Transitions: Placing a son or daughter with intellectual disability and challenging behaviour in alternative residential provision

Introduction The timing of moves to alternative care has implications for the effective support of people with intellectual disabilities and their families. Essex et al . (1997) proposed three transition profiles: 'normative', 'stress process' and 'postponed'. The applicability of these profiles to people with intellectual disabilities and challenging behaviour was tested. Methods Qualitative analysis of interviews with families of 13 males and five females aged between 11 and 35 years, who had left home, was undertaken. Results Few people moved due to 'normative' family life cycle changes. The majority left because of family difficulties ('stress process'). This model was elaborated and three transition routes described: 'forensic'- involving police contact (actual/potential), 'family'- reflecting problems in the family and 'service'- deficits leading to placement out of district. Conclusions This research suggests that people (particularly young men) with intellectual disabilities and challenging behaviour enter statutory care earlier than their counterparts, and people with different levels of intellectual and physical disabilities follow different transition routes.