Presents summary findings from research into the effectiveness of Talking Mats in helping people and their family carers to be involved in decision making. Talking Mats are low technology aid to assisting communication and consist of picture symbols and a visual scale. 18 couples were involved in the study. The Talking Mats were found to help a person with dementia to clarify and express their thoughts, enabling their family carers to make make better decision.
Presents summary findings from research into the effectiveness of Talking Mats in helping people and their family carers to be involved in decision making. Talking Mats are low technology aid to assisting communication and consist of picture symbols and a visual scale. 18 couples were involved in the study. The Talking Mats were found to help a person with dementia to clarify and express their thoughts, enabling their family carers to make make better decision.
Both the Social Work Reform Board and the interim Munro Report highlighted the need for critically reflective social workers. This article looks at how a social worker can achieve this. A social worker also gives his views.
Both the Social Work Reform Board and the interim Munro Report highlighted the need for critically reflective social workers. This article looks at how a social worker can achieve this. A social worker also gives his views.
Subject terms:
reflective practice, social workers, decision making;
Drawing on good practice guidance produced by the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE), this article highlights how social workers can support positive risk in the context of personalisation. This support can empower service users and provide them with greater choice and control.
Drawing on good practice guidance produced by the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE), this article highlights how social workers can support positive risk in the context of personalisation. This support can empower service users and provide them with greater choice and control.
Subject terms:
personal budgets, person-centred care, risk management, self-directed support, service users, social workers, care planning, decision making;
It is five years since the Mental Capacity Act was passed and three years since it came into force yet practitioners are failing to uphold its principles in assessments. The errors include health and social care professionals assuming clients lacked, rather than possessed, mental capacity and conducting assessments for the wrong reasons. This article looks at some of the reason for a failure to adhere to the acts principles and calls for a cultural change and more targeted training. A flow chart which shows the process of conducting a capacity assessment, based on the Mental Health Foundation's assessment of mental capacity audit tool (AMCAT) is presented.
It is five years since the Mental Capacity Act was passed and three years since it came into force yet practitioners are failing to uphold its principles in assessments. The errors include health and social care professionals assuming clients lacked, rather than possessed, mental capacity and conducting assessments for the wrong reasons. This article looks at some of the reason for a failure to adhere to the acts principles and calls for a cultural change and more targeted training. A flow chart which shows the process of conducting a capacity assessment, based on the Mental Health Foundation's assessment of mental capacity audit tool (AMCAT) is presented.
Subject terms:
mental capacity, mental health law, social workers, vulnerable adults, assessment, decision making, health professionals;
Over the years there has been a constant message from central government to local government that young people in care should be involved in decision making. This has prompted A National Voice to instigate and pilot the Lilac (Lifelong Improvement for Looked After Children) project with five volunteer organisations and two local authorities three years ago. They now have lottery funding to roll it out nationally.
Over the years there has been a constant message from central government to local government that young people in care should be involved in decision making. This has prompted A National Voice to instigate and pilot the Lilac (Lifelong Improvement for Looked After Children) project with five volunteer organisations and two local authorities three years ago. They now have lottery funding to roll it out nationally.
Subject terms:
joint working, leaving care, local authorities, looked after children, voluntary sector, young people, decision making, empowerment;
Independent mental capacity advocates (IMCAs) were introduced in England and Wales under the Mental Capacity Act in October 2007. Drawing on work from the Social Care Institute for Excellence, this article discusses how health and social care professionals can best involve IMCAs in supporting their decision making.
Independent mental capacity advocates (IMCAs) were introduced in England and Wales under the Mental Capacity Act in October 2007. Drawing on work from the Social Care Institute for Excellence, this article discusses how health and social care professionals can best involve IMCAs in supporting their decision making.
This article explains outlines the different forms of restraint used in care homes - chemical, technological, and passive restraint; when restraint is acceptable and unacceptable; and how what should be considered when deciding if to use restraint.
This article explains outlines the different forms of restraint used in care homes - chemical, technological, and passive restraint; when restraint is acceptable and unacceptable; and how what should be considered when deciding if to use restraint.
Subject terms:
older people, physical restraint, residents, restraint, care homes, decision making;
Brain-injured patients present services with complex problems. Although they often look physically healthy, this masks impaired brain function that puts them at risk. A case study of a woman who had alcohol-related brain damage and who was supported to live successfully in the community.
Brain-injured patients present services with complex problems. Although they often look physically healthy, this masks impaired brain function that puts them at risk. A case study of a woman who had alcohol-related brain damage and who was supported to live successfully in the community.
Subject terms:
rehabilitation, risk management, case studies, decision making, head injuries;
Family court judges and magistrates take decisions on custody and access that can adversely affect child safety. The author discusses whether it is appropriate to include judicial decisions in the serious case review process to improve the accountability of decision making.
Family court judges and magistrates take decisions on custody and access that can adversely affect child safety. The author discusses whether it is appropriate to include judicial decisions in the serious case review process to improve the accountability of decision making.
Subject terms:
legal professionals, vulnerable children, accountability, case reviews, child protection, decision making, Family Courts;
Summarises the findings two recently published research studies which explored the basis on which social workers make decisions about whether or how to support services users. Both use a qualitative approach to explore the way social workers "belief systems" are constructed, and the implications of this for practice. The studies share the same broad conclusion - that bureaucratic structures influence decisions. The implications for personalisation are also briefly mentioned.
Summarises the findings two recently published research studies which explored the basis on which social workers make decisions about whether or how to support services users. Both use a qualitative approach to explore the way social workers "belief systems" are constructed, and the implications of this for practice. The studies share the same broad conclusion - that bureaucratic structures influence decisions. The implications for personalisation are also briefly mentioned.
Subject terms:
personalisation, procedures, social work methods, social workers, social worker-service user relationships, assessment, decision making;