Friday 27 September 2013

Recruitment is now closed

Thank you to everyone for your help and support with this project and an especially big thank you to those who took part in the interviews and surveys. We are currently processing the data and will be releasing an overview of our findings to all those that took part very shortly.

Learning Disability Research

About LDR

My name is Becky Andrews and I am a trainee counselling psychologist. I am undertaking this research as a part of my Professional Doctorate in Counselling Psychology. My project is being supervised by Andrea Halewood, a Senior Lecturer in Counselling Psychology at University of the West of England.

Background & interests

I have worked with adults, children and families within the field of learning disabilities since 2006 and currently work as a trainee psychologist within a 52 week residential and school setting (children and adults). Part of my role is to work with families involved in transitions which includes liaison with social services.

I have 4 years experience counselling individuals with learning disabilities (severe to mild) as well as counselling individuals, families and couples in a variety of settings. I currently volunteer within a neuropsychology department offering counselling to head injury patients (individuals and groups) as well as working with their families.

What is the purpose of the research?

The aim of this study is to interview parents and guardians of children who are in residential care to explore the decision making processes which led to placing their child in residential care. By exploring parents / guardians views and decision making experiences, I hope to promote psychological understanding of this process to improve the support offered by practitioners such as nurses, GP, psychologists, social workers, care staff. By identifying the processes leading up to this decision, the research aims to enable better support structures for parents / guardians This would potentially reduce stress and anxiety, and potentially speed up referrals for residential care or home care. Psychological support could assist parents through this process prior to, during and following a child moving into a residential setting.