When the 35 pathfinder children's trusts were established in 2003, 15 decided to focus on services for disabled children. The author looks at what has been learnt so far.
When the 35 pathfinder children's trusts were established in 2003, 15 decided to focus on services for disabled children. The author looks at what has been learnt so far.
Subject terms:
physical disabilities, social care provision, children, Childrens Trusts;
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;
Child: Care, Health and Development, 32(4), July 2006, pp.477-492.
Publisher:
Wiley
This article clarifies the nature of 'service integration' and 'service co-ordination' and discusses how these aspects relate to the fundamental goal of providing co-ordinated care for children with disabilities and their families. Based on a review of the service delivery literatures in the fields of health, social services and rehabilitation, a framework is presented that outlines the scope of the co-ordination-related functions and activities encompassed in three common types of approaches to the delivery of co-ordinated care. These are a system/sector-based service integration approach, an agency-based service integration approach and a client/family-based service co-ordination approach. The functions outlined in the framework include aggregate-level planning of services (designed to map out the scope and plan for service provision in a community or geographical area), administrative functions (designed to ensure wise and equitable access to resources) and client-specific service delivery functions (designed to link clients/families to needed services). The framework is a tool that can be used to support policy making and decision making with respect to the design of efforts to provide co-ordinated care. It provides information about commonly used approaches and the essential elements of these approaches, which can be used in making choices about the scope and nature of an approach towards service integration/co-ordination.
This article clarifies the nature of 'service integration' and 'service co-ordination' and discusses how these aspects relate to the fundamental goal of providing co-ordinated care for children with disabilities and their families. Based on a review of the service delivery literatures in the fields of health, social services and rehabilitation, a framework is presented that outlines the scope of the co-ordination-related functions and activities encompassed in three common types of approaches to the delivery of co-ordinated care. These are a system/sector-based service integration approach, an agency-based service integration approach and a client/family-based service co-ordination approach. The functions outlined in the framework include aggregate-level planning of services (designed to map out the scope and plan for service provision in a community or geographical area), administrative functions (designed to ensure wise and equitable access to resources) and client-specific service delivery functions (designed to link clients/families to needed services). The framework is a tool that can be used to support policy making and decision making with respect to the design of efforts to provide co-ordinated care. It provides information about commonly used approaches and the essential elements of these approaches, which can be used in making choices about the scope and nature of an approach towards service integration/co-ordination.
Subject terms:
joint working, physical disabilities, policy, social care provision, children, decision making, health care;
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;
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;