour. This study aims to evaluate a five-day training course in NIR for staff working with adult male offenders with intellectual disabilities in a high secure hospital. The impacts on both the staff who undertook the training and the patients with challenging behaviour were explored.

Design/methodology/approach

Participants were psychology, nursing and day services staff and male patients. The staff completed a post-training questionnaire and three measures at pre-NIR training, post-NIR training and one-year follow-up. Patients completed four questionnaire measures within the same periods.

Findings

NIR training was positively evaluated by staff. Staff members’ perceived efficacy in working with challenging behaviour significantly increased post-training which was maintained at follow-up. Thematic analysis showed that the training staff members built their confidence, knowledge and skills. Because of these being high to start with, the study could not evidence statistically significant changes in these. Thematic analysis yielded two main themes, namely, benefits and quality of training, each with their own subthemes. The impacts of the training on patients were difficult to assess related to various factors.

Research limitations/implications

The knowledge and confidence measures used were limited in scope with an experienced staff group and required development.

Practical implications

NIR training could assist staff in other secure and community settings in working with people with intellectual disabilities and challenging behaviours.

Originality/value

This study positively contributes to an area that requires more research.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to sincerely thank everyone who generously participated in the study. They are also very appreciative of those who enabled the training and the study to take place.

Citation

Annesley, P., Hamilton, Z., Galway, R., Akiens, S., Hicks, R. and Clarke, M. (2020), "Evaluating neuropsychologically informed rehabilitation training for staff within a high secure intellectual disability service", Journal of Intellectual Disabilities and Offending Behaviour, Vol. 11 No. 2, pp. 61-73. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIDOB-08-2019-0016

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited

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