The strength of Frontline Practice Leadership in Australian supported accommodation services: Challenges confronting service providers.

BACKGROUND: The strength of practice leadership predicts the quality of Active Support but it can be compromised by other demands on frontline managers. The study aimed to identify and understand differences in practice leadership over time and between organisations. METHOD: Data collected in 2022 in 96 services from 11 organisations using the Observed Measure of Practice Leadership were compared to similar data from 2013 and 2018. Qualitative fieldnotes were analysed thematically. FINDINGS: Practice leadership scores increased significantly between 2013 and 2018 but declined significantly between 2018 and 2022. Scores were significantly higher in organisations that had implemented Active Support since 2013 compared to later adopters. Higher scoring organisations had structures that supported frontline managers with practice leadership and that countered increasing administrative demands. CONCLUSIONS: Establishment of support structures for practice leadership by organisations warrants further investigation together with the relative importance of each task of practice leadership.

Dimensions of group home culture as predictors of quality of life outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Research has shown that there is variability in quality of life (QOL) outcomes for people with intellectual disabilities who live in group homes. The aim was to examine dimensions of group home culture as predictors of QOL outcomes. METHOD: The Group Home Culture Scale (GHCS) was used to measure staff perceptions of culture in 23 group homes. QOL data were available from 98 people with intellectual disabilities. Multilevel modelling was used to examine the associations between the GHCS subscales and four QOL-dependent variables. RESULTS: Of the GHCS subscales, Effective Team Leadership and Alignment of Staff with Organizational Values significantly predicted residents' engagement in activities. Supporting Well-Being significantly predicted residents' community involvement. None of the GHCS subscales significantly predicted domestic participation and choice making. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that strategies to improve Effective Team Leadership and Supporting Well-Being dimensions of culture may contribute to enhancing certain QOL outcomes.

Development and psychometric evaluation of the Group Home Culture Scale.

BACKGROUND: Organizational culture in group homes for people with intellectual disabilities has been identified as influencing staff behaviour and residents' quality of life (QOL). Despite this influence, culture has been under-researched, with no published and validated instrument to measure its dimensions in group homes. The aim was to develop such a measure. METHOD: The Group Home Culture Scale (GHCS) was developed using a theory-driven approach. Items were generated from the research literature, which were reviewed by experts and tested in cognitive interviews. Data from 343 front-line staff were used for exploratory factor analysis. RESULTS: The content and face validity of the GHCS were found to be acceptable. Exploratory factor analysis indicated that the GHCS measured seven dimensions of group home culture. Cronbach's alpha for the dimensions ranged from 0.81 to 0.92. CONCLUSIONS: The GHCS has potential use in research to determine whether dimensions of group home culture predict the quality of staff support and residents' QOL.