More than one wavelength: Identifying, understanding and resolving conflicts of interest between people with intellectual disabilities and their family carers

The present paper describes conflicts of interest in families which include someone with intellectual disabilities. Data were taken from a study conce rned with the 1995 Carers Act. The research examined the experiences and vi ews of 51 families who had some kind of assessment by a social services dep artment. Cases were analysed where it was found that carers, the people for whom they cared and the assessors did not agree about such conflicts. Asse ssors sometimes stereotyped families and spoke of conflicts of interest whe n the situation was more complex. In particular, the real conflict was ofte n between the whole family and an inadequate service system that did not of fer enough support or choices to the individual. Conflicts which had occurr ed were related to three major motives driving carers: (1) the need for a b reak from caring; (2) the need to speak for their disabled relative; and (3 ) their concern for standards of behaviour The present authors report on ho w these situations were handled by assessors and conclude with some recomme ndations for good carer assessments which will help to resolve conflicts of interest. A greater degree of informed choice for individuals with intelle ctual disabilities will in itself resolve many potential conflicts of inter est.