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Service use and prevention of emergency hospital admissions: a comparison of the views of older people and health and social care professionals
- Authors:
- THEMSESSL-HUBER Markus, HUBBARD Gill
- Journal article citation:
- Research Policy and Planning, 24(3), 2006, pp.165-178.
- Publisher:
- Social Services Research Group
This paper presents a comparison of the perceptions of health and social care professionals and older people on the prevention of emergency hospital admissions and the use of care services. The study was carried out in six Primary Care Trust regions in Scotland. Whereas older people viewed emergency admissions as an inevitable part of ageing, professionals attributed many emergency admissions to the social isolation of older people. Professionals reported that the majority of services were not designed to minimise isolation in older age. Older people listed quality of life, boosted by socialising and support during periods of good health, as their first priority. Older people and professionals presented differing arguments why some health and social care services were underutilised. Older people explained that they deliberately avoided using some services because they believed these would undermine their independence and level of activity. Professional reasoned that low uptake of services was associated with service providers' lack of knowledge and trust as well as problems with the accessibility of services. This shows that service users and providers differ in their assessment of need and service delivery. Hence, it is argued that both professional and patient perspectives are required to inform service development that meets the needs of older people and health and social care staff.
Does practice learning assist the recruitment and retention of staff
- Authors:
- PARKER Jonathan, DOEL Mark, WHITFIELD John
- Journal article citation:
- Research Policy and Planning, 24(3), 2006, pp.179-195.
- Publisher:
- Social Services Research Group
This a paper describes a study funded by the Practice Learning Taskforce to consider the links between practice learning and the recruitment and retention of social work staff within councils with Social Services Responsibilities (CSSRs). The paper focuses on CSSRs in England, although the findings may have relevance with other parts of the UK. The findings confirmed prior anecdotal evidence that practice learning increases the pool of potential employees and is linked to the recruitment of staff where CSSR's provide a supported approach to practice learning and teaching, especially where learning is seen as reciprocal process engaged in by the team hosting the placement as well as by he student. When practice learning is conceptualised as a central and satisfying team activity opportunities for staff retention are increased. Data quality remains a serious issues, and lack of data hampers the development of evidence-based approaches to workforce planning.
Challenges and strategies in collaborative working with service user researchers: reflections from the academic researcher
- Authors:
- MILLER Emma, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Research Policy and Planning, 24(3), 2006, pp.197-208.
- Publisher:
- Social Services Research Group
The authors consider the lessons to be drawn from a collaborative two-year research project involving academic researchers working alongside three service user research organisations. The joint working on the project involved designing a research tool and conducting interviews with users of services that were provided by health and social services partnerships. Questions arising from this project involved consideration of the advantages and challenges of collaborative work. The experience highlighted the necessity of carefully considering a range of factors, including the ethos and goals of each organisation, as well as the skills and experience of the individuals involved, in relation to the specific purpose of the research. the challenge for academic researchers is to find ways to meet a range of power relations and disempowering service user researchers. Alongside consideration of the challenges involved, this reflective account also highlights some of the advantages of working with user researchers, and suggests ways of harnessing the enthusiasm and skills of service users, with aim of capturing the unique perspective they bring to research.
Assistive technology, telecare, and dementia: some implications of current policies and guidance
- Authors:
- WOOLHAN John, GIBSON Grant, CLARKE Pam
- Journal article citation:
- Research Policy and Planning, 24(3), 2006, pp.149-164.
- Publisher:
- Social Services Research Group
Electronic assistive and telecare technologies in England and Wales have moved on less than a decade from being a fringe interest of a few enthusiasts - principally from within dementia care community - to mainstream provision in some areas. This paper traces the emergence and development of this technology and government policy, and offers some thoughts on the impact these changes may have on its use in dementia care settings.
Using research findings to change agency culture and practice
- Author:
- BRADLEY Greta
- Journal article citation:
- Research Policy and Planning, 24(3), 2006, pp.135-148.
- Publisher:
- Social Services Research Group
This article focuses on findings from a qualitative study examining the induction and supervision of a range of staff engaged in family and child care work in two children’s services in the north of England. The consistent view of respondents was that they preferred to be approached by line mangers in ways that were person centred. Links are made between this approach and the underpinning values of a learning organisation. The way in which authorities respond to induction and supervision may have implications for wider strategies aimed at improving recruitment and retention.
Achieving equality of service response: an action research approach to tackling institutional racism
- Authors:
- WOODGER David, COWAN Jim
- Journal article citation:
- Research Policy and Planning, 24(2), 2006, pp.73-90.
- Publisher:
- Social Services Research Group
This is an empirical study of the use of critical or emancipatory action research in seeking to challenge institutional racism and achieve equality of responses by health professionals in two NHS trusts in their day-to-day work with both black and white patients. The project worked in its first stage with 53 managers and staff. In its second stage, the project engaged with 30 black patients of the services provided by the trusts. In the third stage about 100 staff that were central to delivering mainstream services became engaged in six self -learning groups. All there stages contributed to a powerful re-shaping of practitioner-patient relationships. Moreover, as the project ended, these engaged practitioners and managers set about re-shaping important institutional realities.
Older African Caribbean women: the influence of migration on experiences of health and well-being in later life
- Authors:
- WRAY Sharon, BARTHOLOMEW Michelle L
- Journal article citation:
- Research Policy and Planning, 24(2), 2006, pp.103-119.
- Publisher:
- Social Services Research Group
In 1995, the launch of the world Health Organisation (WHO) programme on ageing and health sought to promote a proactive and positive approach to health in later life. In this key components included; life course issues, health promotion, cultural diversity, gender, intergenerational relationships, and ethics. Similarly, the National Service Framework for Older People (NSFOP) focuses on the promotion of activity, independence, and choice, as key components of health and well-being in later life. This paper considers the extent to which these underlying themes, about what it means to age successfully and healthily, resonate with experiences of older African Caribbean women in the United Kingdom. Drawing on qualitative research, the paper highlights the impact of migration and ethnic and cultural diversity, across the life course, on the health and well-being of older African Caribbean women.
How well does midwifery education enable professionals to work with families and individuals affected by Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia
- Author:
- DE Diana
- Journal article citation:
- Research Policy and Planning, 24(2), 2006, pp.121-133.
- Publisher:
- Social Services Research Group
More often than not, the midwife is the first health professional to bring up the topic of antenatal screening testing. This paper sets out to ask the questions: What is the best way to train and educate midwives, or any other allied health care professional, practising in low prevalence disease areas within the United Kingdom? How can we ensure that they will retain sufficient enough vital knowledge on infrequently occurring conditions and then be able to adequately draw upon this learning at a later stage, when they do present? This examination revolves around the findings from a small exploratory study titled 'Are Their Genes Compatible'? The study took place in February 2005 and focused on the knowledge and attitudes of pre-registration midwifery students, practising midwives and midwifery lecturers towards antenatal screening for sickle cell and Thalassaemia disorders in a large nursing and midwifery school in Wales, which has four-linked NHS trust hospitals attached. Findings demonstrated to the author that the research subjects were unaware of the basic but important aspects of Haemoglobinpathies, despite the introduction of some training ( average 1-2 hours) across all Welsh universities. Responses relating to the comfort in information giving and responsibilities for informed decision making highlighted even more concerns. The study was part of a one year Health Professions Wales research fellowship award.
Methodological issues in qualitative research with minority ethnic research participants
- Author:
- LIE Mabel L.S.
- Journal article citation:
- Research Policy and Planning, 24(2), 2006, pp.91-103.
- Publisher:
- Social Services Research Group
This article draws on qualitative research on the Chinese and Bangladeshi communities in Newcastle upon Tyne. In-dept household research that includes the participation of different family members for inter-generational perspectives is not only inclusive in its approach but also invaluable in policy research on minority ethnic groups. Household research can lead to analyses that are holistic and take into consideration intra-household power relations as well as contextual and structural factors such as the impact of racism. The research found that the participants' country of origin, length of stay in the UK, whether they were born or brought up in the UK were important factors to consider, apart from the more conventional variables of age, sex, area of residence and employment status. Many issues arise in the use of interpreters and whether there are alternative approaches to conducting interviews with minority ethnic research participants. This article proposes that there are ways of working with varieties of language known as 'inter-languages', i.e. the varieties of English spoken by speakers of other languages.
Extending access to short breaks for disabled children from black families: a case study of research into practice
- Author:
- FLYNN Ronny
- Journal article citation:
- Research Policy and Planning, 24(2), 2006, pp.61-71.
- Publisher:
- Social Services Research Group
In 2001, as part of its programme of work on disability and ethnicity, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) commissioned a review of research and practice on access to short breaks by Black disabled children and families. The review showed that there was still much to be done to improve access. JRF then funded a development project located at the national organisation for family based short break care Shared Care Network. This project employed two workers who helped implement some of the recommendations from the review in four local authorities. This article outlines the background and findings from the review, and describes the process and outcomes of the development project. As the article focuses on barriers to access and the process of organisational change needed to remove them, its recommendations apply to many other aspects of service provision for Black disabled children and families.