Adoption and Fostering, 36(1), Spring 2012, pp.52-59.
Publisher:
Sage
The primary role of adoption and fostering is about providing under-privileged children with families. National policies will obviously influence what actually happens but in recent years, the way policies are made and implemented has become as significant as the policies themselves. This is confirmed by two books describing the fashioning and implementation of two major child welfare initiatives
The primary role of adoption and fostering is about providing under-privileged children with families. National policies will obviously influence what actually happens but in recent years, the way policies are made and implemented has become as significant as the policies themselves. This is confirmed by two books describing the fashioning and implementation of two major child welfare initiatives in the UK – Providing a Sure Start (Eisenstadt, 2011) and Instruction to Deliver (Barber, 2008). This article reviews these books, and discusses how the process of developing social policy changed under New Labour – arguing that this new situation is likely to endure over successive governments.
Subject terms:
policy formulation, social policy, social care provision, children;
Ageing and Society, 32(6), August 2012, pp.905-933.
Publisher:
Cambridge University Press
This study, using nationally representative data from England and Finland, investigated receipt of help from spouse and children among community-dwelling people aged 70+ years with functional limitations. In both countries, women and those with more functional limitations had higher odds of receiving spousal and filial help. In England, but not in Finland, those receiving formal public help had...
This study, using nationally representative data from England and Finland, investigated receipt of help from spouse and children among community-dwelling people aged 70+ years with functional limitations. In both countries, women and those with more functional limitations had higher odds of receiving spousal and filial help. In England, but not in Finland, those receiving formal public help had lower odds of receiving spousal help than those with no formal help. Those with low education received more filial help in England, but no association was found between formal and filial help. In Finland, the effect of education was not significant but those receiving formal help had higher odds of also receiving filial help. The results suggest that in a liberal market-led state, the role of children may be to help their parents living alone and with low financial resources. The authors concluded that, in the context of a generous welfare state, children may function more as active agents bridging the gap between their parents and traditional services.
Subject terms:
informal care, older people, social care provision, children;
An overview of developmental theory and research, with a focus on what practitioners need to know, is provided in this book. The author explains how children's trajectories are shaped by transactions among early relationships, brain development, and the social environment. Risk and protective factors are explored. The book describes the course of child development, looking at developmental...
An overview of developmental theory and research, with a focus on what practitioners need to know, is provided in this book. The author explains how children's trajectories are shaped by transactions among early relationships, brain development, and the social environment. Risk and protective factors are explored. The book describes the course of child development, looking at developmental processes of infancy, toddlerhood, preschool years and middle childhood, discussing how children in each age range typically behave, think, and relate to others. It demonstrates ways to apply developmental knowledge to clinical assessment and intervention, and includes case examples, observation exercises and quick reference tables.
Subject terms:
social care provision, child development, children, families;
Child and Family Social Work, 15(4), November 2010, pp.473-482.
Publisher:
Wiley
Applied research into children’s services should require a clear understanding of what a service is, and how it should be measured. However, the measurement of ‘service’ in children's services is highly varied. We do not know in a meaningful sense what services children and families get. This paper explores why it is important to measure services well. It outlines the dimensions of ‘service’, how
Applied research into children’s services should require a clear understanding of what a service is, and how it should be measured. However, the measurement of ‘service’ in children's services is highly varied. We do not know in a meaningful sense what services children and families get. This paper explores why it is important to measure services well. It outlines the dimensions of ‘service’, how they have been measured in research, policy and practice contexts, and the strengths and weaknesses of these approaches. It introduces the differences between standardised and non-standardised measurements, before exploring the implications and challenges for the field. It identifies potential applications of a more detailed and consistent approach to measuring services.
Subject terms:
performance management, social care provision, children, childrens social care;
Journal of Children's Services, 5(3), September 2010, pp.61-68.
Publisher:
Emerald
This paper investigates the impact of the Children Act 1989 on both disabled children and their families. It is presented from the author's perspective of close involvement in this area of policy from 1992 to 2005. The paper suggests that the inclusion of disabled children explicitly for the first time in children's legislation marked a necessary step in seeing disabled children as children first...
This paper investigates the impact of the Children Act 1989 on both disabled children and their families. It is presented from the author's perspective of close involvement in this area of policy from 1992 to 2005. The paper suggests that the inclusion of disabled children explicitly for the first time in children's legislation marked a necessary step in seeing disabled children as children first. The author highlights two main areas of concern about the effectiveness of the Act's implementation. Firstly, provisions in the Act for disabled children living away from home in health and education establishments have been widely ignored and are now seen as inadequate. Secondly, the author questions whether the provisions regarding short break care have been effective in providing the sort of support that families need at the required levels. In conclusion, the author suggests that passing legislation may be insufficient in itself to have much impact on the lives of disabled children.
Subject terms:
social welfare law, social care provision, children, disabilities;
Practitioners need to realise that domestic violence may be a cause of a range of physical, emotional and behavioural difficulties for children. This article highlights key aspects to effective service provision, including: listening to children and young people; interagency collaboration; screening; working with perpetrators and considering diversity.
Practitioners need to realise that domestic violence may be a cause of a range of physical, emotional and behavioural difficulties for children. This article highlights key aspects to effective service provision, including: listening to children and young people; interagency collaboration; screening; working with perpetrators and considering diversity.
Subject terms:
social care provision, young people, children, domestic violence;
The new single body for children's services comes into force this week. But some in the sector believe its expansion will see Ofsted becoming too unwieldy, and see social care slipping down the agenda.
The new single body for children's services comes into force this week. But some in the sector believe its expansion will see Ofsted becoming too unwieldy, and see social care slipping down the agenda.
Subject terms:
inspection, social care provision, children, education;
Journal of Children's Services, 1(3), November 2006, pp.50-62.
Publisher:
Emerald
This article identifies the broad reasons why costs in children's care services might vary, illustrating them with examples from research literature relating to England. An internationally broad use of 'costs' is employed. The literature has been neither systematically nor comprehensively reviewed but does include most of the recent work in the social care field. Articles have been selected...
This article identifies the broad reasons why costs in children's care services might vary, illustrating them with examples from research literature relating to England. An internationally broad use of 'costs' is employed. The literature has been neither systematically nor comprehensively reviewed but does include most of the recent work in the social care field. Articles have been selected to illustrate particular costs, cost variations or cost-effectiveness of children's services. However, the findings provide guidance for decision-makers as they try to understand how resources are currently deployed and why this might be. Areas discussed include: resource prices, location, provider sector, service outputs, working with other organisations, quality of care, user characteristics and needs, and outcomes.
Subject terms:
social care provision, children, cost effectiveness, costs;
When the 35 pathfinder children's trusts were established in 2003, 15 decided to focus on services for disabled children. The author looks at what has been learnt so far.
When the 35 pathfinder children's trusts were established in 2003, 15 decided to focus on services for disabled children. The author looks at what has been learnt so far.
Subject terms:
physical disabilities, social care provision, children, Childrens Trusts;