Search results for ‘Subject term:"learning disabilities"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 5 of 5
Adult family placement schemes for older carers: perceptions of users, family carers, placement providers and social workers
- Authors:
- McCONKEY Roy, et al
- Publisher:
- Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities
- Publication year:
- 2002
- Pagination:
- 55p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
This report culminates from research undertaken into the feasibility of adult placement schemes in meeting the needs of older carers and their relatives with learning disabilities in Northern Ireland. This research was funded in part by a grant from the Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities, as part of the GOLD (Growing Older with Learning Disabilities) Programme.
Family placement schemes for adult persons with intellectual disabilities living with elderly carers
- Authors:
- McCONKEY Roy, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Learning Disabilities, 8(3), September 2004, pp.267-282.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Few family placement schemes involve adult persons, and rarely have they been targeted at older carers. Twenty-five carers, aged 55 years and over, of people with intellectual disabilities using one of two placement schemes in Northern Ireland were studied, along with a further 20 carers recommended for these schemes. Semi-structured individual interviews were used to obtain the views of carers, people with intellectual disabilities and placement providers. The placement schemes were very favourably received. Carers welcomed the break and valued the relationship with the placement provider. Individuals with disability reported greater opportunities to participate in activities. Placement providers were very satisfied with the way the schemes operated: the main complaint was the low level of payments. Key factors affecting the further development of services include recruitment of male providers, registration issues, training of providers and the difficulty in meeting the needs of multiply disabled persons.
Disabled children and young people in out-of-home-care: summary report
- Authors:
- KELLY Berni, DOWLING Sandra, WINTER Karen
- Publishers:
- Queens University Belfast, Northern Ireland. Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister
- Publication year:
- 2016
- Pagination:
- 68
- Place of publication:
- Belfast
This report summarises the key findings of an Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) funded study to examine the over-representation of disabled children and young people in out-of-home care in Northern Ireland (NI). It summarises the findings of a review of literature on out-of-home care for disabled children and young people and looks at the demographic profile of disabled children in out-of-home care, those fully looked after and those looked after for short breaks. Drawing on the findings of interviews and analysis of case files, it presents findings on the needs and experiences of fully looked after disabled children, as well as the views of their birth parents, carers and social workers. The research found evidence of good professional practice, including examples of partnerships with families and integrated working. Areas identified for development and improvement include: early intervention and family support; investment in relationships and support whilst in care; inequality in services access, for example CAMHS; investment in a broader range of placement options and increased opportunity for permanence; improvement in multi-disciplinary and multi-sector working; promoting children's participation in services. (Edited publisher abstract)
Profiling the population of disabled children and young people in out-of-home care in Northern Ireland
- Authors:
- KELLY Berni, DOWLING Sandra, WINTER Karen
- Publishers:
- Queens University Belfast, Northern Ireland. Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 99
- Place of publication:
- Belfast
This report presents an analysis of the profile of the population of disabled looked after children (LAC) and young people in NI across two distinct groups: 323 disabled fully LAC (living away from home on a full time basis) and 164 disabled children and young people looked after due to short breaks. It is the second phase of a wider study on the characteristics and experiences of disabled children and young people looked after in Northern Ireland. The report examines the demographic characteristics of the population; family background; looked after experience, such as reason for entry to care and placement type; safeguarding; education; access to mental health services and transitional support. It finds that the total of 323 disabled fully LAC represents 11.2% of the total LAC population, showing that disabled children and young people continue to be overrepresented in the LAC population (7% of the general child population in NI being disabled). Those who are fully LAC will have come into care because they cannot remain in their birth family home, often due to child protection concerns. Short break LAC are engaged with short breaks for family support reasons as well as a social and developmental opportunities for the child (although there are safeguarding issues for some). (Edited publisher abstract)
A national comparative study over one decade of children with intellectual disabilities living away from their natural parents
- Authors:
- McCONKEY Roy, KELLY Fionnola, GRAIG Sarah
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Social Work, 44(3), 2014, pp.714-728.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Children with intellectual disabilities are more likely than non-disabled children to live away from their families. Internationally, the aspiration is for them to live at home or in alternative family placements. This study uses national data on over 700 children from the Republic of Ireland to monitor their living arrangements over a ten-year period. In that time, the numbers of children in care had fallen significantly and especially for those in residential settings aged ten years and over. Nonetheless, proportionately more children with intellectual disability of all ages moved away from their families, especially those aged ten to nineteen years. However, compared to non-disabled children, fewer were placed in foster-care, although the extent of this varied across the local health areas. Over the ten-year period, only small proportions of children returned to their families or moved from residential to foster-care. These findings are combined with those from international studies to identify changes in service provision and social work. A particular challenge is the promotion of cross-sector working between mainstream child and family services with specialist disability services. (Publisher abstract)