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Social work with older people - reducing suicide risk: a critical review of practice and prevention
- Authors:
- MANTHORPE Jill, ILIFFE Steve
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Social Work, 41(1), January 2011, pp.131-147.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Although suicide remains an uncommon event among older people in most developed countries, suicide rates do increase with age, mainly accounted for by the higher incidence among older men. This review draws on four existing reviews and a further search of the literature using a critical interpretive synthesis methodology that emphasises practitioner perspectives. It reveals three problems: a scarcity of research that takes a system-wide approach to suicide prevention in later life; a dearth of evidence about the social work contribution to reducing the risk of suicide in later life; and a noticeable absence of reference to social work practice in national guidelines for mental health practitioners. This absence of social work services from studies about later life suicide arises partly from concentration on medical, nursing and psychological literature and partly from the use of a hierarchy of evidence that grades research by quality of the science and stands to miss accounts of practice, let alone the experiences of older people. This article suggests that emphasis should be given to guideline development, and to improving sub-optimal care and support.
Has service user participation made a difference to social care services?
- Authors:
- SOCIAL CARE INSTITUTE FOR EXCELLENCE, CARR Sarah
- Publisher:
- Social Care Institute for Excellence
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 31p.,bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
This paper brings together the key themes and findings from the synthesis of six literature reviews on the impact of user participation on change and improvement in social care services. Reviews on older people, children and young people, people with learning difficulties and disabled people were commissioned by the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE). Reviews on mental health service user participation and on general user/ consumer involvement were commissioned by NHS Service Delivery and Organisation Research and Development Programme. The aim of this work is to give an overview or synthesis of these reviews in order to provide a comprehensive, accessible account of what is currently known about the impact of service user participation on change and improvement in social care services. It will also provide a basis for SCIE Practice guides on service user participation.
Bruising in older adults: what do social workers need to know?
- Authors:
- MATTHEWS Sarah A. O., REYNOLDS Janet
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Adult Protection, 17(6), 2015, pp.351-359.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to discuss a research study exploring one aspect of adult safeguarding, that of non-accidental injury in older adults, specifically bruising. The study was undertaken with a view to analysing the current relevant literature and examining current practitioners’ views concerning bruising in older adults in order to understand social work practitioners’ awareness of and training in bruising. Design/methodology/approach: The paper describes a small-scale research study including two focus groups of social work and nursing practitioners. Themes arising from transcripts are coded by the analyst and are discussed in light of the summary and explanation of the literature reviewed following an initial scoping and exclusion exercise. Findings: The paper found that there is some evidence of typical and atypical non-accidental bruising emerging in older adults similar to that of children, but this tends to be treated as a clinical matter and mostly directed at medical staff. Research limitations/implications: Because of the chosen research aim, the research results focus on social work practitioners. Researchers are encouraged to explore other constituents further and to extend the scope of the literature review in terms of date and type. Practical implications: This paper will be of interest to all those concerned with the effective understanding of bruising as a sign of non-accidental injury in older people and especially the extent to which social work practitioners and others have to consider bruising during the course of their work with older people. Originality/value This paper fulfils an identified need to study what social work practitioners and others need to know during the course of their work with older adults.