Hannu T. Vesala, Antti Teittinen and Pilvikki Heinonen
Deinstitutionalization has impacts also on direct care workers and their work. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the attitudes of direct care workers towards the closure of…
Abstract
Purpose
Deinstitutionalization has impacts also on direct care workers and their work. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the attitudes of direct care workers towards the closure of the institution, and these attitudes’ relation to workers’ occupational identity.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected by postal questionnaire before the closure of the institution. The respondents consisted of two groups: direct care workers of the institution (n=93) and direct care workers of community-based residential units run by the same organization (n=117).
Findings
The results clearly show that direct care workers in the institution, as a group, were against the closure of the institution. This is quite understandable, because the closure will irrevocably affect their work and also private life. Although this opposing is evident, there was also variance in the attitudes within this group: some were more willing to accept the change, some were more against it. Those opposing the closure seemed to be more reluctant in adopting the new kind of identity as supporters of the self-determination of their clients and also they felt more insecure about their own competence.
Originality/value
In deinstitutionalization research a staff perspective has not been very common. To successfully accomplish the change process it is important to take into account also the staff and how they experience the change. It would be far more beneficial to have staff promoting change than resisting it.
Details
Keywords
Katja Koski, Kaisa Martikainen, Katja Burakoff, Hannu Vesala and Kaisa Launonen
This paper aims to evaluate the role of the supervisor's support on the effectiveness of a communication training program targeted at staff members who work with individuals who…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to evaluate the role of the supervisor's support on the effectiveness of a communication training program targeted at staff members who work with individuals who have profound and multiple learning disabilities.
Design/methodology/approach
The aim was to explore which aspects of supervisory support influenced the staff members to participate in the programme and the results for the on-going effects of the training.
Findings
Staff members reported a need for more supervisory support to maintain the results of the training and to disseminate the new practices to non-trained staff.
Originality/value
Although supervisory support seems to benefit staff members during their participation in training programmes, even careful planning and execution of this support cannot ensure its continuation after the training is finished.
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Keywords
– The purpose of this paper is to reflect on Vesala et al.'s (2014) findings on the occupational identity of staff and attitudes towards institutional closure.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to reflect on Vesala et al.'s (2014) findings on the occupational identity of staff and attitudes towards institutional closure.
Design/methodology/approach
This commentary reviews some of the research around staffing, organisational hygiene and service management in countries that have already implemented deinstitutionalisation, and draws out some key considerations for countries and organisations that are planning the transition from institutions to community-based care.
Findings
There is increasing evidence around approaches that are more likely to lead to positive service user and staff outcomes. Particularly person-centred active support and practice leadership have emerged as effective approaches in facilitating organisational change and high-quality services.
Originality/value
Some of the experiences and practices in post-deinstitutionalisation countries around active support and practice leadership can provide valuable considerations for planning institutional closure programmes in countries currently implementing deinstitutionalisation.
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Examines the characteristics of the entrepreneurial personality and the effects of changes in the entrepreneur’s personal relationships. According to the empirical findings…
Abstract
Examines the characteristics of the entrepreneurial personality and the effects of changes in the entrepreneur’s personal relationships. According to the empirical findings, becoming an entrepreneur and acting as an entrepreneur are both aspects of the entrepreneur’s learning process, which in turn has an effect on the personality characteristics of the entrepreneur. The entrepreneur’s drive to solve problems (= mastery) had increased, and control by powerful others decreased since the start‐up phase. Changes in the entrepreneur’s relations with others were also observed to have an effect on the entrepreneur’s personality characteristics. The empirical findings also show that as the number of co‐operative partners decreased, control by powerful others also decreased, and that, since the start‐up phase, entrepreneurs whose personal relations had increased also showed a clear increase in mastery.