Disability and Society, 15(3), May 2000, pp.411-425.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
'Quality of life' experiences for people with disabilities who are highly dependent on services that are delivered in home-based environments are strongly influenced by the nature of their interactions with service workers. This paper discusses findings of a study involving 14 agencies in Western Australia, which provide living environment services for young people with disabilities and older adults, to gain insight into service users' daily experiences and their perceptions of quality in receiving services.
'Quality of life' experiences for people with disabilities who are highly dependent on services that are delivered in home-based environments are strongly influenced by the nature of their interactions with service workers. This paper discusses findings of a study involving 14 agencies in Western Australia, which provide living environment services for young people with disabilities and older adults, to gain insight into service users' daily experiences and their perceptions of quality in receiving services.
Subject terms:
models, physical disabilities, quality of life, social networks, social care provision, social workers, social worker-service user relationships, user views, evaluation;
This paper reviews the evidence for the effectiveness of different kinds of family support services, focusing on those that social services departments are likely to commission or provide to support families who are disadvantaged or experiencing particular difficulties in their lives. The aims of this paper are: to describe different methods of evaluation, and outline some of the problems and issues raised by evaluating social welfare provision in general and family support services in particular; to provide a brief overview of the research evidence on ‘what works’ in different kinds of family support provided for children in need; to bring together information on various measures and scales which have been used to evaluate family support services.
This paper reviews the evidence for the effectiveness of different kinds of family support services, focusing on those that social services departments are likely to commission or provide to support families who are disadvantaged or experiencing particular difficulties in their lives. The aims of this paper are: to describe different methods of evaluation, and outline some of the problems and issues raised by evaluating social welfare provision in general and family support services in particular; to provide a brief overview of the research evidence on ‘what works’ in different kinds of family support provided for children in need; to bring together information on various measures and scales which have been used to evaluate family support services.
Extended abstract:
Author
Statham, June;
Title
Outcomes and effectiveness of family support services: a research review.
Publisher
Institute of Education, University of London in association with Thomas Coram Research Unit, 2000.
Summary
This paper reviews the evidence for the effectiveness of different kinds of family support services, focusing on those that social services departments are likely to commission or provide to support families who are disadvantaged or experiencing particular difficulties in their lives. The aims of this paper are: to describe different methods of evaluation, and outline some of the problems and issues raised by evaluating social welfare provision in general and family support services in particular; to provide a brief overview of the research evidence on 'what works' in different kinds of family support provided for children in need; to bring together information on various measures and scales which have been used to evaluate family support services.
Context
Current government policy stresses the importance of evaluation and assessing the outcomes of services that are provided or purchased by local authorities. There is a new emphasis on evidence-based practice, grounded in information from research that attempts to show what works both in individual cases and in the planning of services. Agencies in both the statutory and independent sectors are increasingly expected to demonstrate successful outcomes in order to obtain funding and meet government targets.
Method
Due to this being a research review many methodologies are laid out and explained to the reader, however due to the nature of this review it is not possible to set out a method.
Contents
This review is divided into five sections. The introduction lays out the aims of the review and provides background information. The second section sets up the conceptual framework. It investigates what is meant by family support services and evaluation. It thengoes on to explore different research methodologies as a way to assess effectiveness, and issues in evaluating family support services. Section three reviews what is known about the effectiveness of different kinds of services to support families, covering (amongst others); day care and early education, befriending and social support, and family group conferences. Section four looks at measuring outcomes and costs. Section five offers conclusions on this subject.
Conclusion
" Much of the evidence for the effectiveness of family support services comes from the USA, where there is a strong tradition of systematic programme evaluation and a particular approach to family support. The findings from this research need to be applied withcaution in different social welfare contexts, and it needs to be recognised that different policies and ways of thinking about children would lead to different ways of conceptualising the evaluation of family support."
112 references
ISBN 0 85473 627 1
Subject terms:
intervention, literature reviews, mental health problems, outcomes, parent-child relations, parents, physical disabilities, social workers, babies, children, day services, families, family centres, family group conferences, evaluation, evidence-based practice, foster care, health visiting;
This study explores the impact of the NHS and Community Care Act (1990) upon a rural community in South West England. The research draws on the views of service users and practitioners with regard to the provision of support services. Results of the research found a marked degree of reliance on family carers and indicates that vulnerable people and their carers hold pessimistic views about the prospects for their continued support by medical and social services agencies.
This study explores the impact of the NHS and Community Care Act (1990) upon a rural community in South West England. The research draws on the views of service users and practitioners with regard to the provision of support services. Results of the research found a marked degree of reliance on family carers and indicates that vulnerable people and their carers hold pessimistic views about the prospects for their continued support by medical and social services agencies.
Subject terms:
needs, older people, physical disabilities, primary care, rural areas, social networks, short break care, social policy, social care provision, social workers, user views, carers, community care, day services, families, evaluation, general practitioners;
UNIVERSITY OF BATH. Centre for the Analysis of Social Policy
Publisher:
University of Bath. Centre for the Analysis of Social Policy
Publication year:
1987
Pagination:
42p.
Place of publication:
Bath
Part of a research project which reviewed the extent and the manner in which Brent SSD was fulfilling its statutory obligations and to make recommendations accordingly. This volume contains staff views on the main difficulties facing the department. Staff felt these included: absence of clear policies and guidelines, poor management, patchy support for workers, delays in filling vacancies, inadequacy of personnel function in general, high workloads causing stress, poor working conditions, insufficient success in combating racism and lack of appropriate training.
Part of a research project which reviewed the extent and the manner in which Brent SSD was fulfilling its statutory obligations and to make recommendations accordingly. This volume contains staff views on the main difficulties facing the department. Staff felt these included: absence of clear policies and guidelines, poor management, patchy support for workers, delays in filling vacancies, inadequacy of personnel function in general, high workloads causing stress, poor working conditions, insufficient success in combating racism and lack of appropriate training.
Subject terms:
hospital social work, learning disabilities, mental health services, management, older people, physical disabilities, social services, social workers, staff, staff development, staff management, training, young people, area teams, children, community work, equal opportunities, evaluation;
UNIVERSITY OF BATH. Centre for the Analysis of Social Policy
Publisher:
University of Bath. Centre for the Analysis of Social Policy
Publication year:
1987
Pagination:
292p.
Place of publication:
Bath
Research project reviewing the extent to which and the manner in which Brent SSD was fulfilling its statutory obligations and to make recommendations accordingly. A companion volume contains a canvass of staff views.
Research project reviewing the extent to which and the manner in which Brent SSD was fulfilling its statutory obligations and to make recommendations accordingly. A companion volume contains a canvass of staff views.
Subject terms:
hospital social work, learning disabilities, mental health services, management, older people, physical disabilities, social services, social care provision, social workers, staff, staff development, staff management, training, young people, children, community development, evaluation, expenditure;