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Expert Comment - How to stay safe from gift card fraud
No full textWith the recent rise in gift card fraud, Dr Hannan Azhar, Senior Lecturer in Computing, AI and Cyber Security, featured on ITV Meridian’s evening and lunch time news on Tuesday outlining practical ways consumers can stay safe from scammers. Read his latest Expert Comment with top tips on how to avoid gift card fraud
Co-designing a running/walking programme with adolescent girls using meaningful physical activity and an activist approach
No full textThis paper reports the co-design of a run/walk programme with adolescent girls, in collaboration with a UK women's running organisation, This Woman Runs. The objective of this participatory inquiry was to create a meaningful programme for adolescent girls to support engaging regularly in running/walking for 30 minutes. The study employed co-design and participatory methodologies (Enright and O’Sullivan, 2012) and an activist approach pedagogical model (Oliver and Kirk, 2016) to listen and respond to girls’ interests and ideas for meaningful physical activity. Sixteen girls (age 11–13), their physical education (PE) teacher, researchers, and representatives from This Woman Runs participated in four workshops. The workshops facilitated a process of inquiry and discussion around the girls’ interests and needs in learning to run, using written and verbal expressions of what the girls found meaningful in running/walking and other physical activity. These materials were mapped, with the girls’ input, to meaningful PE features (Beni et al., 2017; Kretchmar, 2006). Participants then generated ideas about structure, location, frequency, marketing, and curriculum and listened to each other's experiences in co-designing an accessible programme. The paper presents the outcomes of the inquiry, specifically a 12-week run/walk after-school programme that includes physical and curricular activities to support positive social interactions, feelings of competence, and personally relevant learning. We reflect on how the girls’ knowledge and values about running were supported through the co-design process. Listening to respond, by embedding ongoing inquiry with young people, is crucial for the success and meaningfulness of physical activity interventions
Making sense of psychosis in the context of formulation: the impact of power and paradigm
No full textSection A
Background: Limited literature exploring client experiences of formulation shows mixed findings, with less research on experiences of those with psychosis. This study explored clients’ experiences of co-creating a formulation for psychosis.
Method: A systematic search of three databases (PsycInfo [OVID], Medline [EBSCO], and Web of Science, identified 10 papers representing 98 participants. Paper quality was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklist for qualitative studies. A thematic synthesis was conducted on the results sections of the 10 papers.
Results: Participants valued formulation when it fostered personal agency, supported by formulation content and interpersonal dynamics. Formulations were most effective when they provided non-pathologising, multi-dimensional understandings of difficulties that normalised experiences and validated emotions. Collaborative, clear, and accessible processes enhanced participants’ engagement, empowerment, and hope, promoting active involvement and tangible change. Conversely, formulations perceived as dismissive, overly complex, or reinforcing blame diminished participants' sense of agency.
Conclusion: Formulation should prioritise content that normalises and contextualises experiences avoiding reductionist or stigmatising narratives. Collaborative processes respecting service users’ input and emphasising clear communication empower individuals, strengthen therapeutic alliances, and support recovery by fostering agency and autonomy.
Section B
Background: Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is increasingly used to address trauma underlying experiences commonly labelled as psychosis. However, little is known about how service users experience the development of psychological formulations within EMDR. Both medical and trauma-informed approaches risk imposing a fixed interpretation of a person’s experiences if not developed collaboratively. This is particularly significant for people who have experienced psychosis, many of whom have also encountered power imbalances within mental health services.
Aim: This study explored service user narratives of EMDR for psychosis, focusing on how collaborative formulation unfolded, and whether it supported changes in how individuals made sense of their experiences.
Method: Narrative inquiry was used to analyse in-depth interviews with 11 participants who had received EMDR for psychosis in NHS services in England. A bespoke narrative analysis drew on structural (how stories were told), content (what was said), and social-context (how stories related to broader power structures and discourses) approaches to explore meaning-making and identity positioning.
Results: Participants described a shift from disempowerment within medical model frameworks to increased agency through collaborative formulation. EMDR was experienced as a relational process that supported emotional integration, personal storytelling, and re-authoring of identity. Trust in the therapist and flexibility in approach were central. Many reframed psychosis through trauma-informed, spiritual, or personally meaningful lenses
Dying, death and end-of-life practice of care
No full textThis Doctoral Thesis on Professional Practice, Dying, Death and End-of-Life Practices of Care, has explored dying not as medical or body failure but as a relational, collective experience that is part of the whole cycle of life in which acceptance, relationship, compassion, and community are valued (Epstein & Back, 2015; Gergen, 2009; Hedtke, 2020; Raboin & Uhlig, 2020). This research study extends research on relational and collaborative forms of care at end-of life that invite patients, families, clinicians, and community into more productive, respectful, and engaging ways to relate to one another, to find alternatives, to interact, and co-create supportive, comforting, and dignified treatment and care (Mills, 2021; Oldfield, 2019).
This study provides a portfolio of five chapters of research that focusses on dying, death, and end-of-life practices of care. Within the social constructionist framework of this research, knowledge unfolds in the process of the research with the goal of creating new, innovative, and transformative possibilities and practices (Camargo-Borges & McNamee, 2020). Overall, this research seeks to move beyond the 'mirroring” metaphor of “what is”, to participate in shaping or forming future practices in care at end-of-life, practices that can be more engaging, collaborative and responsive to the lived experiences of patients and families facing end-of-life and the health care practitioners traversing end-of-life with them (Gergen, 2014).
Initially, a literature review explored concepts and practices of care on the topic of death, dying and end-of-life, addressing implications for patients, caregivers and medical practitioners. The literature review investigated the dominant discourses in this topic in the Western parts of the world, as well as the growing dialogic and collaborative approaches in the relational dimension of care. Specifically, this study is situated within the Canadian context. Subsequent chapters of the research study indicated the relevance of exploring more than one perspective in palliative and end-of-life care, the relevance of going beyond the medical model, acknowledging and lifting up the voices and lived experiences of patients, family members and marginalised.
I believe that this research is particularly relevant in the current context of a fragile health care system that requires strategies, responses, and vision to support its post-pandemic recovery, and the recovery and building of new and innovative practices of care. Specifically, this research contributes significantly to knowledge as it names relational and collaborative forms of care at end-of-life in the areas of caregiver and clinician suffering, advocacy for the dying and their families, grief and bereavement practices, social justice practices and relationship building practices in which relational intelligence is fundamental and contributes to knowledge. Critical Indigenous, feminist, queer, Black and people of colour insights have provided an important framework for understanding care in all its spheres including care at end of life. This framework for understanding care in all its dimensions including end-of-life is a significant original contribution to knowledge
A critical examination of teacher's perceptions of school performance measures (SPMs)
No full textOver the past three decades, England's education system has undergone a significant transformation which had been driven by a rise in neoliberal ideology evident within education policy. Central to this transformation is the use of school performance measures (SPMs). This thesis utilises the term SPMs to encompass all accountability measures implemented by the English government and the Department for Education (DfE) to monitor, assess, evaluate and improve educational standards in English secondary schools. Although SPMs were designed to improve the quality and effectiveness of government funded schools in England, they have faced considerable criticism for creating excessive pressure on teachers and imposing administrative burdens that can lead to feelings of deprofessionalisation, heightened stress, and increased anxiety. As a result, academics claim that SPMs have contributed to high attrition and low retention rates of teachers in England which are some of the lowest in Europe.
This research explores teachers’ perceptions of SPMs and the implications of the accountability mechanisms evident within SPMs and the effect that this has on their professional lived experiences. Utilising a qualitative methodology, this study employs semi-structured photo-elicitation interviews (PEIs) with 12 volunteer teacher participants. The thematic data analysis revealed five key themes to be critically examined within the data analysis: Ofsted inspections,
performance management, academic league tables, accountability measures, and the teachers’ perceived interpretations of the unseen implications of SPMs. These themes were critically examined using both current literature in the field of SPMs research and Erich Fromm's theories as a lens for understanding the broader socio-political context that influences teachers’ lived experiences and perceptions of SPMs.
This research argues that teachers experience considerable pressure from the accountability frameworks embedded within SPMs. Despite teachers’ unwavering commitment to delivering the best educational experiences for their students, teachers face the dual challenges of heightened surveillance and increased administrative responsibilities, alongside an ingrained necessity to maintain an ‘inspection-ready’ mind-set within their daily lives as teachers. This research emphasises the pervasive impact of neoliberal ideology on educational practices, particularly the
use of SPMs, and highlights the need for a re-evaluation of how these are implanted within in England. By advocating for a reduction in administrative demands and prioritising teacher wellbeing, this research calls for a paradigm shift that refocuses the education system in England on fostering meaningful learning experiences rather than prioritising compliance with SPMs that focus heavily upon the academic outcomes of students. This research not only contributes to the dialogue on educational reform but also emphasises the need to support teachers in navigating an increasingly complex landscape shaped by performance-driven accountability in the form of SPMs in England
Restorative justice and the social graces
No full textSection A
Purpose and method: Restorative justice (RJ) is a process that unites victims and harm doers to repair the harm caused by a crime. RJ processes are becoming more popular in light of the benefits associated with them for victims, harm doers and society. This narrative review used online databases to explore the literature relating to these benefits, identifying factors and psychological mechanisms which underpin the outcomes of RJ. The rationale for this review was to identify gaps in RJ literature to facilitate improvements in relevant research and practice.
Findings: Some advantages included reduced recidivism for harm doers, and empowerment, improved mental health, and social reintegration for harm doers and victims. These positive effects depended on factors such as the process being perceived as fair and satisfactory, the facilitator being confident and skilled, the type and quality of the RJ process, and personal attributes of the participants. It was important to understand these factors and the underlying psychological mechanisms of RJ to improve these interventions. Some of the psychological mechanisms underpinning successful RJ were analogous to those relating to change in psychotherapy. Examples of these included participants being able to express themselves, and to process thoughts and feelings in a safe and containing environment with a skilled facilitator. Additionally, both parties had the opportunity to humanize one another, which enhanced understanding, empathy, and compassion.
Conclusion: Given the importance of communication, acceptance, a sense of safety, and trust in the facilitator, hypotheses were proposed about which social groups may be disadvantaged. Several possibilities were discussed, which could guide future research aimed at making RJ a more inclusive intervention.
Section B
Aims: Restorative justice (RJ) is a process that addresses the harm caused by a crime by facilitating communication between the victim and the harm doer. In the context of rising popularity of RJ in the mental health sector, this paper aimed to explore the impact of identity differences on RJ processes.
Method: In this qualitative study modified grounded theory methodology was used to investigate the impact of the social graces on RJ from the perspective of RJ participants linked to a forensic mental health setting. The interviews of eight participants were based on a semi-structured schedule. Data was collected and analyzed iteratively resulting in the emergence of codes and categories.
Findings: The main social graces perceived as impacting RJ were ethnicity and socioeconomic status, followed by gender, age, mental illness and culture (including communication barriers and religion). The impact was seen as being dependent on one's past experiences and it often related to perceptions of having common ground which facilitated understanding. The theme of 'having a voice' versus 'feeling inhibited' also featured throughout. Other findings pointed towards mitigating factors which softened the impact of the social graces. These included other priorities, strengths of the participants like resilience and
openness, and the expertise and personality of the facilitator.
Conclusion: Identity differences may impact on restorative justice processes, however there are ways to navigate this. It is important for practitioners to be aware of this impact and to try to address it to enhance accessibility and effectiveness of RJ
Quantitative modelling of biohydrogen production from Indian agricultural residues via dark fermentation
No full textBioH, a modern biofuel with clean energy attributes and effective waste management capabilities, emerges as a promising energy source. This study employs quantitative modelling to evaluate India's bioH production potential from major crop residues. Among the seven selected crop residues, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka stand out as the top three states with surplus crop residues. The annual estimated bioH generation potential, without pretreatment, reaches approximately 103 PJ, a figure that soars to around 300 PJ with pretreatment, representing a remarkable 191 % improvement. The study underscores the effectiveness of pretreatment methods involving acid, alkali, or heat in enhancing bioH production. Despite these promising findings, efficiency-related challenges, including temperature, pH, and pretreatment factors, are recognised. The study proposes further research and decentralised production projects as potential strategies to address these challenges, enhancing India's energy security by reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels. [Abstract copyright: © 2025 The Authors. ChemistryOpen published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.
The 'trauma' of trauma-informed care: perspectives on implementation and the psychological formulation of trauma
No full textSection A
Background: Trauma-informed care (TIC) is a relatively new construct that has seen widespread uptake within mental health services over recent year, reflecting a burgeoning understanding of the potential for iatrogenic trauma. Despite this, there is a scarcity of research into the perspectives of mental health professionals on its implementation.
Aim: This literature review aims to understand mental health providers’ perspectives on trauma-informed care in the UK and Ireland, including barriers to implementation across service contexts and the impact of TIC on professionals.
Method: A systematic literature search was conducted. The literature was scrutinised using a structured critical appraisal tool (CASP checklist for qualitative research). Papers were analysed using a three-stage approach to coding and synthesising themes. A thematic synthesis methodology was utilised to draw together themes and perspectives from diverse research papers.
Findings: Twelve studies were appraised using the CASP checklist scored out of 10). Most were high quality, with nine scoring 8 or above. One lower-quality study was retained for its relevance to the research question. Four superordinate themes emerged from the data: Emotional Demands and Professional Identity, Conceptual Challenges, Systemic and Organisational Barriers, and Leadership and Support. Each contained several subthemes.
Implications: The findings show the importance of supporting professional emotional wellbeing by mirroring the trauma-informed practices implemented for service-users. Leadership plays an important role in ensuring supportive cultures are developed, including cultivating a shared understanding of and responsibility towards TIC. Wider considerations should focus on the incompatibility of existing service structures with TIC.
Section B
Background: Trauma-informed care is central to psychological practice, yet discussions on trauma beyond PTSD remain limited. There is limited research on the content and development of trauma formulations beyond PTSD in clinical practice. Understanding how trauma is conceptualised is key to improving trauma-informed care.
Aim: This study explores what Clinical Psychologists include in their trauma formulations and the key influences shaping this process. It examines the trauma conceptualisation beyond PTSD and in the absence of a formal definition, aiming to support greater consistency in trauma-informed care and understanding across professionals.
Methodology: Using constructivist grounded theory (Charmaz, 2014), 12 Clinical Psychologists from private, third sector, and NHS settings participated in semi-structured interviews. Trauma-specialist services were excluded.
Findings: Participants struggled with defining trauma, favouring a process-oriented view over rigid event-based models. Four key themes emerged: trauma as disruption to ways of being; an adaptive survival response; shaped by and shaping wider contexts; and meaning-making. Trauma was seen as universal across diagnoses, with diverse trajectories fitting under the umbrella. Systemic influences including dominant diagnostic frameworks shaped formulations, leaving participants the role of advocating for alternative understandings and creative approaches. Conceptualisations evolved over time, informed by both professional and personal experiences
Dignity as sovereignty
No full textThis commentary suggests that the meaning and content of dignity is bound to the broader question of who is said to have personhood and sovereignty, and thus protection and rights under the law, and who is excluded from our legal community
Effects of ambient humidity and surface topography on fingermark recovery from PLA 3D ‐printed surfaces
No full textThe increasing accessibility of 3D printing, made possible by the affordability of equipment and materials, has led to its widespread adoption in both domestic and industrial applications, with polylactic acid (PLA) being a commonly used material. The layer‐by‐layer deposition process in fused deposition modeling creates surface texture variations that significantly influence the development and recovery of latent fingermarks. This study examined the effect of raster lines on fingermark development by depositing latent fingermarks on the X, Y, and Z faces of 3D‐printed PLA objects. Powder development was applied both along and against the 3D print grain. Development against the grain caused excess powder accumulation within raster lines, partially obscuring ridge detail. In contrast, applying powder along the grain minimized accumulation, enabling clearer visualization of ridge features. Top and side surfaces generally yielded higher quality grades, attributed to smoother surfaces from better interlayer bonding. However, raster lines created discontinuities in ridge transfer, hindering coincident sequence determination. Cyanoacrylate ester fuming effectively addressed this limitation, producing continuous ridge detail on top and side surfaces, and leading to higher quality grades