Parent? Carer? Mid-lifer? Older person? Similarities and diversities across different experiences of caring and their implications for practice

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 94-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jill Manthorpe ◽  
Jo Moriarty ◽  
Michelle Cornes
Keyword(s):  
Adult Child ◽  
Family Carers ◽  
Older Person ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Conducting Research ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to consider the experiences of carers caring for an adult child, particularly as they affect the transition from midlife into older age. It explores aspects affecting the vast majority of carers, such as accessing information and services, but focuses on the specific concerns of those caring for a child with a life-long disability or a child who acquires a long-term health problem in adolescence or adulthood. In the context of the introduction of the Care Act (2014) in England, the paper highlights ways in which support for carers could be improved. Design/methodology/approach – This paper draws on interview data which consisted of 86 face-to-face interviews with purposefully selected participants based in four local authorities. At the end of the study in 2014 the authors held a series of five focus groups for practitioners and carers to explore how the emerging findings chimed with their experiences and to refine the study’s messages for practice. The data from interviews are set in the context of policy and practice developments in social care in England. Findings – The paper draws attention to the need for practitioners to find ways of involving carers in decision making without compromising the rights to autonomy and choice on the part of the person cared for. Both those commissioning services and practitioners need to acknowledge that parent carers need assurances about the long-term viability and quality of the plans that are developed for the person they support. Research limitations/implications – This paper is drawn on interviews with carers and practitioners in four areas of England; most of the carers interviewed were white British and female. The implications of planning research and conducting research with family carers are explored and their similarities with practice encounters identified. Practical implications – The key practice point in this paper highlights the necessity of talking about the future with parent carers, making plans for possible and highly likely events, addressing mortality, and being aware of the potential for a deeply held sense of pessimism and unspoken distress among carers. Some participants seemed to feel that practitioners conveyed a sense that they were inadequate or unwilling to discuss these matters and practitioners who suspect this may apply to them or their team could usefully consider seeking skills development to improve their practice. Originality/value – This paper is the first to consider practice perspectives in the context of the Care Act (2014) and personal budgets in England relating to parent carers.

How lifecycle influences capabilities and their development

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 133-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mait Rungi
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Specific Information ◽  
Small Country ◽  
Capability Development ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Abstract Level ◽  
The Right ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – Capabilities are a widely researched subject, but capability development techniques have received considerably less attention. Capability development is a long-term activity, where both how to choose “the right capabilities” and how to develop “the capabilities right” are important. The purpose of this paper is to approach to pick up the most widespread capabilities and development techniques in project-companies, and observes their shift of focus when moving from one lifecycle stage to another. Design/methodology/approach – A long-scale survey was chosen and carried out in EU member state Estonia in 2011, resulting with close to a couple of 100 responses. Findings – The quality of most business capabilities decreases in reaching the decline stage of the lifecycle, but project-related capabilities are improving. The same cannot be concluded for project-led capability development techniques, as they decline, and the quality of traditional and business-led capability techniques are improving. The use of development techniques changes less throughout lifecycle stages than capabilities do – it is not so important how companies develop capabilities, capabilities themselves matter. Research limitations/implications – Survey was performed in a small country which limits the generalizability to larger countries. Practical implications – Capabilities and their development techniques are very much practice-oriented, especially development techniques. However, research indicates that it is more important to choose the right capabilities and worry less about their development-specific issues. Originality/value – Results provide lifecycle-specific information which capabilities and their development techniques prevail at what stage of companies’ lifecycle. Thus far, learning, as the most important technique, has received the most attention, other techniques less – this research gives further information about a wider array of the techniques. Furthermore, the prior research was concentrated on a few specific capabilities or capabilities at an abstract level, this research focuses on a comprehensive set of capabilities.

Commentary on a “unified approach to behaviours that challenge”: against consensus – why we need a new field of challenging behaviour studies

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 169-172
Author(s):  
Stacy Clifford Simplican
Keyword(s):  
Research Policy ◽  
Challenging Behaviour ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Interdisciplinary Field ◽  
Direct Support ◽  
Positive Behaviour Support ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This paper challenges the value of consensus within the field of learning disability. In this commentary, the author argues that consensus threatens to silence multiple viewpoints, hides how power operates and stifles creativity. Design/methodology/approach The author focuses on two articles within this special issue to suggest that the consensus celebrated is more about a set of shared values, rather than a set of shared practices. This should make us question the depth of the field’s consensus. Findings The presumption that multiple paradigms can be “unified” actually hides how power operates to resolve disagreements among positive behaviour support, active support and human rights approaches. A similar erasure occurs in the language of “capable environments,” which the author argues obscures the role of individuals, relationships and organizational cultures in impacting quality of life. Research limitations/implications We need to create and build a new interdisciplinary field of challenging behaviour studies that is willing to embrace conflict and disagreement in research, policy and practice. Practical implications The author believes that this approach is more likely to empower people, including people with learning disabilities whose behaviour challenges, family members, and direct support workers because it is more likely to recognize their experiences and expertise. Originality/value A new multidisciplinary field of challenging behaviour studies may encourage more theoretical diversity that makes us challenge the value of consensus and embrace creativity.

scholarly journals The importance of university facilities for student satisfaction at a Norwegian University

Facilities ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (13/14) ◽  
pp. 744-759 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thor-Erik Sandberg Hanssen ◽  
Gisle Solvoll
Keyword(s):  
Student Satisfaction ◽  
Student Perception ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Student Life ◽  
Computer Access ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The University ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – This paper aims to explore the influence of higher education institution (HEI) facilities on overall student satisfaction, and to identify the distinct facilities that most strongly influence student overall satisfaction with HEI facilities. Design/methodology/approach – A tailor-made questionnaire is developed to measure student perception about student life, including their perceptions about the facilities at the HEI they attend. Two econometric models are estimated using OLS regression analysis. Findings – The factor that most strongly influences student satisfaction with university facilities is the quality of its social areas, auditoriums and libraries. Conversely, it is determined that computer access on campus does not influence student satisfaction. Research limitations/implications – The sample includes data only from a single university. Moreover, only Norwegian students at the university participated in the survey. Practical implications – Based on our findings, the most effective strategy to improve student overall satisfaction with the facilities at an HEI is to improve the quality of social areas, auditoriums and libraries. Such a strategy will result in students who are more satisfied with the HEI they are attending and, thereby, increase the HEI’s chances of long-term success. Originality/value – To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to identify the facilities that most strongly influence the overall satisfaction of students with the facilities at HEIs.

scholarly journals Explaining the cash-in-hand consumer culture in the European home repairs and renovations sector

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 387-405
Author(s):  
Colin Williams ◽  
Brunilda Kosta
Keyword(s):  
Consumer Culture ◽  
Lower Price ◽  
Formal Sector ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Conventional View ◽  
Awareness Raising ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Do So

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explain who purchases undeclared home repairs and renovations and their motives to tackle the cash-in-hand consumer culture. The conventional view has been that undeclared home repairs and renovations are sought by those consumers needing to save money and desiring a lower price. Here, this is evaluated critically. Design/methodology/approach To do so, evidence from a 2019 Eurobarometer survey involving 27,565 face-to-face interviews in 28 European countries is reported. Findings The finding is the need for a nuanced and variegated understanding of who purchases undeclared home repairs and renovations and why. Lower price is their sole rationale in just 25% of purchases, one of several rationales in 34% of cases and not a reason in the remaining 42% of purchases. Besides a lower price, consumers purchase undeclared not only unintentionally but also to circumvent the failings of formal sector provision in terms of its availability, speed and quality, as well as for social and redistributive rationales. Practical implications To reduce the cash-in-hand consumer culture, not only are incentives needed to persuade consumers to purchase declared along with awareness-raising campaigns about the benefits of purchasing declared services but initiatives are also needed to improve the availability, speed, reliability and quality of formal provision and to address undeclared purchases conducted for social and redistributive purposes. Originality/value This paper improves understanding of how governments can stop consumers asking “how much for cash” and reduce demand for undeclared home repair and renovation services.

World-class broadband

2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 189-209
Author(s):  
Ewan Sutherland
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
National Level ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Design Improvement ◽  
Governance Systems ◽  
National Performance ◽  
World Class ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This paper aims to examine the aspiration to world-class broadband in a number of countries. Design/methodology/approach This study includes a review of the various approaches taken by countries, consultants and intergovernmental organisations. Findings The term “world class” is used relatively vaguely, without any significant link to long-term improvements in national performance, rather to an aspiration to being close to the leaders. Research limitations/implications The use of benchmarking in lobbying needs further study, as does the quality of lobbying. Practical implications Governments need to make explicit their policy aims in addition to any world-class headline and need to aim for design improvement in their governance systems. Originality/value This is the first review of benchmarking of broadband at the national level.

scholarly journals Conclusion: Implications for Policy and Practice

2021 ◽  
pp. 267-290
Author(s):  
Harriet Ward ◽  
Lynne Moggach ◽  
Susan Tregeagle ◽  
Helen Trivedi
Keyword(s):  
Family Support ◽  
Child Protection ◽  
Adoptive Parents ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Birth Parents ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Out Of Home Care ◽  
Improved Stability

AbstractThe book focuses on a study of 210 children in out-of-home care in Australia who were adopted over a 30-year period; 93 were traced for an average of 18 years after placement. The requirement for regular face-to-face contact with birth parents was considered beneficial by 69% of participants. Other findings show the adoptees’ extreme vulnerability, improved stability post adoption and the importance of adoptive parents’ commitment in facilitating positive outcomes. They also imply that child protection policy should focus on strengthening family support and more timely decision-making when parents cannot overcome their difficulties. Policy for children in long-term foster care should focus on reducing instability, increasing the quality of care and providing better care leaving support. Internationally, adoption policy needs to reflect the increased similarities between adoption and fostering engendered by open adoption from care, and acknowledge their implications for recruitment, training, contact arrangements and post-adoption support.

The sustainability of French event companies: an exploratory study

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Raphaël Dornier
Keyword(s):  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Top Managers ◽  
Sustainability Strategy ◽  
Facilitators And Barriers ◽  
The One ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate and discuss the involvement in sustainable development of French event companies, mostly by identifying facilitators and barriers to their sustainability strategy. Based on the results, some recommendations are provided, which aim at increasing the sustainability of French event companies. Design/methodology/approach The paper is based on face-to-face and semi-structured interviews with six directors and top managers of French event companies and a consultant in sustainable tourism. The data collected were analysed through a content analysis. Findings This paper identified different motivations and barriers regarding the involvement of French event companies in sustainability. The main motivations are personal conviction, a greater satisfaction for clients and a cost similar to the one of non-sustainable events. The main barriers are a difficulty in comparing the cost of sustainable and non-sustainable events, a low demand for sustainable events, a lower quality of materials and greenwashing, the issue of measuring sustainability and a profusion of labels. Practical implications As the directors of French event companies interviews do believe in the value of sustainability, they should educate their clients and employees towards sustainability. They should also find ways to demonstrate that the price of a sustainable event is not higher than a non-sustainable one. Originality/value This paper focusses on the sustainability of event companies in France, comparing companies that are highly involved in sustainability and others that are not involved. In the field of events research, most studies focussed on the degree of sustainability of specific events, whereas this study deals with the sustainability of corporate events companies.

Dave Snowden on KM and big data/analytics: interview with David J. Pauleen

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
David J. Pauleen
Keyword(s):  
Big Data ◽  
Data Analytics ◽  
Big Data Analytics ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
A Company ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Scientific Officer

Purpose Dave Snowden has been an important voice in knowledge management over the years. As the founder and chief scientific officer of Cognitive Edge, a company focused on the development of the theory and practice of social complexity, he offers informative views on the relationship between big data/analytics and KM. Design/methodology/approach A face-to-face interview was held with Dave Snowden in May 2015 in Auckland, New Zealand. Findings According to Snowden, analytics in the form of algorithms are imperfect and can only to a small extent capture the reasoning and analytical capabilities of people. For this reason, while big data/analytics can be useful, they are limited and must be used in conjunction with human knowledge and reasoning. Practical implications Snowden offers his views on big data/analytics and how they can be used effectively in real world situations in combination with human reasoning and input, for example in fields from resource management to individual health care. Originality/value Snowden is an innovative thinker. He combines knowledge and experience from many fields and offers original views and understanding of big data/analytics, knowledge and management.

scholarly journals “We’re on a Merry-Go-Round”: Reflections of Patients and Carers after Completing Treatment for Sarcoma

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 3003-3014
Author(s):  
Rhys Weaver ◽  
Moira O’Connor ◽  
Richard Carey Smith ◽  
Dianne Sheppard ◽  
Georgia K. B. Halkett
Keyword(s):  
Social Constructionist ◽  
Rare Cancer ◽  
Family Carers ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Qualitative Research Design ◽  
Previously Treated ◽  
Sarcoma Treatment ◽  
Silver Lining

Sarcoma is a rare cancer that has a significant impact on patients’ and carers’ quality of life. Despite this, there has been a paucity of research exploring the diverse experiences of patients and carers following sarcoma treatment. The aim of this study was to explore patients’ and carers’ reflections on life after treatment for sarcoma. A qualitative research design with a social constructionist epistemology was used. Participants included patients previously treated for sarcoma (n = 21) and family carers of patients treated for sarcoma (n = 16). Participants completed semi-structured interviews which were analysed using thematic analysis. Three primary themes were identified: “This journey is never going to be over”, “But what happens when I am better?”, and finding a silver lining. Participants represented sarcoma as having a long-term, and sometimes indefinite, threat on their life that they had limited control over. Conclusions: This study highlight the heterogeneous and ongoing needs of sarcoma survivors and their families. Patients and carers strove to translate their experiences in a meaningful way, such as by improving outcomes for other people affected by sarcoma. Parental carers in particular attempted to protect the patient from the ongoing stress of managing the disease.

scholarly journals Sinabung volcano: how culture shapes community resilience

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 290-303
Author(s):  
Marta Mori ◽  
Ronan McDermott ◽  
Saut Sagala ◽  
Yasmina Wulandari
Keyword(s):  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Aid Dependency ◽  
Relief Operations ◽  
Long Term Impact ◽  
Cultural Experts ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore how culture, including traditions and social structures, can influence resilience and how culturally sensitive relief operations can put affected people and their context at the core of any interventions. Design/methodology/approach A case study of the Mt Sinabung volcano area in Indonesia was undertaken. As part of the case study, an analysis of interventions was conducted, which was complemented by semi-structured interviews with Karo cultural experts and humanitarian organisations. Findings Culture influences the manner in which the Karo people react to volcano eruptions with varying implications for recovery. In addition, relief organisations which understand people’s actions through a cultural lens have better managed to tailor programs with long-term impact, thereby avoiding aid dependency. Practical implications Practical examples of disaster management activities that adequately account for the beneficiaries’ way of living prior to the eruptions are provided. Aid actors are provided with guidance concerning how to better tailor their activities in line with a cultural lens. Originality/value The study provides empirical grounding for claims concerning the role of culture in planning interventions in Indonesia and other similar contexts.

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