Journal of Learning Disabilities, 7(4), December 2003, pp.363-374.
Publisher:
Sage
The past decade has been a time of great political, social and economic change within Poland. Such changes have affected the lives of all citizens including those with an intellectual disability. However, within the English language literature there is little published concerning the impact of changes in social policy on this group of people and the extent to which their quality of life has been enhanced. This article thus considers the difficult relationship between quality of life and social policy, provides an overview of key policy developments within Poland (both general and disability specific), and outlines some ways in which they have impacted on the lives of people with intellectual disabilities. It is suggested that further research is required before clear conclusions can be drawn. Areas for service development and research are thus proposed.
The past decade has been a time of great political, social and economic change within Poland. Such changes have affected the lives of all citizens including those with an intellectual disability. However, within the English language literature there is little published concerning the impact of changes in social policy on this group of people and the extent to which their quality of life has been enhanced. This article thus considers the difficult relationship between quality of life and social policy, provides an overview of key policy developments within Poland (both general and disability specific), and outlines some ways in which they have impacted on the lives of people with intellectual disabilities. It is suggested that further research is required before clear conclusions can be drawn. Areas for service development and research are thus proposed.
Subject terms:
learning disabilities, physical disabilities, quality of life, social policy, social care provision;
A research study by the Institute of Public Care, 'Gain without Pain', is reviewed. The study shows how the voluntary sector can offer innovative ways of meeting three challenges facing social care: increasing demand; decreasing funds; and changing expectations. It uses ten case studies, each one showing a different way of offering innovative delivery of services, to promote the benefits of commissioning the voluntary sector to provide services. Practice implications for commissioners, support planners and brokers, and voluntary organisations are provided.
A research study by the Institute of Public Care, 'Gain without Pain', is reviewed. The study shows how the voluntary sector can offer innovative ways of meeting three challenges facing social care: increasing demand; decreasing funds; and changing expectations. It uses ten case studies, each one showing a different way of offering innovative delivery of services, to promote the benefits of commissioning the voluntary sector to provide services. Practice implications for commissioners, support planners and brokers, and voluntary organisations are provided.
Subject terms:
learning disabilities, physical disabilities, social care provision, voluntary organisations, voluntary sector, commissioning, disabilities;
Despite Every Child Matters, outcomes for disabled children and their families are still very poor. The Every Disabled Child Matters campaign believes that services for disabled children need more funding, coupled with prioritisation within the performance management frameworks for local government and health agencies. The 2007 comprehensive spending review is the ideal time to address the inequalities in outcomes for disabled children and their families.
Despite Every Child Matters, outcomes for disabled children and their families are still very poor. The Every Disabled Child Matters campaign believes that services for disabled children need more funding, coupled with prioritisation within the performance management frameworks for local government and health agencies. The 2007 comprehensive spending review is the ideal time to address the inequalities in outcomes for disabled children and their families.
Subject terms:
learning disabilities, outcomes, physical disabilities, social care provision, children, disabilities, financing;
This new duty will have a significant impact on the whole social care sector and therefore anybody involved in, or who has an interest in social care, needs to both understand and get involved in this process. This guidance is the starting point for this.
This new duty will have a significant impact on the whole social care sector and therefore anybody involved in, or who has an interest in social care, needs to both understand and get involved in this process. This guidance is the starting point for this.
Subject terms:
learning disabilities, physical disabilities, social care, social care provision, disability discrimination, discrimination, employment;
The development of the children’s trust model for delivery of local services is at the heart of legislation and policy regarding all children and young people. The development of the pathfinder children’s trust’s work has been at the forefront in taking forward the duties set out in the Children Act 2004. Thirty five pathfinder children’s trusts were announced in 2003. Their brief was to improve partnership working and try out ways of doing this which suited local needs. Each children’s trust had a specific area which they identified as a focus for the development of an effective model. A third of the children’s trusts had identified disabled children’s services as their priority areas of work.
The development of the children’s trust model for delivery of local services is at the heart of legislation and policy regarding all children and young people. The development of the pathfinder children’s trust’s work has been at the forefront in taking forward the duties set out in the Children Act 2004. Thirty five pathfinder children’s trusts were announced in 2003. Their brief was to improve partnership working and try out ways of doing this which suited local needs. Each children’s trust had a specific area which they identified as a focus for the development of an effective model. A third of the children’s trusts had identified disabled children’s services as their priority areas of work.
Extended abstract:
Author
WHEATLEY Helen.
Title
Pathways to success: good practice guide for children's services in the development of services for disabled children: evidence from the pathfinder children's trusts.
Publisher
Council for Disabled Children, 2006
Summary
This guide looks at the development and learning from pathfinder children's trusts and how support and services can be improved.
Context
The development of the children's trust model for delivery of local services is at the heart of legislation and policy regarding all children and young people. The development of the pathfinder children's trust's work has been at the forefront in taking forward the duties set out in the Children Act 2004. Thirty-five pathfinder children's trusts were announced in 2003. Their brief was to improve partnership working and try out ways of doing this which suited local needs. Each children's trust had a specific area which they identified as a focus for the development of an effective model. A third of the children's trusts had identified disabled children's services as their priority areas of work.
Contents
An introduction outlines the development of the children's trust model for delivery of local services, describing the brief of the 35 trusts announced in 2003, the interest generated, and the origins of the project leading to this guide. The development of children's trusts is described. The trusts were asked to identify key work areas they would be concentrating one including areas of particular concern, and common threads were identified. Priorities included agreeing shared aims and objectives within the strategic planning framework and across agencies; agreement of workstreams across agencies; developing an effective communication strategy; pooling budgets; making the children's trust a priority in wider authority/council business; co-location of mixed staff teams; joint training for staff groups; linking in with the development of extended schools/services; transition to adulthood for disabled young people; and participation of parents and young people. From these came a number of workstreams. The bulk of the guide describes the key work areas: strategic planning; commissioning services and pooling budgets; joint working and co-location; assessment process and information sharing; keyworking and lead professionals; developing capacity for change; transition to adulthood; evaluation; participation of disabled children and young people; and participation of parents and carers in children's trusts. Sections give the background, legislation and guidance, good practice, key elements of success, and a conclusion.
Conclusion
A final section on 'The future' says the aims of developing local children's trust arrangements have been well received in most areas. There is real evidence of change which has led to an improvement in services and support. The approach has been flexible to accommodate local needs. Much has been achieved but there is still much to do. As the role of children's trusts continues to develop it is becoming evident that other developing initiatives are not always interlinking with the children's trust agenda and in some instances are duplicating or going in a different direction. Examples are given. In the move towards further integrated services it is essential to ensure all services are included in changes. Appendices give and extract from the job description for the post of Disabled Children Integrated Services Manager at the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, an article on the problem of developing inter-agency transition pathways for disabled and special needs young people in Leicester , and notes on key elements of success in parents' participation in children's trusts.
45 references
ISBN 1 904787 8
Subject terms:
learning disabilities, physical disabilities, social services, social care provision, vulnerable children, Childrens Trusts, collaboration;
This paper has been commissioned by the Disability Rights Commission (DRC), the National Centre for Independent Living (NCIL) and Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE). Its purpose is to assist the work of these three organisations in promoting independent living for disabled people by: identifying areas of social care policy and practice that are of relevance to independent living and the human rights of disabled people; considering the opportunities created by the Human Rights Act 1998 (the HRA) to promote independent living; and in the light of this analysis, suggesting future research in social care practice.
This paper has been commissioned by the Disability Rights Commission (DRC), the National Centre for Independent Living (NCIL) and Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE). Its purpose is to assist the work of these three organisations in promoting independent living for disabled people by: identifying areas of social care policy and practice that are of relevance to independent living and the human rights of disabled people; considering the opportunities created by the Human Rights Act 1998 (the HRA) to promote independent living; and in the light of this analysis, suggesting future research in social care practice.
Subject terms:
independent living, human rights, learning disabilities, physical disabilities, policy, social care provision, equal opportunities;
Queen's University Belfast. Centre for Child Care Research
Publication year:
1999
Pagination:
75p.
Place of publication:
Belfast
Aims 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). The project included the views of disabled children making the transition to adulthood in Northern Ireland regarding key issues in these areas.
Aims 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). The project included the views of disabled children making the transition to adulthood in Northern Ireland regarding key issues in these areas.
Subject terms:
learning disabilities, physical disabilities, social policy, social care provision, service transitions, voluntary organisations, demographics;
Child: Care, Health and Development, 32(2), March 2006, pp.147-157.
Publisher:
Wiley
Research has shown that families of disabled children who have a key worker benefit from this service and recent policy initiatives emphasize the importance of such services. However, research is lacking on which characteristics of key worker schemes for disabled children are related to better outcomes for families. A postal questionnaire was completed by 189 parents with disabled children who were receiving a service in seven key worker schemes in England and Wales. Path analysis was used to investigate associations between characteristics of the services and outcomes for families (satisfaction with the service, impact of key worker on quality of life, parent unmet need, child unmet need). The four path models showed that key workers carrying out more aspects of the key worker role, appropriate amounts of contact with key workers, regular training, supervision and peer support for key workers, and having a dedicated service manager and a clear job description for key workers were associated with better outcomes for families. Characteristics of services had only a small impact on child unmet need, suggesting that other aspects of services were affecting child unmet need. Implications for policy and practice are discussed, including the need for regular training, supervision and peer support for key workers and negotiated time and resources for them to carry out the role. These influence the extent to which key workers carry out all aspects of the key worker's role and their amount of contact with families, which in turn impact on outcomes.
Research has shown that families of disabled children who have a key worker benefit from this service and recent policy initiatives emphasize the importance of such services. However, research is lacking on which characteristics of key worker schemes for disabled children are related to better outcomes for families. A postal questionnaire was completed by 189 parents with disabled children who were receiving a service in seven key worker schemes in England and Wales. Path analysis was used to investigate associations between characteristics of the services and outcomes for families (satisfaction with the service, impact of key worker on quality of life, parent unmet need, child unmet need). The four path models showed that key workers carrying out more aspects of the key worker role, appropriate amounts of contact with key workers, regular training, supervision and peer support for key workers, and having a dedicated service manager and a clear job description for key workers were associated with better outcomes for families. Characteristics of services had only a small impact on child unmet need, suggesting that other aspects of services were affecting child unmet need. Implications for policy and practice are discussed, including the need for regular training, supervision and peer support for key workers and negotiated time and resources for them to carry out the role. These influence the extent to which key workers carry out all aspects of the key worker's role and their amount of contact with families, which in turn impact on outcomes.
Subject terms:
keyworkers, learning disabilities, physical disabilities, social care provision, children, families;
Child: Care, Health and Development, 32(2), March 2006, pp.159-163.
Publisher:
Wiley
This study gathered information about perceptions of family carers of children and young people with developmental disabilities and challenging behaviour of the help, support and treatment received from services and professionals. A total of 66 family carers completed postal questionnaires on the nature of, and their satisfaction with, services, professional help and advice received in respect of their family member's challenging behaviour. Most carers were dissatisfied with support and services received. Almost half reported receiving no professional input or none that was helpful. Over two-thirds reported receiving respite care but, in a third of these, the child had been excluded because of challenging behaviour. Families of children with challenging behaviour often do not receive services and supports that they find helpful. Treatments provided are not always evidence based. The 'rationing' of services creates a danger of inequality of access. We need a more proactive approach to identifying and meeting the need for family support.
This study gathered information about perceptions of family carers of children and young people with developmental disabilities and challenging behaviour of the help, support and treatment received from services and professionals. A total of 66 family carers completed postal questionnaires on the nature of, and their satisfaction with, services, professional help and advice received in respect of their family member's challenging behaviour. Most carers were dissatisfied with support and services received. Almost half reported receiving no professional input or none that was helpful. Over two-thirds reported receiving respite care but, in a third of these, the child had been excluded because of challenging behaviour. Families of children with challenging behaviour often do not receive services and supports that they find helpful. Treatments provided are not always evidence based. The 'rationing' of services creates a danger of inequality of access. We need a more proactive approach to identifying and meeting the need for family support.
Subject terms:
learning disabilities, physical disabilities, short break care, social care provision, carers, children, families;