There is a dearth of research into the implementation of person-centred planning (PCP). Drawing from a broader research base, literature from the learning disability arena looking at helping behaviour is mainly quantitative in nature, focuses on the cognitive and emotional aspects, and has contradictory findings. In response to the inconsistencies and paucities, this study has investigated how support staff experience PCP with adults with autism. A mixed methodology using a sequential explanatory design was used. A quantitative phase (test-retest design) informed the main qualitative phase using semi-structured interview data. The quantitative phase \ employed the Maslach Burnout Inventory and Emotional Reactions to Challenging Behaviour questionnaire, given to forty-two participants after PCP training. Twenty- six participants completed the measures again six months later. No significant differences were found on the test-retest analyses. The qualitative phase employed semi-structured interviews with three support workers. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used to analyse the interview data. Two super- ordinate themes arose from the data: 'Why am I here and what am I doing?' and 'Negotiating the differences in applying person-centred planning'. In the first super- ordinate theme, participants highlighted dilemmas they experienced when applying PCP to their clients. Struggles with adhering to the PCP model while still considering their client's best interests became apparent. They appeared to draw on motivations to keep going in their struggles at work. The second super-ordinate theme, participants' struggles to understand and negotiate the differences between themselves and their clients, arose, along with managing their emotions at work. An emergent theme was the apparent altruistic nature of the participants. The participants' experiences suggest that the PCP model may need to be adapted for successful implementation with those with autism. The findings are applied to a transactional model of stress. Implications for counselling psychology are discussed.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:571271 |
| Date | January 2012 |
| Creators | Broadley, Helen V. |
| Publisher | London Metropolitan University |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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