The purpose of this paper is to provide a commentary on Alix Lewer's and Celia Harding's research on the factors influencing the success of speech and language therapy intervention in residential homes and day centres for people with learning disabilities.
The article reflects on the issues raised by Lewer and Harding, in the light of the literature on implementation and the author's own research on the implementation of behaviour support plans.
Similar barriers underlie problems of implementation of programmes related to communication and behaviour support.
Professionals need to improve their understanding of implementation problems and ensure that their role includes providing support to frontline staff to initiate and maintain changed practices.
