A Two-Country Comparison of Multi-Tiered Factors Associated with Direct Care Worker Well-Being and Service Provision

As direct care workers (DCWs) serving adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD) work as caregivers and key role models for their clients, the contexts in which they work provide critical resources for their job success. Multi-tiered factors (i.e., macro – cultural norms, exo - governmental policies, meso - organizational resources, micro – interpersonal work support) can be associated with DCWs' abilities to manage work stress and provide adequate care for clients.

The organizational resources of four Manchester, UK-based organizations were compared to five Chicago, IL, US-based organizations through interviews with management and human resources. Direct care staff (n = 36 Manchester, n = 323 Chicago) were surveyed on work stress levels and assessment of available resources. Factors affecting service provision were considered across both cultural contexts. Cultural norms, governmental policies, organizational resources, work support, and work stress across the UK and US studies were examined using systems theory.

Though work stress levels were comparable, types and levels of organizational resources differed (i.e., job training, educational, and career development opportunities, stress management and health promotion programming). Implications of these multi-tiered factors are discussed across the two country contexts.