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Enhanced supported living for people with severe and persistent mental health problems: A qualitative investigation
No full textSupported living has been shown to improve functioning and social inclusion in people with severe and persistent mental health problems, reduce hospitalisation and provide secure accommodation in a population where housing needs are often unmet. Conversely, living in supported accommodation has been depicted by some as depersonalising, marginalising and an ordeal to survive. Discussions regarding housing and support often lack a thorough consideration of individual experiences, with a reliance on quantitative surveys. The question remains how to assure that supported accommodations actually are supportive of the residents' ongoing recovery process. The present study sought to shed light on the experiences of residents in an enhanced supported living service in the United Kingdom. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine residents of the service between July 2020 and February 2021. Transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis and indicated three superordinate themes of experiences considered valuable to residents: (1) support from care staff which was readily available; (2), a sense of community and daily activity offered by the residence and on-site activities; and (3) the experience of supported living as a stepping-stone in an ongoing recovery process. Findings indicate the power of comprehensive care with supportive staff, peer-relations, autonomy and fostering hope in empowering individuals in their ongoing recovery
Measuring up? Metrics and research assessment in UK teacher education
No full textThis paper offers a multi-dimensional analysis of publication outputs from teacher education research published in the UK between 2000 and 2013. The analysis draws on a sample of 727 articles published in 39 journals. Using metrics data extracted from Elsevier’s Scopus database, the analysis outlines the distribution of outputs and explores characteristics associated with productivity and influence. Conceptual and methodological issues with the enumeration of research quality and impact are identified, including quality criteria, citation practices and coverage in leading bibliometric databases. Several contextual factors are taken into consideration. These include author affiliation at the time of publication, university research ranking, Education subject ranking and the size of intake for programmes of initial teacher education. The analysis confirms an association between publication productivity and institutional type, with an inverse relation between large-scale engagement in the practices of teacher education (represented by student numbers) and the production of research on teacher education that is judged to be of high quality. This has implications for how the activities of university Schools of Education are valued and the prospects for research-informed teacher education in the UK
An evaluation of work life balance practices from employers and employee’s perspective in the banking sector in UAE
No full textIn recent years organisations have embraced the concept of work life balance (WLB) and appreciated it, as they are mindful of the need to provide work life balance policies to retain skilled employees, attract potential candidates and achieve competitive advantageous position in the market. Work life balance has found its prominent place in organisational and government policies due to its rising demand. The thesis explored the concept of work life balance from employees’ and employers perspective in United Arab Emirates banking sector to evaluate the interaction of work related antecedents like work time (WT), work demand (WD), job insecurity (JI), job autonomy (JA), organisational support (OS), supervisors and co-workers support (SS) and family related antecedents like family demand (FD), Family time (FT) and family support (FS) on work family conflict (WFC), Family work conflict(FWC), Work family facilitation (WFF) and Family work Facilitation (FWF) and finally on outcomes like work life balance, job satisfaction (JS), Life satisfaction (LS), turnover intention(TI) and health issues (HI).A mixed method approach was used to collect data through semi structured interviews from bank managers (n=10) and along with questionnaire from employees (n=240) from local and foreign banks in UAE. Structural equation model based on quantitative data as hypothesized found work related antecedents like WT, WD, JI led to WFC and negatively affected WLB. While family antecedents like FT and FD caused family work conflict. Organisational, co-workers, supervisors and family support led to facilitation in both domains and positively influenced work life balance. Further, WLB positively effected JS and LS, while it was negatively linked to TI and HI. Thematic analysis of interview transcripts reinforced the employee’s imbalance problem and revealed majority of the private or foreign banks didn’t have written WLB policies and supervisors used their discretion to support employees informally, though bank managers were aware of the positive outcomes of providing a suitable WLB policies to their employees
Addiction recovery stories: Paul Makin in conversation with Lisa Ogilvie
No full textPurpose The purpose of this paper is to contribute to a series of recovery stories that examine candid accounts of addiction and recovery. Shared components in the recovery process are considered, along with the change and growth needed to support the transition from addiction to recovery. Design/methodology/approach The connectedness, hope, identity, meaning in life and empowerment (CHIME) framework comprises five elements important to recovery. CHIME provides a standard to qualitatively study recovery. As a model, it has been extended to include growth-CHIME (G-CHIME), an element that is important for sustained addiction recovery. In this paper, a first-hand account of addiction recovery is presented, followed by a semi-structured e-interview with the author of the account that is based on the G-CHIME model. Findings This paper shows that addiction recovery is a remarkable process that can be effectually explained using the G-CHIME model. The significance of each element in the model is apparent from the biography and e-interview presented. Originality/value To the best of the authors' knowledge, each account of recovery in this series is unique and, as yet, untold
Addiction recovery stories: Lauren Wearing in conversation with Lisa Ogilvie
No full textPurpose: This purpose of this paper is to contribute to a series of recovery stories that examine candid accounts of addiction and recovery. Shared components in the recovery process are considered, along with the change and growth needed to support the transition from addiction to recovery. Design/methodology/approach: The connectedness, hope, identity, meaning in life and empowerment (CHIME) framework comprises five elements important to recovery. CHIME provides a standard to qualitatively study recovery. As a model, it has been extended to include growth (G-CHIME), an element that is important for sustained addiction recovery. In this paper a first-hand account of addiction recovery is presented, followed by a semi-structured e-interview with the author of the account that is based on the G-CHIME model. Findings: This paper shows that addiction recovery is a remarkable process that can be effectually explained using the G-CHIME model. The significance of each element in the model is apparent from the biography and e-interview presented. Originality/value: Each account of recovery in this series is unique, and as yet, untold
Post-traumatic growth following the death of a parent: Does one auto-ethnographic account make a summer?
No full textParental death in adulthood is for many a life-changing event (Pearce & Komaromy, 2021). In recent years, the work of Tedeschi and Calhoun (2004), has focused on post-traumatic growth following trauma. Qasim and Carson, (2020), challenged the inevitability of post-traumatic growth following the trauma of bereavement. This paper considers the loss of her father by the first author, from the perspective of the Tedeschi and Calhoun Model. This looks for growth in five areas; relating to others, new possibilities, personal strength, spiritual change and appreciation of life. This auto-ethnographic account follows a rich tradition of other recent autobiographical accounts in the bereavement field (Mayer & Mayer, 2020; Coles, 2021; Moore, 2021)
Remarkable lives – Kirsty Lilley in conversation with Robert Hurst
No full textPurposeThe purpose of this paper is to share Kirsty Lilley’s story.Design/methodology/approachKirsty wrote a biographic piece detailing her journey, then shared a creative piece of writing about trust before being interviewed by Robert.FindingsKirsty shared stories from her life and how her experiences have shaped who she is. In Trust, she gives the reader an intimate insight into her internal and psychological experiences.Research limitations/implicationsRecovery narratives such as this give us an overview of only a single person’s experiences. However, they allow the person with lived experience to explore their story in depth.Practical implicationsKirsty writes evocatively – her stories will connect with readers.Social implicationsThere is so much to learn from stories such as Kirsty’s. For those who have had similar experiences and for those who work in mental health services.Originality/valueThis is the first time that Kirsty has chosen to share her unique story. It is also the first time in Remarkable Lives that a piece of creative writing has been included alongside a biography
Service Level Agreement monitoring as a service: an independent monitoring service for Service Level Agreements in clouds
No full textCloud network is rapidly growing due to massive increase in interconnected devices and the emergence of different technologies such as the Internet of things, fog computing and artificial intelligence. In response, cloud computing needs reliable dealings among the service providers, brokers and consumers. The existing cloud monitoring frameworks such as Amazon Cloud Watch, Paraleap Azure Watch, and Rack Space Cloud Kick work under the control of service providers. They work fine, however, this may create dissatisfaction among customers over Service Level Agreement (SLA) violations. Customers dissatisfaction may drastically drop the businesses of service providers. To cope with the above mentioned issue and get in line with cloud philosophy, Monitoring as a Service, completely independent in nature, is needed for observing and regulating the cloud businesses. However, the existing MaaS frameworks do not address the comprehensive SLA for customer satisfaction and penalties management. This paper proposes a reliable framework by adopting third party monitoring services with clearcut SLA and penalties management. Since, this framework monitors SLA as a cloud monitoring service, it is named as Service Level Agreement Monitoring as a Service (SLA-MaaS). On violations, it penalizes those who are found in breach of terms and condition enlisted in SLA. Simulation results confirmed that the proposed framework adequately satisfy the customers (as well as service providers). This helps in developing a trust worthy relationship among cloud partners and increase customer attention and retention
Strategic frameworks for managing lean construction on megaprojects; towards global integrated delivery and corporate governance
No full textBuilt environment encounters substantial risk and challenges in its evolution towards sustainable development. International businesses and multinational engineering organisations face global connectivity challenges between business units, especially during the outbreak of novel coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), which has profoundly disrupted the construction industry throughout the world. That raises the need to manage global connectivity as a main strategic goal of multinational organisations. Therefore, the research aim is to develop strategic frameworks for managing risk, challenges, and integration of lean construction (LC) and integrated project delivery (IPD) on construction megaprojects (CMPs) towards the global integrated delivery (GID) transformative initiatives and corporate governance in multinational organisations. The scope of the study mainly focuses on CMPs and multinational architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) organisations.The following research objectives (ROs) was set out in fulfilling the study’s aim: (1) To appraise influence of partnering agreements associated with BIM adoption on stakeholder’s behaviour. (2) To critically assess critical success factors (CSFs) for adoption BIM and LC practices. (3) To critically assess barriers to integrating BIM and LC practices. (4) To critically analyse and develop frameworks for the interactions between BIM and LC. (5) To critically appraise barriers to integrating LC and IPD towards the GID global initiatives. (6) To develop a competency framework that integrate LC and IPD, and critically appraise key drivers (KDs) to integrating LC and IPD towards FOW global initiatives. (7) To develop frameworks for managing risk and challenges of integrating LC and IPD towards the GID transformative initiatives and corporate governance.Research objectives were achieved via adoption of ‘mixed research methods’ involving a two-stage quantitative and qualitative research approach. This included the adoption of an in-depth review of extant literature, pilot studies, Delphi surveys, questionnaires surveys, semi-structured interviews and focus group techniques, and the use of several statistical analysis tools such as descriptive and inferential statistics and structural equation modelling (SEM). The qualitative research methodology consists of a literature review to assess challenges to integrate LeanIPD&GID on CMPs. In addition, there is an assessment of conceptualisation of LeanIPD&GID and GID strategy placements, development of LeanIPD&GID integration framework, and future of work (FOW) global initiatives with multiple validations. The thesis is presented in manuscript format. The analysis involved semi-structured interviews and focus group techniques. Stage two consisted of questionnaire survey that shaped the foundation of analysis and findings of 190 respondents from 23 countries with an extensive cosmopolitan experience of megaprojects in construction. The survey examined a set of 20 challenges to integrate LeanIPD&GID on CMPs resulting from a detailed analysis of extant literature after validation. Descriptive and inferential statistical tests were exploited for data analysis and percentage score analysis.The research findings involved conceptualisation of LeanIPD&GID principles, proposed GID strategy placements, frameworks for managing challenges of LeanIPD&GID transformative initiatives and corporate governance, FOW global initiatives and key performance indicators (KPIs). It concluded that the most significant challenges to integrate of LeanIPD&GID on CMPs are ‘lack of governmental incentives, policies, regulations or legal frameworks,’ ‘lack of client’s awareness and IPD experience amongst key stakeholders,’ ‘lack of organisation’s senior-management and client’s commitment to IPD approaches,’ ‘resistance of industry to change from traditional procurement to IPD,’ and ‘lack of integrated synergies between LC, IPD working towards LeanIPD&GID.’ Awareness of building BIM in the MENA region is higher than LC, and LC awareness is higher than IPD knowledge. While BIM adoption in the MENA region is higher than LC, LC is still taking its first steps, and IPD has little implementation. LeanBIM is slightly integrated, while LeanIPD integration is almost not present.The research findings, conclusions and recommendations provide proposed frameworks for implementation, KPIs, and GID strategy placements for LeanIPD&GID transformative initiatives and corporate governance to integrate LeanIPD&GID on CMPs and FOW global initiatives. This will allow project key stakeholders to place emphasis on managing LeanIPD&GID challenges identified in this research and commence GID strategies. The study has provided effective practical strategies for enhancing integration of LeanIPD&GID transformative initiatives on CMPs and corporate governance
“Piece of Mind” and “Wellbeing Town” : engaging service users in the development of a wellbeing game
No full textThe long-term implications of COVID-19 for wellbeing are predicted to be both significant and enduring. Data from previous epidemics indicates long-term detrimental effects are more pronounced among particular demographics, including individuals with pre-existing mental health conditions. The Mental Health Independent Support Team (MhIST) is a charitable organisation offering a range of free-at-the-point-of-contact services via self-referral for a range of mental health and wellbeing concerns, both with and without diagnosis. Since March 2020, the organisation noted significant rises in demand for services. Serious games and their active involvement in eliciting rapid positive behavioural change is associated with their emergence as a key learning tool, with effects transferable to the real world. While a growing number of gamified interventions exist for a range of mental health diagnoses, their presence in the domain of positive psychology is more limited. The chapter reports two studies conducted to enhance the development of an educational game for adult wellbeing