Abstract
Introduction: Some, but not all, people with an intellectual disability (PWID) require support from paid direct care workers (DCWs) (NHS, 2022). In England, there is an over-representation of people from minoritised ethnic communities (MECs) working in such roles (Skills for Care (SfC), 2023). There is some research globally on the experiences of those working in care roles in their ‘host culture’, or in cultures that differ from their own (e.g. Lin et al., 2015), and this may be explained by multicultural identity processes (Hong et al., 2016). The current study aimed to explore the experiences of DCWs, for whom the UK was their host culture, working with PWID in the UK.Methods: A qualitative methodology was used to capture participants’ experiences, using a semi-structured interview schedule that was designed in collaboration with an Expert by Experience. Five UK host culture DCWs were interviewed. Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was used to analyse interviews.
Findings: Results emerged around six group experiential themes: Experiences of racism in the workplace; the importance of culture; the direct care work role; working with PWID; experiences of behaviours that challenge and experiences of working in the care system.
Discussion: The results provide novel insight into the experiences of UK host culture DCWs in the UK. Multiple factors were identified that may affect an individual’s experience in a host culture, and this is discussed in the context of multicultural identity processes (Hong et al., 2016). Clinical implications, limitations and directions for future research are discussed.
| Date of Award | 20 Sept 2024 |
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| Original language | English |
| Awarding Institution |
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| Supervisor | Cathy Randle-Phillips (Supervisor) & Rachel Pettit (Supervisor) |