Background: Community-based health and social care professionals have little knowledge of the past experiences of people with severe learning disabilities and challenging behaviour who are living in institutions.
Aims: To gain a greater understanding of the experiences and needs of men who are living in a locked ward.
Method: The study sample consisted of 20 men who were living in a locked ward of a long-stay institution. Qualitative (ethnographic) methods were used, involving participant observation (for around 250 hours) on the ward. All traceable families were interviewed. The analysis used grounded theory, and material was fed back into the resettlement process throughout.
Results: The men's lives were emotionally, socially and physically deprived. Their individual, gender and social identities were not recognised, and their general health and mental healthcare needs were inadequately addressed.
Conclusions: People who live in long-stay institutions, segregated from society, lose their individual and social identity, which complicates the presentation of mental health and behavioural problems, and raises important adult protection issues.