About the project
In this project, trauma-informed care (TIC) is explored as a therapeutic model in residential housing for people with intellectual disabilities. The purpose is to implement TIC as an understanding model in therapeutic work. TIC is based on knowledge of developmental psychology, attachment theory and the importance of regulatory experiences in human development. In collaboration with the municipality, staff in the residential housing this study, will implement trauma informed care as a foundation of the therapeutic approaches as TIC approach focuses new understanding of the interaction between service providers and people with intellectual disability. The project is based on a pilot study (2019), indicating that TIC as a model for the therapeutic work changed the interaction between staff and persons with intellectual disability especially in situations where challenging behaviors occurred. An objective measure of increased quality of service was a significant reduction in non-conformities messages. Staff also felt that the changed interaction facilitated increased citizenship, coping with life and improved mental health for the residents with intellectual disability.
The methodological approach of this project is inspired by action research and practice research, where co-production of knowledge is central. In collaboration with the municipality, efforts are being made to implement knowledge about TIC in the therapeutic work in services for people with learning disabilities. Through day-courses for staff emphasizing TIC teaching, dialogue and reflection, new understanding will be developed. The day-courses and reflections will be based on staff own experiences of challenging interaction with residents with intellectual disabilities. Through new knowledge, dialogue and reflections new understandings based in TIC will be developed to inform the therapeutic work in the health- and social care services. The goal is that knowledge developed in this participatory context can be especially useful for the field of practice.
Background
Master in Health Siences, Universtiy of Stavanger
Research group
Citizenship