Front Line Leadership in Organisations for Persons With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: A Systematic Review

Background Leadership is crucial for frontline managers leading direct support staff in intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) services because it impacts both the staff and service users. Method A systematic review using CADIMA software, guided by the 2020 PRISMA statement, analysed 32 articles from Scopus, WOS, PsycINFO and EBSCO databases. Results Practice Leadership (PL) emerges as the most commonly applied theoretical model, although other approaches, such as transformational leadership, are also utilised. PL showed significant associations with positive outcomes for service users (improved quality of life, fewer challenging behaviours) and staff (lower stress, higher job satisfaction). Specific competencies for frontline managers were identified. Despite its demonstrated benefits, numerous barriers impede the implementation of effective leadership, including funding constraints, high staff turnover and increased administrative demands. Conclusion Although PL provides a valuable framework for understanding leadership in IDD services, future research should focus on testing effective leadership interventions in diverse contexts.