Saturday, March 4, 2017

Inconsistent staffing and its impact on service delivery in ASD early-intervention.

I saw this important study abstract highlighted on Facebook by Paul Whiteley who brings many important studies such as this one to public attention via social media. This abstract can be found at PubMed.gov with references to the study at

Research in Developmental Disabilities.

Inconsistent staffing and its impact on service delivery in ASD early-intervention

2017 Feb 27;63:18-27. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2017.02.007. [Epub ahead of print]

Sulek R1, Trembath D2, Paynter J2, Keen D3, Simpson K3.

Author information

1Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Australia. Electronic address: R.Sulek@Griffith.edu.au.
2Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Australia.
3Autism Centre of Excellence, School of Education and Professional Studies, Griffith University, Australia.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Inconsistent staffing (high turnover, casual workforce) is problematic in organisations, with the potential to impact both staff and services provided. Research has primarily focused on the impacts of inconsistent staffing in child welfare and community services with little evidence surrounding their ability to impact the outcomes for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders attending early-intervention services.

AIM:

The aim of this study was to explore staff views regarding the impact of staff turnover on the delivery of group based early intervention for children with ASD.

METHODS AND PROCEDURES:

We conducted five focus groups involving 29 professional (e.g. teachers, behaviour therapists), para-professional (e.g. child care workers), and managerial staff to explore their views. Audio recordings were transcribed verbatim for use in thematic analysis.

OUTCOMES AND RESULTS:

Two central themes, comprising five categories emerged to encompass participants' views. "Impacts on Staff" accounted for the challenges existing staff felt when working with new and untrained staff in the centre. Participants also expressed concerns for the "Impacts on Service Delivery" that resulted from dynamic staffing, affecting fidelity of interventions and the program itself.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS:

The findings suggest that lacking a consistent staffing structure is problematic when attempting to provide high quality early intervention services to children with ASD and suggest that future research should investigate the extent of inconsistent staffing, impacts of inconsistent staffing on providing intervention, and develop a range of tools to help measure these effects.

KEYWORDS:

Autism; Early intervention; Inconsistent staffing; Staff turnover

PMID:: 28254668
DOI:: 10.1016/j.ridd.2017.02.007

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NB Needs an Adult Autism Center and Network

"Paul McDonnell, September, 2010 "Our greatest need at present is to develop services for adolescents and adults. What is needed is a range of residential and non-residential services and these services need to be staffed with behaviourally trained supervisors and therapists. In the past we have had the sad spectacle of individuals with autism being sent off to institutional settings such as the Campbellton psychiatric hospital, hospital wards, prisons, and even out of the country at enormous expense and without any gains to the individual, the family or the community. We need an enhanced group home system throughout the province in which homes would be linked directly to a major centre that could provide ongoing training, leadership and supervision. That major centre could also provide services for those who are mildly affected as well as permanent residential care and treatment for the most severely affected. Such a secure centre would not be based on a traditional "hospital" model but should, itself, be integrated into the community in a dynamic manner, possibly as part of a private residential development.The focus must be on education, positive living experiences, and individualized curricula. The key to success is properly trained professionals and staff."