Organizational and individual factors associated with breakdown of residential placements for people with intellectual disabilities

Background: People with intellectual disabilities (IDs) whose behaviour challenges services are at increased risk of placement breakdown. Most previous research has tended to focus on the role of individual characteristics in predicting breakdown. A small number of studies have suggested that service variables may impact on intervention effectiveness and hence placement breakdown.

Method: This study used a non-experimental group comparison design to investigate potential differences between two groups of residential homes, one of which had experienced placement breakdown, and one of which had successfully maintained placements in the community.

Results: More residents in the breakdown group had inappropriate sexual behaviours but there were no other differences. Services in the breakdown group had more limited procedural guidance for staff, weaker training, supervision and team meetings and less external professional support.

Conclusion: Placement characteristics may be an important determinant of community placement success for people with IDs and challenging behaviour. Those selecting and funding residential placements for such people should attend to the technical competence of the placement (in terms of its use of procedural guidance, training and professional advice) and to the extent of support for staff (in terms of training, supervision and team meetings).