Helping Socially Isolated PrisonersCORDEN,, JOHN;CLIFTON,, MAGGIE
doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.bjsw.a055106pmid: N/A
Abstract SUMMARY This paper reports the findings of a piece of evaluative research. The study was undertaken to evaluate the impact of a small project set up by the West Yorkshire Probation and Aftercare Service, in response to evidence from previous research that the needs of socially isolated men on release from prison were not being met by the Probation Service. The findings show that the Socially Isolated Prisoners Project was effective in improving substantially the rate of take-up of voluntary after-care by socially isolated men; but it also shows that the project encountered many difficulties in bringing about significant improvements in the men's post-release circumstances. The paper also reports that the likelihood of rapid reconviction was not affected by the efforts of the project workers. This content is only available as a PDF. © 1985 The British Association of Social Workers
Editorialdoi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.bjsw.a055105pmid: N/A
Article PDF first page preview Close This content is only available as a PDF. © 1985 The British Association of Social Workers © 1985 The British Association of Social Workers
Adolescents in Crisis: on Hypothesizing with Minimal InformationJENKINS,, HUGH;COWLEY,, JOANNA
doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.bjsw.a055107pmid: N/A
Abstract SUMMARY This paper suggests some of the questions that practitioners should ask themselves when faced with an adolescent in crisis. It is important that professionals have available a number of levels for conceptualizing behaviour if they are to make sense of complex information. Minimal information from a referral is given to demonstrate our approach. We consider some issues connected with change in systems; symptomatic behaviour in a life cycle context; agency contexts as they affect professional help; and adolescent development in the context of marital breakdown. The practitioner is encouraged to develop hypotheses, while having very few facts which in the light of further contact may be developed, or discarded in favour of hypotheses more relevant to the particular family. We warn against the equal, but different dangers of approaching each new family either with a totally open mind, or with fixed ideas concerning what it ‘must be about’. We do not argue that it is better to have little or no previous history (although too much history can become part of ‘the problem’), but that workers always have more information, from the very start, than they may realise. This content is only available as a PDF. © 1985 The British Association of Social Workers
An Examination of the Determinants of Positive Outcome in Child Guidance Social WorkWILSON, MONA, B.
doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.bjsw.a055108pmid: N/A
Abstract SUMMARY A sample of 50 cases carried by four Child Guidance Social Workers were monitored over a period of three months and their outcomes assessed from the standpoint of four different assessors; practitioners; researchers; clients; and referring agents. These assessements of outcome were compared and analyzed in an attempt to identify what factors contributed to those interventions evaluated as having a positive outcome. The study revealed high levels of inter-rater agreement with respect to assessment of outcome and certain factors emerged as contributing to positive outcome including aspects of the problems and children referred and aspects of the interaction between worker and client. Attention is drawn to the implications of these findings for practice. This content is only available as a PDF. © 1985 The British Association of Social Workers
Social Work with Failure-to-Thrive Children and their FamiliesPart II: Behavioural Social Work InterventionIWANIEC,, DOROTA;HERBERT,, MARTIN;MCNEISH, A., S.
doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.bjsw.a055109pmid: N/A
Abstract SUMMARY Part II of this study is concerned with a multicomponent behavioural social work intervention with 17 failure-to-thrive children and their families. An investigation, described in Part I, showed that the route to this worrying problem differed from family to family. Patterns of contributory causes did emerge—thus determining the main thrust of the interventions. Many of the child victims were difficult (not least in biological and psychological adaptability) from birth. Parents were disadvantaged in various ways. Feeding difficulties and parent-child relationships proved to be the major focus of the interventions. Behavioural Social work interventions directed toward the feeding performance and relationships resulted in a high success rate; these improvements were maintained over considerable periods of time (one year or more). The results and temporal generalization in the case of more general parent-child interactions, and child behaviour problems, were more modest, but encouraging. The programme is described fully and the results are given in detail. This content is only available as a PDF. © 1985 The British Association of Social Workers
Truth and Love in Intermediate TreatmentADAMS,, ROBERT
doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.bjsw.a055110pmid: N/A
Abstract SUMMARY This paper explores some findings of a survey of intermediate treatment, carried out as part of a larger research study of its management and practice. Excerpts from two interviews with social workers provide sources for the two accounts of practice considered below each illustrating contradictory themes embodied in the official thinking about intermediate treatment. One, the rational approach, emphasizes a planned, ordered approach, whilst the other, the intuitive version, expresses an unplanned, anarchic, democratised approach. It is argued that it is only if these are viewed from an absolutist standpoint that one version emerges as more professional or superior. If a relativist stance is adopted, a more neutral appraisal is possible of both versions and the opportunity is provided of moving to a more critical analysis of the conditions producing these contrasting accounts of intermediate treatment. This content is only available as a PDF. © 1985 The British Association of Social Workers
Literature Review: An Abuse of some Substance?PRINS,, HERSCHEL
doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.bjsw.a055111pmid: N/A
Abstract The intention in this review is to examine a small selection of the literature on substance abuse and to assess to what extent it is a new phenomenon and a problem calling for legislative action. This intention accounts for the slightly capricious choice of title for the contribution. This content is only available as a PDF. © 1985 The British Association of Social Workers