The Children Act brings services for disabled children under the wing of laws designed specifically for children. It is the first attempt to deliver non-stigmatised services focused on keeping families together.
The Children Act brings services for disabled children under the wing of laws designed specifically for children. It is the first attempt to deliver non-stigmatised services focused on keeping families together.
Subject terms:
physical disabilities, stigma, community care, children, families;
Families in Society, 81(6), November 2000, pp.629-633.
Publisher:
The Alliance for Children and Families
Introduces the concept of "community guiding", a new approach implemented in Washington State's family support programme. Community guides, as defined by this programme, are intended to assist families with members who have developmental disabilities in locating community resources - other than "typical" state-funded resources - that are helpful to them in meeting their needs. Results from this qualitative study suggest community guiding has potential as a family support resource, provided there is good communication system-wide and adequate guide recruitment and role definition.
Introduces the concept of "community guiding", a new approach implemented in Washington State's family support programme. Community guides, as defined by this programme, are intended to assist families with members who have developmental disabilities in locating community resources - other than "typical" state-funded resources - that are helpful to them in meeting their needs. Results from this qualitative study suggest community guiding has potential as a family support resource, provided there is good communication system-wide and adequate guide recruitment and role definition.
Subject terms:
physical disabilities, staff, voluntary organisations, community care, children, community work, families;
For most people in need of care, family life is the ideal. Adult placement is becoming a significant contributor to service provision. Looks at the work of the National Association of Adult Placement Schemes (NAAPS) and Shared Care and considers the potential pitfalls of adult placement.
For most people in need of care, family life is the ideal. Adult placement is becoming a significant contributor to service provision. Looks at the work of the National Association of Adult Placement Schemes (NAAPS) and Shared Care and considers the potential pitfalls of adult placement.
Subject terms:
learning disabilities, physical disabilities, placement, adults, community care, families;
Child: Care, Health and Development, 31(2), March 2005, pp.167-180.
Publisher:
Wiley
Community-based rehabilitation (CBR) was recommended by the World Health Organization in 1989 as the strategy for improving the quality of life of disabled people and their families, which should be built on local knowledge and practices. In Uganda, there is no documentation on how services relate to local knowledge. There is a need for increased knowledge and understanding of how family members cope with their disabled children to provide the basis for future service development. A qualitative phenomenological design was used to develop an in-depth understanding of how Ugandan families cope with their disabled children in their own communities. Data were collected from 52 families with children with disabilities from five impairment groups, through interviews and observations in three districts of Uganda, one urban, two rural. There are many children with disabilities who are included, loved and cared for by their families. A lot of time and money is spent on seeking a cure. The extended family systems are breaking down and the main burden of caring for a disabled family member generally falls on one, sometimes two, female carers. Male members act as gatekeepers, controlling the key decisions concerning the child and the associated resources. CBR should move the focus of their services away from the disabled individual towards the whole family. It is important to provide accurate information about causes and prevention of impairments, the realities of a cure, support and respite for the female carers, and opportunities for the involvement of fathers. This methodology is a practical mechanism for collecting data that have the potential to positively influence and guide the development of CBR practice in the locality. At a conceptual level the data support the philosophy of inclusion, social integration, the importance of trust and respect, and utilizing a holistic approach. These are eminently transferable to other settings.
Community-based rehabilitation (CBR) was recommended by the World Health Organization in 1989 as the strategy for improving the quality of life of disabled people and their families, which should be built on local knowledge and practices. In Uganda, there is no documentation on how services relate to local knowledge. There is a need for increased knowledge and understanding of how family members cope with their disabled children to provide the basis for future service development. A qualitative phenomenological design was used to develop an in-depth understanding of how Ugandan families cope with their disabled children in their own communities. Data were collected from 52 families with children with disabilities from five impairment groups, through interviews and observations in three districts of Uganda, one urban, two rural. There are many children with disabilities who are included, loved and cared for by their families. A lot of time and money is spent on seeking a cure. The extended family systems are breaking down and the main burden of caring for a disabled family member generally falls on one, sometimes two, female carers. Male members act as gatekeepers, controlling the key decisions concerning the child and the associated resources. CBR should move the focus of their services away from the disabled individual towards the whole family. It is important to provide accurate information about causes and prevention of impairments, the realities of a cure, support and respite for the female carers, and opportunities for the involvement of fathers. This methodology is a practical mechanism for collecting data that have the potential to positively influence and guide the development of CBR practice in the locality. At a conceptual level the data support the philosophy of inclusion, social integration, the importance of trust and respect, and utilizing a holistic approach. These are eminently transferable to other settings.
Subject terms:
informal care, physical disabilities, rehabilitation, rural areas, short break care, carers, community care, children, families;
Considers the case of a disabled man in care whose sister is determined to look after him in her home. His ability to make an informed choice is critical; psychiatric opinion may be needed if capacity is in question. If there is a lack of capacity, guardianship may be considered. The involvement of the intermediate care team would enable any potential rehabilitation issues to be tackled. This meeting would enable all professionals to highlight concerns and potential problems, should equipment and social care not be in place.
Considers the case of a disabled man in care whose sister is determined to look after him in her home. His ability to make an informed choice is critical; psychiatric opinion may be needed if capacity is in question. If there is a lack of capacity, guardianship may be considered. The involvement of the intermediate care team would enable any potential rehabilitation issues to be tackled. This meeting would enable all professionals to highlight concerns and potential problems, should equipment and social care not be in place.
Subject terms:
home care, intervention, physical disabilities, psychiatric social work, social workers, assistive technology, community care, decision making, families, guardianship;
British Journal of General Practice, November 2001, pp.920-923.
Publisher:
Royal College of General Practitioners
The number of carers in the community is rising, and the importance of general practice in providing support for them has been highlighted. Caring for a disabled friend or relative has been shown to be harmful to the health of the caregiver and changes in social and family structure have led carers to become isolated and more reliant on the formal support services. The shift from hospital to community-based care and the blurring of social roles of responsibility puts additional pressure on the cares and community services. Argues that, general practice is in the best position to help and there are many things that can be done by primary care teams, such as providing information about available support, benefits and local services, which would be appreciated by informal carers.
The number of carers in the community is rising, and the importance of general practice in providing support for them has been highlighted. Caring for a disabled friend or relative has been shown to be harmful to the health of the caregiver and changes in social and family structure have led carers to become isolated and more reliant on the formal support services. The shift from hospital to community-based care and the blurring of social roles of responsibility puts additional pressure on the cares and community services. Argues that, general practice is in the best position to help and there are many things that can be done by primary care teams, such as providing information about available support, benefits and local services, which would be appreciated by informal carers.
Subject terms:
informal care, older people, physical disabilities, primary care, relatives, stress, carers, community care, families, health care;
A study in the North of England collected the views of 28 Asian disabled people on what would make their lives better) and on what would make community care services better. Asian disabled people and their families lacked confidence and trust in service provision. This contributed to low take-up of services. Low take-up of services did not mean low levels of need. People reported feelings of isolation, forced dependency on family members, frustration at not being able to move about freely at home, anxiety and distress. People felt that service providers lacked cultural knowledge, and that they expected Asian disabled people to 'fit in' with existing provision. Several people felt discriminated against on the grounds of disability and race - sometimes by service providers, sometimes by attitudes within their families and communities.
A study in the North of England collected the views of 28 Asian disabled people on what would make their lives better) and on what would make community care services better. Asian disabled people and their families lacked confidence and trust in service provision. This contributed to low take-up of services. Low take-up of services did not mean low levels of need. People reported feelings of isolation, forced dependency on family members, frustration at not being able to move about freely at home, anxiety and distress. People felt that service providers lacked cultural knowledge, and that they expected Asian disabled people to 'fit in' with existing provision. Several people felt discriminated against on the grounds of disability and race - sometimes by service providers, sometimes by attitudes within their families and communities.
Subject terms:
home care, social isolation, outcomes, physical disabilities, quality of life, social care provision, user views, access to services, Asian people, community care, discrimination, families, ethnicity;
This book provides a current overview of research on 'what works' in social care services for children and families. The research covers sections on services for children who are looked after away from home; interventions aimed at reducing the social exclusion of children and young people; and interventions aimed at protecting children or promoting their health. In addition, the book discusses the importance of research evidence to policy and practice, and includes a commentary from young people themselves.
This book provides a current overview of research on 'what works' in social care services for children and families. The research covers sections on services for children who are looked after away from home; interventions aimed at reducing the social exclusion of children and young people; and interventions aimed at protecting children or promoting their health. In addition, the book discusses the importance of research evidence to policy and practice, and includes a commentary from young people themselves.
Extended abstract:
Authors
MCNEISH Diana; NEWMAN Tony; ROBERTS Helen; eds.
Title
What works for children: effective services for children and families.
Publisher
Open University Press, 2002.
Summary
With contributions from experts in the child welfare field, this book provides an overview of the best current evidence from research on 'what works' in social care services for children and families. The research reviews are helpfully laid out in sections covering services for children who are looked after away from home; interventions aimed at reducing the social exclusion of children and young people; and interventions aimed at protecting children or promoting their health. In addition to summaries of the research in these areas, this book discusses the importance of research evidence to policy and practice and includes a commentary from young people themselves.
Context
The Government has made it clear that social care services, in common with other professions, must base practice on the best evidence of what works. Major new investments in child care programmes have been accompanied by an increased emphasis on evidence based practice, particularly interventions that have been validated by research methods featuring 'before' and 'after' measurements and comparison groups. Following the lead in health care, a growing range of consortia - for example, Research in Practice, making Research Count and the Centre for Evidence Based Social Services - are making robust evidence available to an increasing number of social workers. The authors sate that this book will be of use to those working with vulnerable children, in particular social workers, teachers, youth workers and health care professionals.
Contents
The material in this volume is divided into three parts. Part one, which contains four chapters, discusses social care services for adopted and looked after children. Part two, which consists of five chapters, looks at what works in relation to social exclusion, and it suggests that a prerequisite to social inclusion in a democratic society is social engagement. Part three, which contains four chapters, reviews interventions and strategies that can reduce morbidity and mortality, focussing on three distinct but overlapping areas: the protection of children from abuse and neglect, the promotion of children's well-being through the reduction of health inequalities, and supporting families through addressing the single biggest challenge reported by parents and practitioners - how to help children with emotional and behavioural difficulties. Each chapter begins with key messages that are contained within the chapter and concludes with references. The text contains a name index and a subject index.
Conclusion
"Although young people do not use the language of 'effectiveness' or 'evidence-based practice', some of their messages have a lot in common with those outlined by the contributors to this book. Many young people who have experience of the care system, for example, concur with the messages in Part 1 of this book about the importance of listening to young people and providing support during and after care. These young people and others can also speak eloquently about the experiences of social exclusion highlighted in Part 2 and many of the issues concerning health and safety in Part 3 are also echoed by young people. Of course, the views of young people, however carefully collected, are themselves only one source of evidence. To pretend that young people have all the answers would be both foolish and patronising. But they provide a source of knowledge that has frequently been overlooked and, combined with other sources, they offer an essential addition to the evidence base for practice."
860 References
ISBN 0 335 20938 6
Subject terms:
looked after children, physical disabilities, social exclusion, social services, user participation, vulnerable children, child protection, community care, children, children in need, families, evidence-based practice, health needs;