A systematic review of interventions for improving the work performance of direct support staff

An important focus of disability services is optimising the work performance of their staff members. A substantial body of literature is available to those who are responsible for ensuring that staff perform their roles adequately. The aim of this study was to systematically review this literature to determine the most effective approaches to improving staff work performance. Literature published between 1974 and 2013 was reviewed and 77 studies that met the criteria for inclusion were categorised according to type of outcome measure employed, intervention focus, and results. The findings suggest that interventions that focus solely on changing individual staff characteristics are less effective than approaches that seek to address problems in the work environment, often in combination with staff development. The present study provides important considerations for those responsible for improving the work performance of direct support staff.