Part of Barnardos 'What Works' series, this report discusses what it views as effective practice with families who have disabled children up to the age of sixteen. While much of the evidence reviewed comes from practitioners and academics, the main source of information as to what works best comes from parents, an essential point of information as they are the ones with the hands on experience. It is also necessary to draw attention to the views of children themselves. This report acknowledges that these feature less prominently as they have not been investigated as much as the views of adults in the past.
Part of Barnardos 'What Works' series, this report discusses what it views as effective practice with families who have disabled children up to the age of sixteen. While much of the evidence reviewed comes from practitioners and academics, the main source of information as to what works best comes from parents, an essential point of information as they are the ones with the hands on experience. It is also necessary to draw attention to the views of children themselves. This report acknowledges that these feature less prominently as they have not been investigated as much as the views of adults in the past.
Extended abstract:
Beresford, Bryony et al. What works in services for families with a disabled child? Barnardo's 1996
Summary
Part of Barnardos "What Works" series, this report discusses what it views as effective practice with families who have disabled children up to the age of sixteen. While much of the evidence reviewed comes from practitioners and academics, the main source of information as to what works best comes from parents, an essential point of information as they are the ones with the hands on experience. It is also necessary to draw attention to the views of children themselves. This report acknowledges that these feature less prominently as they have not been investigated as much as the views of adults in the past.
Context
Recent policy changes within health, education and social services have demanded, or provided the opportunity for, a reconsideration of the services provided to disabled children and their families. This has included the mainstreaming of disabled children into children's policy. This move is welcomed but concern has been expressed, by practitioners and researchers, that disabled children and their families may be disadvantaged in a number of ways. Firstly, there may be a lack of knowledge and expertise on the support needs of families with a disabled child. Secondly, social services departments may operate a crisis management style of service provision characterised by resolving immediate problems rather than providing long term support. Finally there is the issue of allocation of resources. There is also potential for a number of positive outcomes. For the first time the views of parents and children has been acknowledged as a vital part of service provision, delivery and evaluation. The requirement of local authorities to draw up Children's Service Plans and the new market structures operating within the health and social services have the possibility of leading to providers rethinking the way they support disabled children and their families, and promoting innovation.
Method
This report draws on research-based evidence though due to lack of material in this area two other main bodies of research are utilised. Firstly, studies which have sought to identify those factors which either help or hinder families in their efforts to cope with the significant additional demands of caring for a disabled child. Secondly, work which has described the needs of disabled children and their families. This report draws predominantly on UK literature though occasionally work from other countries is cited. It takes a whole family approach, exploring the influence of family members on each other and the different roles played by individuals within the family group. Also contained within is an investigation of methods and methodologies of research.
Contents
The introduction describes the children with whom the report is concerned and the range of issues being addressed such as the scope of the report and definitions. The following chapter "Assessing Effectiveness", considers the different research methods that may be used to explore "what works", their respective merits and the degree in which we may have confidence in their findings. The main section of the report "Meeting families' Needs" discusses the strategies that services can use to increase the likelihood that a family with a disabled child will get the kind of support they need the most. The conclusion summarises the main points made in the report. The main report contains examples of good practice. Chapter two of the report emphasises that the report is not a review of good practice.
Conclusion
"Without qualitative studies, we would be hard pressed to understand the social worlds of those with whom we work and without this understanding, we cannot begin to conceptualise interventions which will be acceptable, let alone effective. However, the development of effective services requires other forms of evidence."
More and more visually impaired children are being raised in their own homes. Parents, other members of the family, friends, physicians, teachers and others can contribute to the optimum development and integration of the visually impaired child provided they have some understanding of what this handicap signifies. There are still far too many people who have an entirely false idea; who believe that clumsiness, insecurity and dependence are typical of visually impaired people. This book presents a very different picture. People who are confronted with a handicap endeavor to find a new balance from which further development is possible. And most visually impaired people succeed in doing this - with or without expert assistance. People can live with a visual impairment and it need not stand in the way of their happiness. The book is about children who have no other serious handicaps in addition to the visual impairment. It covers the childhood and teenage years into young adulthood, tracing the various developmental phases from birth through to the social establishment of the visually impaired adult. It offers the parents of visually impaired children a glimpse of the future, so that they can get some idea of what the future may hold for themselves and their children.
More and more visually impaired children are being raised in their own homes. Parents, other members of the family, friends, physicians, teachers and others can contribute to the optimum development and integration of the visually impaired child provided they have some understanding of what this handicap signifies. There are still far too many people who have an entirely false idea; who believe that clumsiness, insecurity and dependence are typical of visually impaired people. This book presents a very different picture. People who are confronted with a handicap endeavor to find a new balance from which further development is possible. And most visually impaired people succeed in doing this - with or without expert assistance. People can live with a visual impairment and it need not stand in the way of their happiness. The book is about children who have no other serious handicaps in addition to the visual impairment. It covers the childhood and teenage years into young adulthood, tracing the various developmental phases from birth through to the social establishment of the visually impaired adult. It offers the parents of visually impaired children a glimpse of the future, so that they can get some idea of what the future may hold for themselves and their children.
Adolescence is hard for most of us, but for an individual with Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (DCD) it can be twice as hard. Amanda Kirby, Medical Director of the Dyscovery Centre and the mother of a DCD child herself, addresses the main difficulties encountered by adolescents with DCD, including building relationships and coping with secondary school. With a common sense approach she provides a series of practical ideas on how individuals can tackle these difficulties making The Adolescent with Developmental Co-ordination Disorder an essential resource for adolescents with DCD, as well as parents, teachers and health professionals.
Adolescence is hard for most of us, but for an individual with Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (DCD) it can be twice as hard. Amanda Kirby, Medical Director of the Dyscovery Centre and the mother of a DCD child herself, addresses the main difficulties encountered by adolescents with DCD, including building relationships and coping with secondary school. With a common sense approach she provides a series of practical ideas on how individuals can tackle these difficulties making The Adolescent with Developmental Co-ordination Disorder an essential resource for adolescents with DCD, as well as parents, teachers and health professionals.
Subject terms:
mobility impairment, physical disabilities, resilience, self-esteem, school exclusion, young people, adolescence, child development, emotions, families;
Children with developmental delays often suffer feeding difficulties. It has become common for those with a severe likelihood of malnutrition to be considered for alternative methods of nutritional intake, often gastrostomy. As part of a pilot study investigating the effects of gastrostomy on the child and their family, the authors conducted a literature review. This paper describes the method and findings of the literature review and concludes with a discussion of the topics raised. The main conclusion is that although the need for gastrostomy in this group of children has shown to be effective in maintaining adequate weight gain and nutritional intake, the support given to the family prior to, and after the operation is inadequate.
Children with developmental delays often suffer feeding difficulties. It has become common for those with a severe likelihood of malnutrition to be considered for alternative methods of nutritional intake, often gastrostomy. As part of a pilot study investigating the effects of gastrostomy on the child and their family, the authors conducted a literature review. This paper describes the method and findings of the literature review and concludes with a discussion of the topics raised. The main conclusion is that although the need for gastrostomy in this group of children has shown to be effective in maintaining adequate weight gain and nutritional intake, the support given to the family prior to, and after the operation is inadequate.
Subject terms:
learning disabilities, literature reviews, nutrition, physical disabilities, child development, children, families, health needs;
GREAT BRITAIN. Department for Education and Skills, GREAT BRITAIN. Department of Health
Publisher:
Great Britain. Department for Education and Skills
Publication year:
2002
Pagination:
41p.
Place of publication:
Nottingham
`Where children have special needs and disabilities, it is important that identification leads directly to effective early intervention and support for families and children. This guidance is designed to improve service provision to very young disabled children and their families. Content include: assessment and early intervention; coordinating service provision, ways of working in partnership; working with children and families; planning a family-centred approach to service delivery.
`Where children have special needs and disabilities, it is important that identification leads directly to effective early intervention and support for families and children. This guidance is designed to improve service provision to very young disabled children and their families. Content include: assessment and early intervention; coordinating service provision, ways of working in partnership; working with children and families; planning a family-centred approach to service delivery.
Subject terms:
intervention, learning disabilities, physical disabilities, social care provision, assessment, babies, child development, children, children in need, Department for Education and Skills, early intervention, education, families, family-centred approach;
Children and Society, 15(5), November 2001, pp.285-301.
Publisher:
Wiley
Combating social exclusion is a dominant theme in the current policy agenda. This paper draws together a dialogue between the idea of risk and social exclusion. With reference to the research literatures the nature of social exclusion and the risk factors and protective factors for children are discussed.
Combating social exclusion is a dominant theme in the current policy agenda. This paper draws together a dialogue between the idea of risk and social exclusion. With reference to the research literatures the nature of social exclusion and the risk factors and protective factors for children are discussed.
Published on behalf of the National Children's Bureau, topics covered by this journal include: early years of childhood; child health; education; children's rights; child care law; child protection; children and the courts; children and young people with disabilities; service delivery systems; children and our underlying values; the world of children; international perspectives. Articles from this journal are abstracted and indexed selectively on Social Care Online.
Published on behalf of the National Children's Bureau, topics covered by this journal include: early years of childhood; child health; education; children's rights; child care law; child protection; children and the courts; children and young people with disabilities; service delivery systems; children and our underlying values; the world of children; international perspectives. Articles from this journal are abstracted and indexed selectively on Social Care Online.
Research Policy and Planning, 18(2), 2000, pp.13-21.
Publisher:
Social Services Research Group
There is now a considerable body of research which shows that when children undertake significant care work within the home, and where they and their families lack appropriate health and social care support and adequate income, then many children can experience a range of outcomes, including impaired well-being, health and psycho-social development, poor educational attendance and performance, restricted peer networks and friendships and difficulties in making the smooth transition from childhood to adulthood. This article reviews the main research studies on young carers in the UK, examines the services available to support young carers and identifies the implications for future policy and practice, particularly in social care.
There is now a considerable body of research which shows that when children undertake significant care work within the home, and where they and their families lack appropriate health and social care support and adequate income, then many children can experience a range of outcomes, including impaired well-being, health and psycho-social development, poor educational attendance and performance, restricted peer networks and friendships and difficulties in making the smooth transition from childhood to adulthood. This article reviews the main research studies on young carers in the UK, examines the services available to support young carers and identifies the implications for future policy and practice, particularly in social care.
Subject terms:
literature reviews, outcomes, parent-child relations, parents, physical disabilities, policy, quality of life, social welfare law, young carers, young people, assessment, child development, children, families;
Finds out how a social worker in a children with disabilities team in Hackney tackles the difficult issue of whether the needs of a child with cerebral palsy, epilepsy and learning difficulties could be met at home from a vulnerable mother who lacks parenting skills, but nonetheless provides love.
Finds out how a social worker in a children with disabilities team in Hackney tackles the difficult issue of whether the needs of a child with cerebral palsy, epilepsy and learning difficulties could be met at home from a vulnerable mother who lacks parenting skills, but nonetheless provides love.
Subject terms:
learning disabilities, mothers, needs, parental role, parents, parents with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, risk, social work, social workers, child development, children, decision making, families;
Handbook promoting the concept of inclusion by recognising each disabled child as a unique individual, who is a child first, sharing the same needs and desires as all children. Contains chapters on: the legal framework of inclusive services; underpinning values and principles; developing inclusive policies; taking part in assessment and statementing; working with parents; guide to the professionals involved with families; practical aspects of play and learning; how to get experience and training; and local resources and networks.
Handbook promoting the concept of inclusion by recognising each disabled child as a unique individual, who is a child first, sharing the same needs and desires as all children. Contains chapters on: the legal framework of inclusive services; underpinning values and principles; developing inclusive policies; taking part in assessment and statementing; working with parents; guide to the professionals involved with families; practical aspects of play and learning; how to get experience and training; and local resources and networks.
Subject terms:
law, parents, physical disabilities, play, policy formulation, social policy, social care provision, staff, staff development, training, child development, children, families, equal opportunities, ethics;