The experiences of family carers in the delivery of invasive clinical interventions for young people with complex intellectual disabilities: policy disconnect or policy opportunity?

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To explore the experiences of family carers in the delivery of invasive clinical interventions within community settings. BACKGROUND Many young people with intellectual disabilities present with complex health needs and require clinical interventions to sustain life. As the population lives into older age there is growing demand for the delivery of these interventions within the community setting. DESIGN An interpretivist qualitative design. METHODS Ten family carers of children with intellectual disabilities and complex care needs requiring invasive clinical interventions participated in semi-structured interviews. RESULTS There are barriers identified regarding the delivery of invasive clinical interventions in the home setting by social care support workers. These include a reluctance to carry out invasive clinical interventions both for family carers and staff, anxiety, a lack of knowledge and training and difficulties in recruiting appropriate staff. CONCLUSIONS There needs to be strategic policy developments focusing on this population who are cared for in the community and require invasive clinical interventions. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Registered Nurses have a key role in educating and preparing families and social care support workers to safely deliver invasive clinical interventions in community settings for both children and adults with intellectual disabilities.