An IPA study exploring clients’ experiences of living with complex mental health needs in a residential care home: Some voices are harder to hear

ObjectivesThe aim of the research was to hear the voices of participants with complex mental health needs, gaining insight into the experience of living in residential care homes. These voices often get lost; as people with complex mental health needs are often seen as difficult to engage and consequently have been excluded from opportunities to influence services. DesignThe research engaged in a qualitative inquiry to explore the lived experience of six people with complex mental health needs who live in residential care.MethodsThe participants were required to engage in semi-structured interviews of up to sixty minutes. Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) which was considered the most appropriate methodological approach (Smith, Flowers & Larkin, 2009) was used to analyse the data.FindingsFour superordinate themes were developed from the analysis (1) Stories of change over time; an historical journey (2) Searching for care; (3) The challenges of living in residential care; (4) Learning to grow as a resident in a residential care home. Subordinate themes were developed for each of these Superordinate themes.ConclusionThe research outcomes suggest that concepts of power, infantilisation and social justice operate in residential care and are important aspects to consider in people’s experiences of long-term residential care. The concept of Psychologically Informed Environments (PIE 2.0) is put forward as a possible theoretical framework to which this research may contribute with the aim of developing greater psychological awareness, creating cultures of learning and enquiry and fostering more responsiveness of services