Evaluating a community nursing service: listening to the voices of clientswith an intellectual disability and/or their proxies

The aim of this study was to evaluate a specialist nursing service programm e for people with an intellectual disability residing in the community. It is important to correct the imbalance in the literature that has neglected the voices of the clients themselves or denied expression by their proxies. The aim of the study was to gain a better understanding of matters of impor tance for clients and their families and to involve them in the evaluation of a service that directly affects their care. Only three clients were able to participate; however, 17 parents (next of k in) agreed to be interviewed. In-depth interviews were audio-taped, transcribed and analysed relating to the questions asked and were checked against the domains of the nursing pra ctice in the disability area: continuity of care, advanced nursing practice , education and credentialling, personal and professional attributes, prima ry health care, and normalization. The findings can firm the high regard in which the programme is held. Servi ce evaluation is crucial in providing evidence for programme funders. The f avourable outcome of this evaluation meant that the programme gained fundin g for another few years.