Implementing quality and safety regulations in residential disability services: a qualitative interview study

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Social Care Policy
• Regulatory Compliance

Background:

• Regulation is crucial for quality, safety, and accountability in health and social care.
• Limited understanding exists on how organizations implement and adhere to regulatory requirements.
• Providers of residential care facilities for people with disabilities (RCF-D) face unique challenges in applying statutory care regulations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore how RCF-D managers navigate and implement statutory care regulations.
• To identify effective strategies for regulatory compliance in disability care settings.

Main Methods:

• Semistructured interviews were conducted with 19 managers from 22 RCF-D.
• A purposive maximum variation sampling approach was used for participant recruitment.
• Interview data were analyzed using a mixed deductive-inductive approach.

Main Results:

• Managers generally supported regulatory goals, fostering a positive implementation environment.
• Sharing insights internally and building strong networks (internal and external) were key to successful implementation.
• Collaborative relationships with inspectors, focused on resident well-being, enhanced compliance.

Conclusions:

• RCF-D managers employed strategies balancing regulatory demands with problem-solving and relationship-building.
• Collaborative approaches with inspectors and effective resource alignment are vital for regulatory compliance.
• Future research could explore framing regulation as an adaptive intervention to enhance sustained compliance.