The relationship between staff sickness levels and client assault levels in a health service unit for people with an intellectual disability and severely challenging behaviour

The present study examined relationships between assault levels and sicknes s levels in staff working in a specialist challenging behaviour unit. The s taff group experienced an average of 279.7 total assaults and an average of 422.5 hours sickness occurred each month. No significant relationships wer e found between total assaults and sickness levels, short- or long-term, Im plications of these findings are discussed in relation to the available lit erature. Methodological difficulties are also discussed.