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The longer term experiences of parent training: a qualitative analysis
- Authors:
- FURLONG M., McGILLOWAY Sinead
- Journal article citation:
- Child: Care, Health and Development, 41(5), 2015, p.687–696.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Background: Child conduct problems are a major public health priority. Group-based parenting programmes are popular in addressing such problems, but evidence for their longer-term effectiveness is limited. Moreover, process evaluations are rare and little is understood about the key facilitative and inhibitive factors associated with maintaining outcomes in the longer term. Method: This study involved the use of qualitative methods as part of a larger process evaluation to explore the longer-term experiences of parents who participated in a randomised controlled trial (RCT) of the Incredible Years Parenting Programme (IYPP) in disadvantaged settings in Ireland. A series of one-to-one in-depth interviews was conducted with parents at 12- (n = 20) and 18-month follow-up (n = 8) and analysed using constructivist grounded theory. Results: Most parents reported positive child behaviour despite several challenges, but a substantial subset reported periods of relapse in positive outcomes. A relapse in child behaviour was linked to relinquishing skills in stressful times, the negative influence of an unsupportive environment, and the perceived ineffectiveness of parenting skills. Resilience in implementing skills despite adversity, and the utilization of available social supports, were associated with the maintenance of positive outcomes. Conclusions: Strengthening resilience and social support capacities may be important factors in maintaining positive longer-term outcomes. Those who design, research and deliver parenting programmes might consider the possibility of including a relapse-prevention module and/or the provision of post-intervention supports for more vulnerable families. (Edited publisher abstract)
Methodological and ethical aspects of evaluation research in bereavement: a reflection
- Authors:
- ROBERTS Amanda, McGILLOWAY Sinead
- Journal article citation:
- Bereavement Care, 30(1), April 2011, pp.21-28.
- Publisher:
- Cruse Bereavement Care
There is growing recognition that bereavement support is an important care service. However, little is known about the clinical and cost effectiveness of such services. This article describes the main ethical and practical issues raised for one such service, a hospice-based bereavement support service in Ireland, and how these were overcome. The article presents guidance to other organisations and researchers on important aspects of the process, including the need to ensure good relationships with staff and professional supervision and support for the researcher. It also challenges the common view that participation in research may be harmful for bereaved people. Participants in this survey welcomed the chance to talk about their feelings, and to make a contribution to furthering understanding of the bereavement experience. The authors conclude by highlighting the importance of bereavement service evaluation in order to inform the development of acceptable and effective services, and methods that researchers can use to assess them.
Bereavement support in a hospice setting: the role of a bereavement information evening
- Authors:
- ROBERTS Amanda, McGILLOWAY Sinead
- Journal article citation:
- Bereavement Care, 29(1), April 2010, pp.14-18.
- Publisher:
- Cruse Bereavement Care
Little attention has been paid to documenting the quality and effectiveness of hospice bereavement support programmes. This article reports findings from an evaluation of a bereavement information evening that forms a part of the adult bereavement support service provided by a large hospice in Dublin. The bereavement information evening is held approximately 3 to 6 months after the death, and includes a talk from a social worker about grief and bereavement and the support services available, as well as providing the opportunity to talk to the support services. Evaluation data was collected by means of a cross-sectional postal survey, sent out to family and friends of patients who had died in the hospice’s care, and one-to-one interviews with 22 of these bereaved clients. Both attendees and non-attendees of the bereavement information evening were included in the evaluation. The findings indicated the usefulness of the bereavement support evening in providing mid-level support for people who may need more than an information leaflet but may not require more intensive one-to-one support, while also acting as a gateway to more intensive bereavement services for those who find it difficult to ask for help. However, measures may need to be put in place to ensure those who are unable or do not wish to attend these kinds of events also receive information about the bereavement process.
'Nobody ever chooses this ...': a qualitative study of service providers working in the sexual violence sector - key issues and challenges
- Authors:
- KELLEHER Caroline, McGILLOWAY Sinead
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Care in the Community, 17(3), May 2009, pp.295-303.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This paper describes the findings from the first stage of a study designed to assess the impact of sexual violence (SV) on the lives of Irish women. Stakeholder interviews (n = 18) were undertaken to explore experiences of delivering services to people who have experienced SV, in rural and urban settings in Ireland. A range of themes and sub-themes were identified through a thematic analysis, and interrelationships between two of the main themes (barriers to services and current gaps in service provision) are discussed. Sub-themes include: survivor guilt and shame, difficulties in naming the incident as SV, problems with the Criminal Justice System and the availability of Sexual Assault Treatment Units. Participants identified an urgent need for a co-ordinated national strategy in the form of a public awareness and education campaign in order to undermine commonly held rape myths and stereotypes. The findings will be of interest to all health and social care professionals who are in contact with women who have experienced SV. They will also help to raise an awareness of the 'hidden' costs of SV, and inform appropriate policies and community-based responses to this important social problem.
Caring for children with learning disabilities: an exploratory study of parental strain and coping
- Authors:
- KENNY Kate, McGILLOWAY Sinead
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 35(4), December 2007, pp.221-228.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Despite recurring concerns about the role and appropriate support of informal carers, little is known about the parental experience of caring for children with learning disabilities in Ireland. This study describes and analyses the nature and consequences of care and coping among parents of children (<16) with learning disabilities living in the Greater Dublin area. Participants (n = 32) completed the Caregiver Strain Questionnaire and an adapted version of the Carers Questionnaire which assessed: care tasks/behavioural difficulties; caregiver attitudes; service provision; and coping strategies. Qualitative analysis examined factors affecting carers’ ability to cope. Participants showed high levels of objective and subjective caregiver strain and most were receiving inadequate support. However, parents employed a range of strategies to help them cope more effectively. The qualitative data highlighted the difficulties and rewards of caregiving and the inadequacies of current service provision.
Mental illness in the UK criminal justice system: a police liaison scheme for Mentally Disordered Offenders in Belfast
- Authors:
- McGILLOWAY Sinead, DONNELLY Michael
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 13(3), June 2004, pp.263-275.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
This paper describes and appraises an inter-agency police liaison scheme for MDOs in Northern Ireland. The aim was to examine administrative outcomes and psychiatric assessment data (including some follow-up information) and to assess the views of service-users and key stakeholders. A battery of measures was devised to assess mental health status, drug and alcohol abuse and risk-related behaviour. Outcomes were assessed (as far as possible) within a prospective follow-up design including a survey of service professionals and interviews with MDOs. The performance of the scheme was measured using objective indicators. Ninety-one per cent of all assessed detainees (n = 382) were judged to have a mental health problem. Sixty-eight per cent were GHQ cases whilst 62% attained "above-threshold" BPRS scores; 48% and 53% respectively had a history of harming self or others. Improvements in mental health were recorded for MDOs who were linked to services and who could be followed up. The service was valued highly by service-users and key stakeholders. The scheme effectively identified, assessed and linked most MDOs to existing services. However, significant changes in mainstream mental health services are required before the full potential of the service can be realized.
On the way to work: a vocational training project for people with mental health problems
- Authors:
- McGILLOWAY Sinead, DONNELLY Michael
- Journal article citation:
- A Life in the Day, 6(4), November 2002, pp.13-19.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Describes a study undertaken to assess the extent to which a vocational training service, ACCEPT (NI), providing a service for people with mental health problems. The service aims to provide assessment, counselling and coaching in employment, placement and training. The article looks at the effectiveness of the service as perceived by clients and social care professionals. Quantitative and qualitative methods were used.
The incredible years parenting program for foster carers and biological parents of children in foster care: a mixed methods study
- Authors:
- FURLONG Mairead, McLOUGHLIN Fergal, McGILLOWAY Sinead
- Journal article citation:
- Children and Youth Services Review, 126, 2021, p.106028.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
Trauma-related social, emotional and behavioral difficulties (SEBD) are common among children in foster care and are the primary reason for placement breakdown. SEBD in foster children – and especially in the context of unstable and troubled relationships with both foster and biological parents - affects the child’s future functioning and has substantial cost implications in terms of public service utilization. The aim of this study was to assess the utility and perceived effectiveness of the 18-week Incredible Years parenting program (IYPP) which was delivered, on an exploratory basis, to both biological and foster parents (including kinship and non-relative care) of 23 foster children (aged 3–10 years). Biological and foster parent pairs (n = 46) were assessed at pre-intervention and at 6-month follow up, using measures of child SEBD, parenting stress, competencies, and quality of child-parent/carer relationships. One-to-one interviews and a focus group were also undertaken with a subset of biological parents (n = 12), foster carers (n = 11) and Social Work clinicians (n = 5) who delivered the program; the findings were analyzed using grounded theory. Both biological and foster parents reported statistically significant improvements in child SEBD, parent–child relationships, and in parenting stress and competencies. The qualitative findings highlighted further benefits for families, such as an increased number of access visits between biological parents and children and improved relationships with Social Work clinicians. Several factors were identified as important when implementing the IYPP with foster children, including: potential difficulties in engaging both foster and biological parents within the Social Work infrastructure; making appropriate adaptations to program principles, and integrating delivery with a trauma-informed approach. These findings contribute to the growing body of evidence that the IYPP could add value to the standard training and supports for foster parents, children and biological parents. (Edited publisher abstract)
Day service provision for people with intellectual disabilities: a case study mapping 15-year trends in Ireland
- Authors:
- FLEMING Padraic, McGILLOWAY Sinead, BARRY Sarah
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 30(2), 2017, pp.383-394.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Background: Day services for people with intellectual disabilities are experiencing a global paradigm shift towards innovative person-centred models of care. This study maps changing trends in day service utilization to highlight how policy, emergent patterns and demographic trends influence service delivery. Methods: National intellectual disability data (1998–2013) were analysed using WINPEPI software and mapped using QGIS Geographic Information System. Results: Statistically significant changes indicated fewer people availing of day services as a proportion of the general population; more males; fewer people aged <35; a doubling in person-centred plans; and an emerging urban/rural divide. Day services did not change substantially and often did not reflect demand. Conclusions: Emergent trends can inform future direction of disability services. Government funds should support individualized models, more adaptive to changing trends. National databases need flexibility to respond to policy and user demands. Future research should focus on day service utilization of younger people and the impact of rurality on service availability, utilization, quality and migration. (Publisher abstract)
The successes and challenges of implementing individualised funding and supports for disabled people: an Irish perspective
- Authors:
- FLEMING Padraic, McGILLOWAY Sinead, BARRY Sarah
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Society, 31(10), 2016, pp.1369-1384.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
‘Individualised funding’, which is rooted in the Independent Living Movement, has formed part of a global paradigm shift in support services for disabled people. Against the backdrop of international experience, a political system aligned with the United Kingdom and emergent critics of individualised funding, this article presents findings from an evaluation of four pilot programmes in Ireland. Exemplified by independent-skills development and community integration, these initiatives have been welcomed as a progressive development beyond traditional service provision, with perceived improvements across a range of organisational, personal, health and social care domains. The article explores the importance of ‘natural supports’ and how overly protective behaviour may unintentionally act as a barrier to full implementation. The findings also indicate that unnecessarily complex systems can lead to individual burn-out. Furthermore, a national resource allocation system working in partnership with existing social care professionals and the wider community is recommended, as is learning from overly simplified, group-based ideologies. (Publisher abstract)