Understanding TIC for people with learning disabilities v1

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Conceptualising the principles of trauma-informed care for people with learning disabilities: A Q-methodology study

  • IRAS ID

    339600

  • Contact name

    Emily Williams

  • Contact email

    e.l.williams-2021@hull.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    University of Hull

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 10 months, 2 days

  • Research summary

    The proposed study will investigate the views of stakeholders on the trauma-informed care of people with learning disabilities, utilising Q-methodology (Exel & Graaf, 2005) which involves a card sort task and short interview. Participants will include people with learning disabilities, family carers, paid carers, and professionals working with people with learning disabilities recruited through the Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust and Tees Esk and Wear Valley NHS Foundation Trust Community Learning Disability Teams.

    It is thought that people with learning disabilities may be disproportionately affected by trauma, with reliance on others and systemic discrimination leaving them vulnerable. Furthermore, trauma may be experienced by and impact people with learning disabilities in ways different to the rest of the population. Trauma-informed care, which is rapidly growing in its implementation across services, aims to prevent re-traumatisation and promote healing. However, a lack of understanding around the specific principles most important for people with learning disabilities poses a barrier to its implementation in learning disability services.

    This research will ask, what principles of trauma informed care are most important when working with people with learning disabilities? The research will either find a consensus on the main principles of trauma-informed care for people with learning disabilities, or get an enhanced understanding of where the differences lie and between which groups of people. The aim is that this will assist in the implementation of effective trauma-informed care within learning disability services.

    A set of statement cards will be developed through a review of the literature and consultation with stakeholders (including a focus group). Individuals will rank these statement cards relating to trauma-informed care on their level of agreement, and then be asked their thought process behind their rankings. This will take no more than 1 hour and can be completed online or in person.

  • REC name

    Social Care REC

  • REC reference

    24/IEC08/0035

  • Date of REC Opinion

    26 Mar 2025

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion