Screening for offenders with an intellectual disability: The validity of the Learning Disability Screening Questionnaire

The study assessed the validity of an intellectual disability screening tool, the Learning Disability Screening Questionnaire (LDSQ), in three forensic settings: a community intellectual disability forensic service; a forensic in-patient secure unit and a prison, using data for 94 individuals. A significant positive relationship was found between full scale IQ and LDSQ score, indicating convergent validity. Discriminative validity was indicated by, firstly, a significant difference in the LDSQ scores between those with and without an intellectual disability, with those with a diagnosis of intellectual disability, scoring significantly lower. Secondly, a ROC analysis indicated that the sensitivity and specificity of the LDSQ were both above 80%. The screening tool was found to have lower sensitivity in the forensic populations than was obtained in the original community standardisation sample, but had slightly higher specificity. Limitations and implications of the study are discussed

Software systems engineering: a journey to contemporary agile and beyond, do people matter?

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Software systems engineering: a journey to contemporary agile and beyond, do people matter?

It is fascinating to view the evolution of software systems engineering over the decades. At the first glance, it could be perceived that the various approaches and processes are different. Are they indeed different? This paper will briefly discuss such a journey relating to findings from an empirical study in some organisations in the UK. Some of the issues described in the literature and by practitioners are common across different software system engineering approaches over the time. It can be argued that human-element of software development plays an integral part in the success of software systems development endeavour. After all, software engineering is a human-centric craft. In order to understand such issues, we crossed the discipline to other disciplines in order to adapt theories and principles that will help to better understand and tackle such matter. Other disciplines have well established human related theories and principles that can be useful. From Japanese management philosophies, we have adapted Lean and knowledge management theories. From psychology, we have adapted Emotional Intelligence (EI). With such an interdisciplinary view, some of the issues can be addressed adequately. Which bring the question: is it really the process or the people? The second author will reflect on his experience attending the first SQM conference 25 years ago. The reflection will discuss the evolution of software systems engineering, and what was changed since then, if at all changed

The Australian fashion report 2015: the truth behind the barcode

Examines the increased risk of child and forced labour in the fashion industry, as many local companies are unable to trace or fail to monitor their supply chains. Introduction It’s been two years since the fatal Rana Plaza factory collapse in Bangladesh, an event which saw the lives of 1,100 factory workers tragically cut short and is now recorded as the second worst industrial accident of all time. The event sparked the collective conscience of consumers, retailers, investors and governments to know more about the people producing our clothes and how they are treated. The 2013 Australian Fashion Report, released in the wake of the accident, helped to shed some light on these questions by assessing the efforts of companies to protect workers in their supply chain from exploitation and the egregious practice of modern slavery, awarding each company grades from A to F.   This report updates and expands that research, adding an additional 18 companies representing over 91 brands. Of the companies researched in our last publication, a remarkable two thirds have improved their labour rights management systems, 100% now have codes of conduct (up from 85%) and the number of companies that actively engaged with the research process has increased from 54% to 94%.   Some companies that have made significant improvements include Kmart, which has released a complete list of its direct suppliers, a huge step towards transparency; The Cotton On Group, which has taken big steps forward to identify suppliers deeper in their supply chain; and H&M, Zara, Country Road and the Sussan Group which have demonstrated that they have made efforts towards paying better wages for workers overseas.   The Fairtrade companies once again are a stand out, with all their brands receiving A grades. Etiko still retains top honours, having traced its entire supply chain and taken action to ensure workers at the inputs and final stage of manufacturing levels of the supply chain are being paid a living wage. Etiko’s performance is only matched by the newcomer, Audrey Blue, who shares Etiko’s supply chain. The Cotton On Group takes honours for being the highest rated, non-Fairtrade Australian retailer, while H&M and Inditex, the two biggest fashion retailers in the world, are amongst the best rated international brands, receiving A-grades while also taking action to ensure workers at the final stage of production are being paid above the minimum wage. Only Hanesbrands received a higher grade, an A, but has yet to demonstrate any action on improving worker wages.       &nbsp

Positive practice positive outcomes: a handbook for professionals in the criminal justice system working with offenders with learning disabilities (2011 ed.)

Updated version of the handbook by the same name published by CSIP in 2007. "This handbook is intended as an introduction to working with offenders with learning disabilities. This group includes police suspects and defendants in court. It covers the essential information to help staff identify and understand this group of people. It also covers relevant legislation that outlines the duties and obligations of criminal justice staff, and also health and social care staff, with regards to offenders with learning disabilities." - page 4

An invitation to grieve: reconsidering critical incident responses by support teams in the school setting

This paper proposes that consideration could be given to an invitational intervention rather than an expectational intervention when support personnel respond to a critical incident in schools. Intuitively many practitioners know that it is necessary for guidance/counselling personnel to intervene in schools in and following times of trauma. Most educational authorities in Australia have mandated the formulation of a critical incident intervention plan. This paper defines the term critical incident and then outlines current intervention processes, discussing the efficacy of debriefing interventions. Recent literature suggests that even though it is accepted that a planned intervention is necessary, there is scant evidence as to the effectiveness of debriefing interventions in stemming later symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder. The authors of this paper advocate for an expressive therapy intervention that is invitational rather than expectational, arguing that not all people respond to trauma in the same way and to expect that they will need to recall and retell what has happened is most likely a dangerous assumption. A model of invitation using Howard Gardner’s (1983) multiple intelligences is proposed so that students are invited to grieve and understand emotionally what is happening to them following a critical incident

What do we mean by 'wellbeing'? : and why might it matter?

There is significant ambiguity around the definition, usage and function of the word ‘wellbeing’, not only within DCSF but in the public policy realm, and in the wider world. This has implications for DCSF. Essentially, wellbeing is a cultural construct and represents a shifting set of meanings - wellbeing is no less than what a group or groups of people collectively agree makes ‘a good life’. The meaning and function of a term like ‘wellbeing’ not only changes through time, but is open to both overt and subtle dispute and contest. There is evidence that the discourse of ‘wellbeing’ - how, for what purposes, and with what effects the term is being used - is at present particularly unstable in the UK. Given the importance of the term to DCSF’s policy and communications, we recommend a low key but deliberate strategy to manage the DCSF position within this ambiguity and instability

Work-life balance: organizational leadership and individual strategies among successful women real estate brokers

This study defined and utilized the qualitative method of phenomenology to focus on the lack of work-life balance, consequences, and the negative impact on a culture of 15 female real estate brokers who were interviewed. The study examined the participants\u27 experiences, insights, perspectives, and understanding of the female real estate brokers based on data collected from semi-structured interviews to create a remedy for the unresolved issues. Therefore, a compelling, dynamic work-life balance is necessary in order to create successful women in leadership roles who are real estate brokers. Female real estate brokers who are leaders facing unlimited demands predominantly in the areas of family life and their careers. These competing interests have posed many challenges, sacrifices, and problems for the women\u27s career success. The literature mentions the dynamics of work (career, ambition) and environment that have created much pressure and instability for women in leadership roles who try to balance work and lifestyle (family, health, leisure, pleasure, and spiritual development). The lack of work-life balance may cause high levels of anxiety, conflict at home, and make it difficult to achieve and develop their full potential. As a result, women leaders can experience workaholism, job burnout, and work pressure. Thus, participants in this research expressed their challenges and share strategies for implementing work-life balance

Spartan Daily, April 10, 1947

Volume 35, Issue 111https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/spartandaily/8980/thumbnail.jp