No “cookie cutter rules”: best practice for social care staff in supporting autistic adults with relationships and sexuality
ISSN: 2056-3868
Article publication date: 16 April 2024
Issue publication date: 14 May 2024
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to explore the support needs surrounding intimate relationships and sexuality of autistic adults accessing funded social care in England.
Design/methodology/approach
Semi-structured interviews with 15 autistic adults who were accessing funded social care examined their support needs surrounding intimate relationships and sexuality, with subsequent data analysis using reflexive thematic analysis.
Findings
Four themes were generated: Help at hand, but not too close for comfort, No “cookie-cutter rules”: personalised, inclusive approaches, Playing it safe, not leaving it too late, and Autism-informed education and support.
Practical implications
The authors produced an online learning module for social care staff in England on best practice in supporting autistic adults without learning disabilities with relationships and sexuality.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors' knowledge, there has been no other UK-based research published to date on the social care support needs of autistic adults without learning disabilities surrounding relationships, gender and sexuality.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to the participants and advisory group members for contributing to this research.
Citation
Bates, C. and Matthews, R. (2024), "No “cookie cutter rules”: best practice for social care staff in supporting autistic adults with relationships and sexuality", Advances in Autism, Vol. 10 No. 2, pp. 69-81. https://doi.org/10.1108/AIA-05-2023-0027
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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