Abstract
Nationally there is a high prevalence of psychotropic medication prescription in individuals with learning disabilities and the role of the care worker is constantly changing in relation to the administration of medication to service users. However, little is known about care workers' views on such role changes. The aim of this study was to explore care workers’ views on the use of psychotropic medication for people with learning disabilities and their role in the administration of it through the use of integrated methods (focus groups and individual interviews). The purposive sample included 24 care workers from sixteen care homes in a large mental health and learning disabilities NHS Trust. Medicalisation was utilised as a conceptual model of theorising and making sense of the relationships among the findings identified from the study. The findings were analysed through thematic analysis by utilising the Framework model. The data from the individual interviews and focus groups were explored together so that the findings of the study were based on the convergence of information from the different sources. The findings showed a mix of negative and positive opinions with regards to the use of psychotropic medication. Some participants discussed how medication has benefited the lives of service users, enabling them to be part of society and have a better quality of life. However, where specific protocols or guidelines were not in place it increases the possibility of inappropriate use and abuse. In common with previous research this study found clear relationships between service user choice and service user ability. The abler the service user, the more support they received in making choices. Many of the care workers have limited support in undertaking their role and this role is dependent on the power and status which they have within the service they work and the professional relationships they share. Access to formal training is minimal or often inadequate but most of the care workers valued a “learning on the job" style of gaining and sharing knowledge. In conclusion the findings indicate that social care services for people with learning disabilities follow a medical model with regards to medication management. However, a social care model governs the care workers that are employed and trained within these services. There appears to be discrepancies in this approach to service delivery as the two models of care are not always complementing each other and this impedes the care worker to effectively carry out their role in medication management.