Dialogue support for the social services’ risk assessment of violence in close relationships against people with intellectual and developmental disabilities

People with cognitive disabilities, such as intellectual and developmental disabilities are at increased risk of violence in close relationships (VCR) but may not understand the nature of, or be able to identify violence. To protect and support them, the process of assessment of risk of VCR needs to be adapted to their needs.

The purpose of this project is to develop a research-based and flexible dialogue support tool that facilitates social workers’ assessment of risk of violence in close relationships against people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

The project rests on the socioecological model, including trauma-informed and disability accommodated approaches as theoretical frameworks.The project will use a sequential exploratory design with three phases, involving social workers and persons with IDD.

In the first phase, interviews are conducted with 1) people with IDD to investigate their need for support regarding VCR and 2) social workers to focus on challenges that they encounter in their practice against VCR with people with IDD.

Based on the results in phase 1, a dialogue support tool will be developed in collaboration with two expert groups: 1) cognitive accessibility experts and 2) social workers. An initial evaluation of the dialogue support is made via cognitive interviews with social workers (n=8-12).

In the third and final phase, the dialogue support tool and implementation strategies will be evaluated in social services (n = 6) with active implementation (n = 3) and passive dissemination (n = 3).

Evaluation of the dialogue support and its implementation will be conducted through mixed methods, both surveys and focus group interviews.

Through these studies, the project will provide new knowledge about the needs of social workers and people with IDD in the process of assessment of the risk of VCR and develop a dialogue support tool to facilitate adequate and timely protection and support to people with IDD at risk for VCR.