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COVID-19-related stressors and coping strategies of support staff working with people with learning disabilities

Nuttall, Alan; Douglass, Emma; Deering, Kris

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Authors

Alan Nuttall

Kris Deering Kris3.Deering@uwe.ac.uk
Associate Lecturer - CHSS - SHSW - UHSW0001



Abstract

Abstract
Background
During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, support staff working with people with learning disabilities experienced a range of stressors directly related to the effects of the pandemic on themselves and on service users. Supporting staff well-being is crucial given their essential role in the lives of people with learning disabilities.
Aim
To investigate the experiences, during the COVID-19 pandemic, of support staff working in residential and supported-living services for people with learning disabilities and understand the stressors staff encountered, the ways in which they managed stress and the support mechanisms they found useful.
Method
A qualitative descriptive approach was used and individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 support staff working in residential or supported-living services for people with learning disabilities in the south of England.
Findings
The COVID-19 pandemic caused additional stress for staff, including information overload, challenges in providing person-centred, holistic support, and feelings of unfairness or being let down. However, staff derived benefits from timely, practical and non-judgemental support from managers and peers, and from celebrating their own and service users’ achievements.
Conclusion
A greater focus on non-judgemental listening by managers, celebration of staff’s and service users’ achievements and awareness of the potential overwhelming effects of email communication could reduce the stress levels support staff are exposed to.

Citation

Nuttall, A., Douglass, E., & Deering, K. (in press). COVID-19-related stressors and coping strategies of support staff working with people with learning disabilities. Learning Disability Practice, https://doi.org/10.7748/ldp.2021.e2170

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Sep 23, 2021
Online Publication Date Dec 16, 2021
Deposit Date Jun 3, 2022
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Learning Disability Practice
Print ISSN 1465-8712
Electronic ISSN 2047-8968
Publisher RCN Publishing
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
DOI https://doi.org/10.7748/ldp.2021.e2170
Keywords coronavirus, COVID-19, learning disability, peer support, professional, staff welfare, stress, support staff, well-being, workforce
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/9598152
Publisher URL https://journals.rcni.com/learning-disability-practice/

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Copyright Statement
This is the author’s accepted manuscript and not the version of record. The final published version is available here: https://journals.rcni.com/learning-disability-practice/evidence-and-practice/covid19related-stressors-and-coping-strategies-of-support-staff-working-with-people-with-learning-disabilities-ldp.2021.e2170/full




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