Exploring Co-Production in Residences with Special Services for Children and Adolescents with Intellectual Disability in Sweden

In Sweden, children and adolescents with intellectual disability in special residences often have complex support needs. In this study, co-production refers to when and how staff in special residences and children and adolescents living there interact to promote support that enhances their participation in everyday life according to their desires and needs. The study explores staff experiences of the conditions for co-producing individual support at special residences for children and adolescents with intellectual disability. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyze focus group interviews with residential staff. The analysis identified three generic categories: establishment of a structured context, continuous individual support development, and influencing factors for co-production. A key finding derived from the generic categories was that the conditions for co-produced support are impeded by communication barriers between staff and children/adolescents. Practical implications and future research are discussed.