Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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Exploring the experiences of parents and carers whose children have been subject to Child Protection Plans
- Authors:
- GHAFFAR Wendy, MANBY Martin, RACE Tracey
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Social Work, 42(5), 2012, pp.887-905.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Child protection investigations are likely to be traumatic events that seriously disrupt family life. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of families subject to Child Protection Plans in 3 local authorities in Northern England in 2009. Detailed semi-structured interviews were held with 47 parents from 42 families. Twenty-five of these parents highlighted domestic abuse and mental health issues and 21 identified drug or alcohol issues as impacting negatively on their parenting. Most parents had positive experiences of help with drug or alcohol issues, and but the parents experiencing domestic abuse or allegations of child sexual abuse were less positive. Parents had a clear understanding of the responsibilities of child protection social workers. Three-quarters of families were able to identify positive qualities in the professionals who supported them. They did not expect an equal role in decision making. Parents' and professionals' views tended to converge over time. Absorbing information at the start of the process was difficult for many parents. Most found case conferences daunting and intimidating, and reports often reached them too late. The findings demonstrate the potential for positive outcomes through child protection interventions.
Making decisions about parental mental health: an exploratory study of community mental health team staff
- Authors:
- ROUF Khadj, LARKIN Michael, LOWE Geoff
- Journal article citation:
- Child Abuse Review, 21(3), May 2012, pp.173-189.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Mental health problems in parents can impact on their parenting ability. Research indicates that children of parents with mental health problems are at higher risk of developing mental health problems. In extreme cases, mental health problems are associated with a risk of fatal child abuse. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) workers of decision-making in the interface between mental health and child welfare. A total of 13 workers (3 community psychiatric nurses, 3 psychologists, 3 social workers, and 4 psychiatrists) were interviewed about their experiences of clinical decision-making regarding child welfare. Interviews and accounts were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Influences on decision-making were explored and triangulated with the accounts of Named Nurses for Child Protection. The findings revealed that CMHT participants were aware of their responsibilities towards children, but a complex synthesis of factors impacted on their sense-making about risk and welfare. Three superordinate themes emerged: the tensions of working across systems; trying to balance the perceptions and feelings involved in sense-making; and the role that interpersonal dynamics play in the understanding and management of risk. The paper focuses in particular on perceptions and feelings.
Capacity to choose and refuse? A case study
- Authors:
- GUTHRIE Susan, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, 6(6), 2012, pp.293-300.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
This case study reflects on the risk assessment, treatment, and care issues for a man in his late thirties with a learning disability, mental illness and a degenerative neurological condition who was under Section by the Mental Health Act. It focuses on the distinctive roles and perspectives of the members of the multidisciplinary team supporting him. The management of risk for this man was particularly complex due to his self-harming and impulsivity. The article focuses on issues around referral to speech and language assessment for dysphagia and management advice. Each specialist clinician (nurse, speech and language therapist, psychiatrist) reflects on their role as a member of a team. The perspective of the man himself is represented, although he was unable to give a consistent descriptive self report. For people with mental illness and intellectual disability the capacity to understand and retain information about their condition may be limited and variable. The authors discuss the multiple ethical issues in attempting to preserve a modified autonomy and in decision making around best interests. They look at the particular challenges encountered when supporting someone with dysphagia if the person is unable to understand and refuses to comply with guidelines outlining restrictions to mealtime choices.
Implementing recovery through organisational change 2: recovery, personalisation and personal budgets
- Authors:
- ALAKESON Vidhya, PERKINS Rachel
- Publisher:
- Centre for Mental Health
- Publication year:
- 2012
- Pagination:
- 16p.
- Place of publication:
- London
One of a series of briefings for the Implementing Recovery through Organisational Change project, this paper aims to explore the links between recovery and personalisation and their part in a common agenda for mental health system transformation. It describes personalisation, personal budgets in social care, and personal health budgets in the NHS (noting that 26 pilot sites are currently experimenting with these for mental health in areas such as early intervention, assertive outreach, and older people's mental health services). It examines the philosophy and objectives of recovery and personalisation in the context of the current service system, and discusses the implications of personalised recovery-focused practice and shared decision-making. It also looks at personal health budgets as tools for recovery, identifying 8 core features and arguing that these need to be put in place to ensure that recovery-oriented services maximise the potential of personal health budgets.