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Assessing the mental health needs of young people living in state care using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire
- Authors:
- MCCRYSTAL Patrick, MCALONEY Kareena
- Journal article citation:
- Child Care in Practice, 16(3), July 2010, pp.215-226.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Young people living in the state care system are often reported to experience poorer levels of mental health and wellbeing. Government policy encourages a holistic approach to the assessment of all aspects of health and wellbeing of these young people. The aim of this study was to use data from the Youth Development Study, a longitudinal study being undertaken at Queens University Belfast, to show the value of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) as a screening tool for mental health issues with young people entering state care. The data were obtained during the first year of the study, with young people aged 11 and 12 years, and fourth year, with young people aged 14 and 15 years. The data obtained using the SDQ was compared for young people who indicated they were living in state care with those living with at least one biological parent outside care. The findings showed that a higher proportion of young people living in state care reported scores on the SDQ that indicated a higher propensity to problem behaviour at both stages of the survey. The results show that the SDQ is a tool that may assist professionals to make an informed decision on the health and wellbeing of young people entering the care system and possibly can lead to an empirically assisted decision on intervention planning.
Conceptualisation of children's rights: what do child care professionals in Northern Ireland say?
- Authors:
- MANFUL Esmeranda, MCCRYSTAL Patrick
- Journal article citation:
- Child Care in Practice, 16(1), January 2010, pp.83-97.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Whilst the twentieth century began with children having virtually no universally accepted rights, the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which entered into force more quickly than any other previous human rights treaty, now provides the most powerful international legal instrument supporting their rights. With the acceptance of this treaty, the challenge for interested parties in the twenty-first century now moves onto the effective implementation of this Convention. It is important to consider whether in practice the concept of children's rights is interpreted to protect children's interests, or their choices. Whilst child care professionals are a key group for the effective implementation of children's rights, little empirical evidence exists on how they conceptualise children's rights. Therefore, an investigation of the views of child care professionals was undertaken to explore how these rights are conceptualised in everyday practice. Using a qualitative research approach in-depth interviews were conducted with senior child care professionals in Northern Ireland. The results indicated that children's rights were perceived as a right to protect the interest of children largely in relation to provision and protection issues, and, furthermore, the UNCRC has been the main source of understanding and application of the concept of children's rights by professionals who participated in the study.
Research training and professional social work education: developing research-minded practice
- Authors:
- MCCRYSTAL Patrick, WILSON George
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work Education (The International Journal), 28(8), December 2009, pp.856-872.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Aiming to inform the debate about what form research training should take at qualifying level in social work education, this paper discusses the importance attached to empirical and practitioner research in the UK, the development of research-mindedness in social work and social work education, and reports on the findings of a repeated cross-sectional survey of Masters Degree in Social Work students conducted over a 4 year period at Queen's University Belfast, focusing on their perceptions of the value of research training to professional practice and the implications for the design of educational programmes and pedagogical practice. The findings suggested that the majority of students perceived research training as a valuable component of professional development, but that there was a level of scepticism among students about its practical utility; many students in the study felt there was a need to develop research in social work to make it more relevant, accessible and specific. The authors conclude that there is a need for a rethink of research teaching in social work education programmes, and that social work educators need to think strategically about the form and content such training should take so that it not only fits with the different stages of student and practitioner development but also addresses the profession's need for researchers and competent evidence based practitioners.
Drugs education and prevention for school-aged young people
- Authors:
- MCCRYSTAL Patrick, WINNING Kerry
- Journal article citation:
- Child Care in Practice, 15(4), October 2009, pp.341-352.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Drug misuse in Northern Ireland, as in many parts of the world, is becoming one of the major issues facing society today. A first step in addressing this problem is effective drugs education and prevention strategies targeted at school-aged young people. A survey of a range of education providers including mainstream and special needs schools, and school exclusion projects, suggests that all education providers aim to provide drugs education. Within mainstream schools, drugs education and prevention for young people with special education needs is provided within an existing framework developed for all school children. In contrast, special education providers deliver this facility through an approach developed to meet the specific requirements of their client group. The findings suggest that whilst expertise in the delivery of drugs education and prevention strategies exist for young people with special education needs, it may not be specifically targeted at all of them whilst attending school.
Cannabis reclassification: what is the message to the next generation of cannabis users?
- Authors:
- MCCRYSTAL Patrick, WINNING Kerry
- Journal article citation:
- Child Care in Practice, 15(1), January 2009, pp.57-73.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This paper examines the existing scientific evidence on the potential impact of cannabis use on young people within the context of the UK government's reclassification initiative over the past four years. This evidence remains inconclusive whilst the perception of young people to the effects of cannabis use during, and now after, the period of the reclassification debate is not yet known. This now makes it particularly challenging to communicate a clear message in the most effective manner with young people about the possible risks of cannabis use, and would appear to make it difficult to provide a clear and unambiguous statement on what message this initiative has sent to the next generation of cannabis users, as they see the government rethink its position on several occasions before eventually changing its mind.
Substance use among young people living in residential state care
- Authors:
- MCCRYSTAL Patrick, PERCY Andrew, HIGGINS Kathryn
- Journal article citation:
- Child Care in Practice, 14(2), April 2008, pp.181-192.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Existing empirical evidence on substance use among young people living in residential state care during adolescence is comparatively limited. This paper reports on substance use trends of young people living in residential state care during three annual data-sweeps when aged 14, 15 and 16 years. A repeated cross-sectional research design was utilised in the research. The findings suggest some similarities for lifetime prevalence rates for tobacco and alcohol use for those living in residential state care with a group of same-age young people not living in residential state care who participated in the research. However, solvent abuse and cannabis use was higher among those living in care. More frequent substance use was reported by the residential care sample for all substances at each stage of the study. These findings suggest that young people living in state care continue to merit higher levels of vigilance from researchers and policy-makers in order to fully understand this behaviour and develop appropriate prevention initiatives to meet their needs regarding potential drug problems.
School exclusion drug use and antisocial behaviour at 15/16 years: implications for youth transitions
- Authors:
- MCCRYSTAL Patrick, PERCY Andrew, HIGGINS Kathryn
- Journal article citation:
- Vulnerable Children and Youth Studies, 2(3), December 2007, pp.181-190.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Young people excluded from school face additional challenges compared with their contemporaries in mainstream school throughout adolescence, particularly at the end of compulsory schooling when aged 16 years. This paper reports on the experiences of 77 young people excluded from school at year 12 when aged 15/16 years. They were participating in the Belfast Youth Development Study during the period immediately prior to the end of compulsory schooling. The findings provide a profile of the lives of these young people as they approach the developmental period referred to as 'youth transitions'. These young people reported high levels of antisocial behaviour and increasing detachment from the norms of mainstream society at a time when most young people are preparing to make the transition from adolescence to adulthood. This raises questions about the impact of targeted initiatives for addressing disaffection with school and their value for preparing young people for the transition to adulthood who may instead enter a period of NEET (Not in Education Employment or Training).
School-based health education provision for young people in Northern Ireland
- Authors:
- McALEAVY Gerry, MCCRYSTAL Patrick
- Journal article citation:
- Child Care in Practice, 13(3), July 2007, pp.281-295.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
In Northern Ireland, young people exist in a health environment where the experience of social disadvantage is translated into serious risks to health and personal development. The years of political conflict have tended to obscure these health problems, and it is important that the difficulties faced by young people are examined and contextualized within the social, economic and educational issues relevant to our understanding of how the problems have arisen and how solutions can now be sought. The paper will draw on a range of research, including studies carried out by the authors, as Northern Ireland enters a period of relative political stability. In particular, the paper focuses on the relevance of health education provision to young people in experiencing transition to a post-conflict environment. In this present context, educational institutions are faced with pressures from policy-makers and, equally, have to take account of the contested nature of the current debates on health and the body.
Exclusion and marginalisation in adolescence: the experience of school exclusion on drug use and antisocial behaviour
- Authors:
- MCCRYSTAL Patrick, PERCY Andrew, HIGGINS Kathryn
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Youth Studies, 10(1), February 2007, pp.35-54.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Young people excluded from school are a group at an increased risk of drug use and antisocial behaviour during adolescence and later marginalisation and exclusion from society in adulthood. As part of the Belfast Youth Development Study, a longitudinal study of the onset and development of adolescent drug use, young people who entered post-primary school in 2000 (aged 11/12 years) were surveyed annually on four occasions. This paper reports on findings from this survey in relation to a supplementary group of young people who were surveyed because they had been excluded from school. The findings show higher levels of drug use and antisocial behaviour among school excludees, lower levels of communication with their parents/guardians, higher levels of contact with the criminal justice system and increased likelihood of living in communities characterised with neighbourhood disorganisation. This lifestyle perhaps suggests these young people are leading a life that is already taking them towards the margins of society.
Motivations and career aspirations of MSW students in Northern Ireland
- Authors:
- WILSON George, MCCRYSTAL Patrick
- Journal article citation:
- Social Work Education (The International Journal), 26(1), February 2007, pp.35-52.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
During the past decade Northern Ireland, like other parts of the United Kingdom, experienced a fall in the numbers of students applying to social work programmes. In the same period employing agencies have had significant difficulties in recruiting and retaining staff, particularly in child and family care. It is anticipated that the introduction of the new BSW degree in Northern Ireland, alongside measures by employers to improve terms and conditions for staff, will help to alleviate recruitment and retention problems. There has, however, been little empirical research into the precise reasons for these problems or what effect qualifying social work education and training has on students' motivations and career aspirations. This paper reports on a three-year study of MSW students at Queen's University, Belfast which examined the various factors affecting their motivation to pursue a career in social work. The study explores the impact on students of their experience of professional socialisation during training. The paper concludes with an analysis of the implications of the findings and highlights key factors which may help to inform the future design of qualifying programmes and address employers' concerns about recruitment and retention issues.