Government plans to reduce GP's paperwork will affect the way in which social services clients claim certain benefits and grants. Explains why social workers should be mindful of the changes.
Government plans to reduce GP's paperwork will affect the way in which social services clients claim certain benefits and grants. Explains why social workers should be mindful of the changes.
Subject terms:
mental health problems, physical disabilities, social workers, benefits, eligibility criteria, general practitioners;
Research Policy and Planning, 26(2), 2008, pp.73-86.
Publisher:
Social Services Research Group
This article reports on the Disability Rights Commission's Formal Investigation into the impact of regulatory fitness requirements on disabled people studying, qualifying, registering and working in social work. It presents a comprehensive review of legislation, regulation and statutory guidance governing the social work profession, identifying requirements for physical and mental fitness. These fitness descriptors are often vague and their implications in relation to disability unclear. The implementation of these requirements in practical decision-making within the higher education and employment contexts is explored. Findings point to inconsistent practice with ad hoc procedures involving a multitude of different decision-makers. It is argued that generalised fitness requirements are inappropriate and potentially discriminatory. Instead decisions around fitness should be based around the requirements of specific jobs, with consideration of reasonable adjustments where relevant. Public bodies are encouraged to update their policies and procedures. In addition, a more proactive and positive approach towards the promotion of disability equality is required to shift attitudes.
This article reports on the Disability Rights Commission's Formal Investigation into the impact of regulatory fitness requirements on disabled people studying, qualifying, registering and working in social work. It presents a comprehensive review of legislation, regulation and statutory guidance governing the social work profession, identifying requirements for physical and mental fitness. These fitness descriptors are often vague and their implications in relation to disability unclear. The implementation of these requirements in practical decision-making within the higher education and employment contexts is explored. Findings point to inconsistent practice with ad hoc procedures involving a multitude of different decision-makers. It is argued that generalised fitness requirements are inappropriate and potentially discriminatory. Instead decisions around fitness should be based around the requirements of specific jobs, with consideration of reasonable adjustments where relevant. Public bodies are encouraged to update their policies and procedures. In addition, a more proactive and positive approach towards the promotion of disability equality is required to shift attitudes.
Subject terms:
mental health problems, physical disabilities, regulation, social workers, student social workers, anti-discriminatory practice, decision making, disabilities, equal opportunities;
Australian Social Work, 54(3), September 2001, pp.31-42.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
This study of social work practice and disability follows the history of two fields of disability: mental illness and intellectual disability. Of particular interest are two key policy influences in the disability sector, deinstitutionalisation and normalisation. The extent to which deinstitutionalisation and normalisation have brought real benefit to people with disabilities is examined from the social workers' perspectives. The implementation of these polices and practices on the daily work of social work practice in these two field involves significantly different foci and approach. The study found that the similarities and differences between the two fields of practice are influenced by the historical and contemporary developments in the care and control of people with disabilities.
This study of social work practice and disability follows the history of two fields of disability: mental illness and intellectual disability. Of particular interest are two key policy influences in the disability sector, deinstitutionalisation and normalisation. The extent to which deinstitutionalisation and normalisation have brought real benefit to people with disabilities is examined from the social workers' perspectives. The implementation of these polices and practices on the daily work of social work practice in these two field involves significantly different foci and approach. The study found that the similarities and differences between the two fields of practice are influenced by the historical and contemporary developments in the care and control of people with disabilities.
Subject terms:
learning disabilities, mental health problems, models, physical disabilities, social work, social work history, social work methods, social workers, deinstitutionalisation;
Evaluates the processes of social work intervention in terms of their appropriateness for depressed mothers and their families, based on interviews with nearly one hundred such women and their social workers. Discusses the women's experience of depression and the social workers' mental health attributions. Examines the clients' particular problems and needs, the social work response and the involvement of mental health agencies. Examines interventions related to child protection, family support and disabled children and describes the womens' experience of receiving intervention. draws conclusions and makes recommendations for future practice.
Evaluates the processes of social work intervention in terms of their appropriateness for depressed mothers and their families, based on interviews with nearly one hundred such women and their social workers. Discusses the women's experience of depression and the social workers' mental health attributions. Examines the clients' particular problems and needs, the social work response and the involvement of mental health agencies. Examines interventions related to child protection, family support and disabled children and describes the womens' experience of receiving intervention. draws conclusions and makes recommendations for future practice.
Subject terms:
intervention, mental health problems, mothers, physical disabilities, social workers, social worker-service user relationships, women, child protection, children, depression, families;
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;
Contains research findings, as well as accounts of the development and adaptation of relevant research methods. Chapters are grouped into 4 types of practitioner research: investigation; appraisal; innovation; and state of the art reviews. Includes papers on: placing people with learning difficulties in employment; emergency social service duty systems; women in social services management; perceptions of a children's observation and assessment centre; problem drinkers on probation; dealing with clients with mental health problems; assessment of user needs; applying life history work; recognising elder abuse; the tutorial system in social work education; the adoption of children with learning difficulties; and an agenda for practitioner research.
Contains research findings, as well as accounts of the development and adaptation of relevant research methods. Chapters are grouped into 4 types of practitioner research: investigation; appraisal; innovation; and state of the art reviews. Includes papers on: placing people with learning difficulties in employment; emergency social service duty systems; women in social services management; perceptions of a children's observation and assessment centre; problem drinkers on probation; dealing with clients with mental health problems; assessment of user needs; applying life history work; recognising elder abuse; the tutorial system in social work education; the adoption of children with learning difficulties; and an agenda for practitioner research.
Subject terms:
learning disabilities, life story work, mental health problems, management, needs, physical disabilities, probation, research methods, social services, social work education, social workers, women, adoption, assessment, alcohol misuse, children, elder abuse, emergency duty teams, employment;
Includes chapters on: risking legal repercussions; risk assessment in child protection; children with disabilities; a framework of risk assessment and management for older people; social work with disabled people; risk management and people with mental health problems; risk and substance abuse; offender risk and probation practice; sex offender risk assessment; and the risk of violence to staff.
Includes chapters on: risking legal repercussions; risk assessment in child protection; children with disabilities; a framework of risk assessment and management for older people; social work with disabled people; risk management and people with mental health problems; risk and substance abuse; offender risk and probation practice; sex offender risk assessment; and the risk of violence to staff.
Subject terms:
mental health, mental health problems, management, offenders, older people, physical disabilities, probation service, risk, risk assessment, risk management, sex offenders, social workers, substance misuse, staff, staff management, training, violence, assessment, child protection, children, good practice;