title: 'We Just Call Them People': Positive Regard as a Dimension of Culture in Group Homes for People with Severe Intellectual Disability.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A dimension of the culture in group homes is staff regard for residents. In underperforming group homes, staff regard residents as being not 'like us' (Bigby, Knox, Beadle-Brown, Clement & Mansell, 2012). We hypothesized the opposite pole of this dimension, in higher performing group homes, would be that staff regard residents positively.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three in-depth qualitative case studies were conducted in higher performing group homes using participant observation, interviews and document review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Consistent pattern of staff practices and talk, as well as artefacts, demonstrated staff had a positive regard for residents, who were seen as being 'like us'. Explicit and continuing attention was given to sustaining positive regard for residents in everyday staff practices and to turning abstract values into concrete realities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This positive cultural norm was established, operationalized and embedded through structures, such as a formal policy about language, and processes such as peer monitoring and practice leadership.
authors.affiliation: Living with Disability Research group, LaTrobe University, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bigby
authors.affiliation: Centre for Disability Studies, University of Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Knox
authors.affiliation: Living with Disability Research group, LaTrobe University, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.|Tizard Centre, University of Kent, UK.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Beadle-Brown
authors.affiliation: Living with Disability Research group, LaTrobe University, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Clement
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003469:Culture; D016352:Group Homes; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability; D007857:Leadership; D036301:Qualitative Research
keywords: culture; group homes; staff practices; supported accommodation