How do secondary school counsellors work with other professionals?

Counselling services based in secondary schools across the UK are becoming common place. Indeed, several of the home nations have national strategies and targets to introduce universal counselling into schools to address the mental health needs of young people more effectively. This study explores how secondary school counsellors work with other professionals within and outside schools in the delivery of services. Sixteen school counsellors from across the UK were interviewed, in four different focus groups - 2 in England (n=8) and 2 in Scotland (n=8). The findings indicate that the professional relationships counsellors have with other colleagues have a direct influence upon the quality of the service they feel able to offer. Time spent with colleagues when setting up services was viewed as highly beneficial, as was time spent building relationships and connections with colleagues within the school and from external agencies and organisations, as well as having a senior member of staff to liaise with. It is apparent that attending to relationships outside of the counselling room may influence the positive outcomes for the counselling service and its clients generally. Implications of these findings may influence the time counsellors are employed by commissioners, and how counsellors use their time allocation in schools to ensure that effective services are both achieved and maintained. The research also points to the need for future research into the processes and practices in the delivery of school counselling across the UK. Karen Cromarty and Kaye Richards British Association for Counselling and Psychotherap

Investigating staff knowledge of safeguarding and pressure ulcers in care homes

Objective: To investigate whether nursing/care home staff regard pressure ulceration as a safeguarding issue; and to explore reporting mechanisms for pressure ulcers in nursing/care homes. Methods: Sixty five staff members from 50 homes within one clinical commissioning group completed a questionnaire assessing their experiences of avoidable and unavoidable pressure ulcers, grading systems, and systems in place for referral to safeguarding teams. Understanding of safeguarding was assessed in depth by interviews with 11 staff members. Results: Staff observed an average of 2.72 pressure ulcers in their workplaces over the last 12 months; judging 45.6% to be avoidable. Only a minority of respondents reported knowledge of a grading system (mostly the EPUAP/NPUAP system). Most respondents would refer pressure ulcers to the safeguarding team: the existence of a grading system, or guidance, appeared to increase that likelihood. Safeguarding was considered a priority in most homes; interviewees were familiar with the term safeguarding, but some confusion over its meaning was apparent. Quality of written documentation and verbal communication received prior to residents returning from hospital was highlighted. However, respondents expressed concern over lack of information regarding skin integrity. Most staff had received education regarding ulcer prevention or wound management during training, but none reported post-registration training or formal education programmes; with reliance placed on advice of district nurses or tissue viability specialists. Conclusion: Staff within nursing/care homes understand the fundamentals of managing skin integrity and the importance of reporting skin damage; however, national education programmes are needed to develop knowledge and skills to promote patient health-related quality of life, and to reduce the healthcare costs of pressure damage. Further research to investigate understanding, knowledge and skills of nursing/care home staff concerning pressure ulcer development and safeguarding will become increasingly necessary, as levels of the older population who may require assisted living continue to rise

Pressure ulcers: are they are a safeguarding issue in care and nursing homes?

The impact of the Care Act (Department of Health [DH], 2014) and adult legislation such as the Mental Capacity Act (Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, 2009) has resulted in closer scrutiny of care provision and outcomes for those living in residential and nursing homes

NASA scientific and technical information program multimedia initiative

This paper relates the experiences of the NASA Scientific and Technical Information Program in introducing multimedia within the STI Program framework. A discussion of multimedia technology is included to provide context for the STI Program effort. The STI Program's Multimedia Initiative is discussed in detail. Parallels and differences between multimedia and traditional information systems project development are highlighted. Challenges faced by the program in initiating its multimedia project are summarized along with lessons learned. The paper concludes with a synopsis of the benefits the program hopes to provide its users through the introduction of multimedia illustrated by examples of successful multimedia projects

Studies on the genus Arthrobotrys

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1965 H112Master of Scienc

Show me the data!: Partnering with instructors to teach data literacy

The shift to quantitative research methods in social science disciplines is not news in today’s academy, however the relative ease of acquiring data sets via the Internet and the availability of online analysis and visualization tools have brought data into the mainstream of instruction in many academic departments. Teaching faculty are increasingly using numeric and spatial data sets in their courses. In turn, faculty and students need specialized instruction in finding, formatting and analyzing data. Academic libraries have supported data users for decades, but only recently has “data services” appeared widely in library job titles and advertised services. As demonstrated by the recent library literature, a new profession in the library has emerged, "Data Services Librarian." It is progressively clear that academic libraries are positioning data services offerings in order to support teaching and learning. Since there is not a single model for data services in academic libraries, each library faces its own challenges and opportunities in understanding how relevant data service offerings could be constructed to meet the disciplinary needs of an institution. At a large Midwestern university, the library partnered with an established data consulting service on campus to offer fifteen hours per week of consultation office hours. As the number of consultations increased, the assigned library committee was able to consider ways to expand the service. A survey of faculty, staff, and graduate students across academic departments was conducted to examine the use of data sets in research and/or teaching. This survey informed ongoing efforts including what type of data sets in which to invest monies, demand for specific software and the hardware necessary to support it, prioritizing training for librarians and staff, and working with the institutional repository for archiving data sets. The contributed paper will look closely at survey results in relation to teaching with data, discuss implications for instructors who are using data and consider how the library can expand data services to support teaching. The paper will focus on addressing the following questions: 1. What kind of assistance do instructors want from the library to support their teaching and for their students working with data sets? 2. How can the library develop partnerships and programs to meet these needs creatively, given existing financial constraints and skill levels? 3. What types of assessment data will need to be gathered in order to demonstrate that programs and training are successful? Our survey findings will be used as a starting point in consideration of the issues librarians face to support courses that work with data sets. The presentation will complement research findings as enumerated in the contributed paper by discussing the overall impact of data needs on library services. Final paper conclusions will argue that training needs to extend beyond simply helping users to access data sets by graduating to a deeper understanding for how faculty and students use data. In other words, the area of data services requires librarians to take a leadership role in advocating for true research partnerships. Learning outcomes: 1. Attendees will be introduced to how a sample of teaching faculty are using data sets in instruction in order to promote conversation regarding data services at their institution. 2. Attendees will learn about ways in which librarians can support courses that work with data sets by partnering with instructors in order to generate ideas for possible service offerings at their institutions. 3. Attendees will identify other librarians with similar issues in offering data services in order to develop a peer network for brainstorming and sharing of best practices.unpublishedis peer reviewe

Factors shaping the timing of later entry into parenthood: narratives of choice and constraint

Objective: This study explores the choices and constraints affecting timing of parenthood among those who became parents in their mid-thirties and early forties and how their fertility decisions were both affected by and negotiated within the interplay of different temporal frameworks. Background: Recent decades have seen a trend towards postponement of parenthood in many countries. Explanations for this delay include structural factors, changing social norms and the influence of the social meanings of age. The study assesses the influence of these factors on perceptions of the ‘right’ time to become parents. Method: The study draws on qualitative interviews with 23 women and men who participated in the third British National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal-3) survey and had a first child when they were aged between 33 and 46. Results: Prerequisites for parenthood were seen as financial security, a suitable home and a steady relationship. Educational attainment and the achievement of personal and lifestyle goals affected the age at which parenthood was considered as were individual circumstances. Age was less influential than life stage as a criterion for readiness although, for women, chronological age was a decisive factor. Conclusions: Choice in shaping personal biographies was greater among participants than it would have been for previous generations but its consequences acted to constrain options regarding the timing of parenthood. Time taken to fulfil personal and professional ambitions, changing social norms regarding the appropriate age for parenthood as well as individual and structural factors resulted in less predictable life trajectories.</p

Fathers' needs in a surgical neonatal intensive care unit : assuring the other parent

Objectives: Fathers of infants admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) play an important role and have individual needs that are often not recognised. While there is considerable evidence regarding mothers’ needs in the NICU, information about fathers’ is particularly limited. This study identifies the needs of fathers of newborns admitted to NICU for general surgery of major congenital anomalies, and whether health-care professionals meet these needs. Methods: Forty-eight fathers of infants admitted for surgery between February 2014 and September 2015 were enrolled in a prospective cohort study. Fathers completed the Neonatal Family Needs Inventory comprising 56 items in 5 subscales (Support, Comfort, Information, Proximity, Assurance) at admission and discharge and whether these needs were met; as well as the Social Desirability Scale. Results: Responses showed Assurance was the most important subscale (M 3.8, SD .26). Having questions answered honestly (M 3.9, SD .20) and knowing staff provide comfort to their infant (M 3.94, SD .24) were fathers’ most important needs. By discharge, fathers expressed a greater importance on being recognised and more involved in their infant’s care. More than 91% indicated their ten most important needs were met by the NICU health-care professionals, with no significant changes at discharge. Clergical visits (M 2.08, SD 1.21) were least important. Conclusions: Reassurance is a priority for fathers of neonates in a surgical NICU, particularly regarding infant pain management and comfort. It is important that health-care professionals provide reliable, honest information and open-access visiting. Notably, fathers seek greater recognition of their role in the NICU—beyond being the ‘other’ parent

Patient perspectives on sharing anonymised personal health data using a digital system for dynamic consent and research feedback: a qualitative study

Background: Electronic health records are widely acknowledged to provide an important opportunity to anonymize patient-level health care data and collate across populations to support research. Nonetheless, in the wake of public and policy concerns about security and inappropriate use of data, conventional approaches toward data governance may no longer be sufficient to respect and protect individual privacy. One proposed solution to improve transparency and public trust is known as Dynamic Consent, which uses information technology to facilitate a more explicit and accessible opportunity to opt out. In this case, patients can tailor preferences about whom they share their data with and can change their preferences reliably at any time. Furthermore, electronic systems provide opportunities for informing patients about data recipients and the results of research to which their data have contributed. Objective: To explore patient perspectives on the use of anonymized health care data for research purposes. To evaluate patient perceptions of a Dynamic Consent model and electronic system to enable and implement ongoing communication and collaboration between patients and researchers. Methods: A total of 26 qualitative interviews and three focus groups were conducted that included a video presentation explaining the reuse of anonymized electronic patient records for research. Slides and tablet devices were used to introduce the Dynamic Consent system for discussion. A total of 35 patients with chronic rheumatic disease with varying levels of illness and social deprivation were recruited from a rheumatology outpatient clinic; 5 participants were recruited from a patient and public involvement health research network. Results: Patients were supportive of sharing their anonymized electronic patient record for research, but noted a lack of transparency and awareness around the use of data, making it difficult to secure public trust. While there were general concerns about detrimental consequences of data falling into the wrong hands, such as insurance companies, 39 out of 40 (98%) participants generally considered that the altruistic benefits of sharing health care data outweighed the risks. Views were mostly positive about the use of an electronic interface to enable greater control over consent choices, although some patients were happy to share their data without further engagement. Participants were particularly enthusiastic about the system as a means of enabling feedback regarding data recipients and associated research results, noting that this would improve trust and public engagement in research. This underlines the importance of patient and public involvement and engagement throughout the research process, including the reuse of anonymized health care data for research. More than half of patients found the touch screen interface easy to use, although a significant minority, especially those with limited access to technology, expressed some trepidation and felt they may need support to use the system. Conclusions: Patients from a range of socioeconomic backgrounds viewed a digital system for Dynamic Consent positively, in particular, feedback about data recipients and research results. Implementation of a digital Dynamic Consent system would require careful interface design and would need to be located within a robust data infrastructure; it has the potential to improve trust and engagement in electronic medical record research

Dynamic consent: a possible solution to improve patient confidence and trust in how electronic patient records are used in medical research

With one million people treated every 36 hours, routinely collected UK National Health Service (NHS) health data has huge potential for medical research. Advances in data acquisition from electronic patient records (EPRs) means such data are increasingly digital and can be anonymised for research purposes. NHS England’s care.data initiative recently sought to increase the amount and availability of such data. However, controversy and uncertainty following the care.data public awareness campaign led to a delay in rollout, indicating that the success of EPR data for medical research may be threatened by a loss of patient and public trust. The sharing of sensitive health care data can only be done through maintaining such trust in a constantly evolving ethicolegal and political landscape. We propose that a dynamic consent model, whereby patients can electronically control consent through time and receive information about the uses of their data, provides a transparent, flexible, and user-friendly means to maintain public trust. This could leverage the huge potential of the EPR for medical research and, ultimately, patient and societal benefit