Understanding CB from a community visitors perspective

A pilot project was undertaken with a Queensland Government organization called the Community Visitors Program. This program employees people to visit adults who have impaired capacity, that is someone who has a psychiatric disability, intellectual disability, acquired brain injury or dementia. The Community Visitor helps people understand their rights and protect their interests. Aim: To gain information regarding the prevalence of challenging behaviour in Queensland. Method: A structured questionnaire was developed and 25 Visitors collected data about the nature of the people they visit and the exhibition of their challenging behaviour. Information regarding the topography, frequency and severity of challenging behaviours was obtained (over a three-month period). Data were collected across four sites: acute short stay mental health facilities, long stay mental health facilities, disability sector houses such as hostels and supported accommodation facilities such as group homes. This research was the first time any structured information had been collected about the nature of challenging behaviour being exhibited by those with impaired capacity in Queensland. Results: These give a description of how many people with impaired capacity are exhibiting challenging behaviour in Queensland across the described sites. Conclusions: Implications for this data are discussed