Research has provided valuable information on how support services in Northern Ireland can be targeted to meet the needs of disabled children and their families, some of which is based on the views of these children and their parents who are most able to identify the types of services they require. It is imperative that this knowledge is incorporated into the delivery and development of support services in Northern Ireland. Research suggests that parents experience poorly coordinated systems and inadequate services especially at particular stages, such as diagnosis or post-school transitions. Respite care services hold potential benefits for disabled children and their families but need to be more flexible, comprehensive, family based and focused on the needs and wishes of disabled children. There is a need to develop more integrated recreational, social and leisure opportunities for disabled children to help combat their social exclusion.
Research has provided valuable information on how support services in Northern Ireland can be targeted to meet the needs of disabled children and their families, some of which is based on the views of these children and their parents who are most able to identify the types of services they require. It is imperative that this knowledge is incorporated into the delivery and development of support services in Northern Ireland. Research suggests that parents experience poorly coordinated systems and inadequate services especially at particular stages, such as diagnosis or post-school transitions. Respite care services hold potential benefits for disabled children and their families but need to be more flexible, comprehensive, family based and focused on the needs and wishes of disabled children. There is a need to develop more integrated recreational, social and leisure opportunities for disabled children to help combat their social exclusion.
Subject terms:
learning disabilities, parents, physical disabilities, short break care, user views, vulnerable children, families;
GREAT BRITAIN. Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for Northern Ireland
Publisher:
Stationery Office
Publication year:
1996
Pagination:
70p.
Place of publication:
Belfast
The Regulations made under the Children Order include permissions and restrictions as to what may or may not be done and also requirements on what must be done. As with the Children Order itself, the Regulations carry the full weight of the law. The guidance issued under the Children Order is not law, but rather what the Department considers to be good practice. This covers: assessment; joint working; parenting; families; social care provision.
The Regulations made under the Children Order include permissions and restrictions as to what may or may not be done and also requirements on what must be done. As with the Children Order itself, the Regulations carry the full weight of the law. The guidance issued under the Children Order is not law, but rather what the Department considers to be good practice. This covers: assessment; joint working; parenting; families; social care provision.
Extended abstract:
Author:NORTHERN IRELAND. Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety Title: Children (NI) Order 1995: regulations and guidance: volume 5: children with a disability Publisher: Stationery Office, 1996
Summary
The guidance issued under the Children Order is not law, but rather what the Department considers good practice, and covers assessment; joint working; parenting; families; and social care provision.
Contents
The preface explains the status of regulations and guidance. The Regulations made under the Children Order include permissions and restrictions as to what may or may not be done and also requirements on what must be done. As with the Children Order itself, the Regulations carry the full weight of the law. The general principles of the Children Order are listed. Chapter 1 is an introduction explaining trusts' duty to provide services for children with a disability. Chapter 2 explains the general requirement for trusts to identify the extent to which there are children in need in their area. Chapter 3 requires trusts to develop appropriate links between professional groups and collaborate with agencies. Chapter 4 covers the need for trusts to develop assessment procedures. Chapter 5 takes the assessment and planning process further, requiring trusts to have regard to the Departmental policy paper ‘People first' when assessing need. Trusts' requirement to work in partnership with parents and children is outlined in Chapter 6. Chapter 7 requires trusts to work with the community to facilitate provision by voluntary organisations and others and develop effective co-ordination, communication and mutual respect between and with professionals and services. Chapter 8 covers services to children living with their families. Chapter 9 places on trusts a need to develop communication with education and library boards at senior management level. The contribution of child health staff is covered in Chapter 10. Chapter 11 considers provision of accommodation as a service to children in need and their families. Foster placements is the theme of Chapter 12. The duties and responsibilities of trusts and others in relation to children in residential care are discussed in Chapter 13. Chapter 14 states that trusts, voluntary organisations and privately-run children's homes have a statutory duty to have a system for considering representations and complaints, and Chapter 15 that trusts have a statutory duty to investigate where a child may be in need of protection. Finally Chapter 16 discusses the transition to adulthood and trusts' duty to prepare young people they are looking after for leaving care and provide after care for young people who have been accommodated by trusts or other agencies.
Subject terms:
joint working, parenting, physical disabilities, social care provision, assessment, children, families;
The subject of housing provision for disabled children and their families in Northern Ireland has to date gained little attention. Their needs for accommodation and for adaptations to their home has not been particularly visible in research or in major policy debates in Northern Ireland. However, other research has found that disabled children are a key group who slip through the net regarding meeting their housing needs. Similarly there has been little discussion of the disabled child’s social environment in terms of participation in the community through social and leisure activities.
The subject of housing provision for disabled children and their families in Northern Ireland has to date gained little attention. Their needs for accommodation and for adaptations to their home has not been particularly visible in research or in major policy debates in Northern Ireland. However, other research has found that disabled children are a key group who slip through the net regarding meeting their housing needs. Similarly there has been little discussion of the disabled child’s social environment in terms of participation in the community through social and leisure activities.
Subject terms:
housing, leisure activities, physical disabilities, unmet need, communities, children, families;
The aim of this project was to provide an extensive profile of disabled children and their families in Northern Ireland through the analysis of the nature of disability, family circumstances and socio-demographic characteristics, and the provision of services in a number of social policy areas (health and social services, education, housing) using data-sets from the PPRU Surveys of Disability. The project included the views of disabled children in Northern Ireland regarding key issues in these areas.
The aim of this project was to provide an extensive profile of disabled children and their families in Northern Ireland through the analysis of the nature of disability, family circumstances and socio-demographic characteristics, and the provision of services in a number of social policy areas (health and social services, education, housing) using data-sets from the PPRU Surveys of Disability. The project included the views of disabled children in Northern Ireland regarding key issues in these areas.
Subject terms:
housing, physical disabilities, social services, social care provision, user participation, children, education, families, health needs;
Child Care in Practice, 7(2), June 2001, pp.141-152.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
The presence of a disabled child is known to increase family stress and parental ill-health. However, it is unclear the extent to which support services can alleviate this. In this study families using two short-break services - both residential and domiciliary - formed the study population. Measures were taken using standardised instruments of children's development and maladaptive behaviours, parental stress, parental health and the supports that the families received from services, professionals and relatives and friends. The findings reinforced the complexity of disentangling the relationships between family needs and service supports. They also suggest that existing presumptions about more services reducing family stress are too simplistic. It is argued that the meaning of support for families needs to be critically reviewed along with an examination of the coping strategies used by families. This should result in better matching of support services to individual family needs.
The presence of a disabled child is known to increase family stress and parental ill-health. However, it is unclear the extent to which support services can alleviate this. In this study families using two short-break services - both residential and domiciliary - formed the study population. Measures were taken using standardised instruments of children's development and maladaptive behaviours, parental stress, parental health and the supports that the families received from services, professionals and relatives and friends. The findings reinforced the complexity of disentangling the relationships between family needs and service supports. They also suggest that existing presumptions about more services reducing family stress are too simplistic. It is argued that the meaning of support for families needs to be critically reviewed along with an examination of the coping strategies used by families. This should result in better matching of support services to individual family needs.
Subject terms:
needs, parents, physical disabilities, short break care, stress, children, coping behaviour, families, health;
Child Care in Practice, 6(3), July 2000, pp.240-252.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
The Children (NI) Order 1995 was implemented in November 1996. This article summarises the findings of a research project carried out by the Centre for Child Care Research studying the initial impact of the Order on the planning and provision of personal social services for disabled children and their families. The research found that, while progress has been made in implementing the Children (NI) Order in relation to disabled children, there is still some way to go if the underpinning philosophy is to be fully achieved.
The Children (NI) Order 1995 was implemented in November 1996. This article summarises the findings of a research project carried out by the Centre for Child Care Research studying the initial impact of the Order on the planning and provision of personal social services for disabled children and their families. The research found that, while progress has been made in implementing the Children (NI) Order in relation to disabled children, there is still some way to go if the underpinning philosophy is to be fully achieved.
Subject terms:
law, outcomes, physical disabilities, social policy, social welfare law, social care provision, children, families, evaluation;
NORTHERN IRELAND. Department of Health and Social Services. Office of Law Reform
Publisher:
Northern Ireland. Department of Health and Social Services
Publication year:
1993
Pagination:
50p.
Place of publication:
Belfast
Proposed order dealing with the care, upbringing and protection of children, and the provision of personal social services for children in need (including disabled children) and their families. The aim is to reform, consolidate and harmonise most of the public and private law relating to children in Northern Ireland in a single statutory framework along the lines of the Children Act 1989.
Proposed order dealing with the care, upbringing and protection of children, and the provision of personal social services for children in need (including disabled children) and their families. The aim is to reform, consolidate and harmonise most of the public and private law relating to children in Northern Ireland in a single statutory framework along the lines of the Children Act 1989.
Subject terms:
law, looked after children, physical disabilities, social welfare law, social care provision, child protection, children, families;
NORTHERN IRELAND. Department of Health and Social Services. Social Services Inspectorate
Publisher:
Northern Ireland. Department of Health and Social Services. Social Services Insp
Publication year:
1994
Pagination:
132p.,tables.
Place of publication:
Belfast
Annual report organised under the following headings: planning and delivery; social and economic conditions; older people; disabled people; people with learning difficulties; people with mental health problems; and children and families.
Annual report organised under the following headings: planning and delivery; social and economic conditions; older people; disabled people; people with learning difficulties; people with mental health problems; and children and families.
Subject terms:
income, learning disabilities, mental health problems, older people, physical disabilities, planning, poverty, social welfare, social care provision, statistical methods, visual impairment, children, families;