Whiting & Birch (E-Journals)
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Review of: Michaela Rogers and Dan Allen (2019) Applying Critical Thinking and Analysis in Social Work
No full textSmall STEPPS: the provision of, and changes to, an emotional regulation group for women in a community mental health setting in the UK
No full textSTEPPS (Systems Training for Emotional Predictability and Problem Solving) is a manualised group programme aimed at supporting adults who experience difficulties with emotional regulation and who may meet the diagnostic criteria for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) or Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (called Emotional Intensity Disorder within the course). It has been adapted for use in primary care and young people’s services, but its provision is relatively new in the UK and less widespread than that of DBT (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy) groups. Alongside a mental health nurse colleague, we facilitated a twenty week closed group based on the STEPPS programme, for 7 women, all of whom were on a Community Recovery Team caseload within secondary mental health services. We made significant practice changes to the model however, arising from our own ideological positions in relation to BPD as a diagnosis and to some of the course material, practical constraints and our experiences with the group week by week and their specific needs. Here we provide an account of our experiences and those of group members, with a view to supporting the provision of similar groups within mental health teams, particularly women’s groups.
The Loss: Conceptualising Biographical Experiences of Disability, Social Isolation and Emotional Loneliness in North-East England
Get PDFResearch into experiences of social isolation and loneliness has predominantly focused on older adults, i.e. post-retirement, as a significant at-risk group. Similarly, research exploring disability and loneliness has been associated with old age and conceptualised as an inevitable outcome of ‘failing’ health. This study seeks to conceptualise experiences of disability from a wider age group to understand if occurrences of social isolation and loneliness are commonplace. Fifteen qualitative biographical narrative interviews were completed by a Community Research Team, including seven males and eight females aged 32–89. A Disability Studies approach was applied to identify significant pathways from isolation into emotional loneliness, experienced by participants; fourteen of whom were affected by disability issues. Key risk factors were identified relating to disabled participants’ experiences of ‘loss’. Loss was associated with ‘loss of ability’, ‘loss due to bereavement’, ‘loss of social connectivity’ and ‘loss of self-confidence’. Participants connected life events concerning loss with spending time alone, leading to feelings of emotional loneliness. The findings illustrate key risk factors in being alone during evenings and weekends, periods where disabled participants were most likely to experience subjective feelings of emotional loneliness. (NOTE: The views expressed in this article are those of the authors not necessarily those of their employing agencies.
A study on Validating learning style questionnaire LSQ by measuring students learning style in Asian context
Get PDFLearning Style Questionnaire (LSQ) is most widely used tool for assessing learning style, but there are very little empirical evidences available, addressing its psychometric properties. The present study is an attempt to infuse this disparity by using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA).The outcome of the study and its discussion is also given for managerial and academic implications
What influences practice educators in determining appropriate learning opportunities for social work students on their final practice learning placement?
Get PDFAbstract: Within social work education in the UK practice education has been subject to regular and substantive change and continues to have the potential to be fragmented as a result of practice learning taking place in a variety of organisations and settings as well as students having on site and off site practice educators. In this pilot research study individual semi structured interviews were used to gather data from 6 experienced practice educators who supervised students across both the statutory and voluntary sector, including those practicing independently as ‘off site’, to establish what influences practice educators when determining appropriate learning opportunities for social work students on their final placement. Findings indicated that practice educators draw on a variety of influences to determine appropriate learning opportunities for final year social work students, not relying on a single tool or mechanism. The research was undertaken in order to hear the voice of Practice educators and develop a better understanding of the process of supervising students on placement and to work towards enhancing future practice.Keywords: practice education; practice educator; social work education; placements; pcf; learning opportunitie
Stop traffick: Tackling demand for sexual services of trafficked women and girls
Get PDFThe research focuses on the characteristic, knowledge, and experiences of buyers of sex, focusing on human trafficking and exploitation. Recognising that those trafficked for sexual exploitation are often exploited in the commercial sex industry, the research adopts an understanding of ‘demand’ in the context of human trafficking which includes demand for women in prostitution. In order to study buyers, a mixture of quantitative and qualitative research tools was used, including online questionnaires and face-to-face interviews. Through these methods, a total of 763 buyers engaged with the research, across four EU Member States (Ireland, Finland, Bulgaria and Lithuania). A number of important findings emerged in the research. Buyers interviewed were seen to have a complex view of sellers. They overwhelmingly viewed the sale of sex as a transaction between two consenting adults, but also saw sellers as different from other women. At the same time, although up to a third of buyers had witnessed or suspected exploitation, a gap emerged with regard to those who had reported such fears. Finally, irrespective of their knowledge of human trafficking, or measures targeting those who knowingly purchase sex from trafficked victims, buyers rarely considered trafficking when purchasing sex.Keywords: human trafficking; sexual exploitation; prostitution; demand; buyer
Barriers and facilitators to physical and mental health help-seeking among Congolese male refugee survivors of conflict-related sexual violence living in Kampala
Get PDFIn Uganda, over 1.3 million refugees have fled armed conflicts from neighbouring countries, with about 251 730 refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) alone. In this article we report on a qualitative research study on the help-seeking behaviour of Congolese male refugee survivors of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) living in Kampala, Uganda. We recruited 10 Congolese male survivors of war-related rape and 6 Ugandan service providers (psychologists, social workers and physicians) who participated in individual interviews focused on barriers and facilitators to care seeking in Kampala, Uganda. We found that the major barriers to help-seeking were socio-cultural and political factors, health system and infrastructural barriers, poverty and livelihood barriers, physical effects of CRSV, fear of marital disharmony and breakup, and self-sufficiency The major facilitators were social support, symptom severity, professionalism among service providers, availability of free tailored services and information, education and communication. On the basis of our findings, we recommend that a multidisciplinary and multisectoral approach is important to address these barriers. In addition, we suggest that the Ugandan government should develop legislation and health policies to create protection for men who have experienced sexual violence.Keywords: armed conflict; conflict-related sexual violence; male refugee survivors; help-seeking; physical and mental health; barriers; and facilitator
