A water sensitive urban design framework for South Africa

South Africa (RSA) is a ‘developing country’ still facing the challenge of providing basic water services to a significant proportion of the population. Water security is increasingly a matter of major concern, with most of the surface water resources fully accounted for and poor water quality downstream of urban areas. Whereas service delivery and social upliftment are high on the political agenda, the challenge is to promote economic and social equity, whilst simultaneously ensuring environmental sustainability; this challenge is greatest in the rapidly growing urban areas. Alternative approaches to conventional urban water management, which account for these water-supply and -quality constraints as well as the impacts of extreme weather-related events, are thus required. It is postulated that, from a water-management perspective, this will require strategic planning for the wide-scale implementation of Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) – a systems-based approach that focuses on the interactions between the built form and water-resources management. This article describes a way forward for an integrated management (infrastructure and planning) approach for urban water. It defines what ‘water sensitivity’ might mean in the RSA context, and outlines the process that was followed to develop a framework and guidelines for implementing WSUD in South Africa. The four complementary components of the framework – research, vision, narrative, and implementation – highlight what will be required in order to manage the challenges facing the country’s urban water sector and enable the transition towards water sensitivity

Improving client transitions between SLT teams in NHSGG&C : a knowledge exchange service development project

Introduction SLT services in NHSGG&C are offered from around 37 locations, managed within community and hospital, adult and paediatric units. SLTs work in teams serving specified populations, and facilitating client transitions amongst SLT teams is a priority. Researchers at Strathclyde University interviewed 28 SLTs and 7 service-users about successful and less successful transitions between the 21 SLT teams for adults with long-term SLCN, including unplanned transitions on entering acute services, and planned transitions on leaving school (McCartney & Muir, 2015, 2016). The overarching themes facilitating or impeding transitions, showing both negative and positive examples, were SLT team properties; communication and information exchange; and outside influences on teams. Following this, a University of Strathclyde and NHSGG&C SLT services Knowledge Exchange (KE) project was jointly funded, and a 'transitions' working group representing SLTs across all client groups formed. This group extended the research analysis, and suggested further service improvements. AimThe overall aim was to promote seamless care, improving clinical outcomes and patient safety due to reduced care gaps, and enhancing patient experience due to better communication and planning of transitions. Aimed-for improvements were: improved health outcomes and anxiety reduction through receiving good information and timely access to service;improved information and knowledge of available services for SLTs and SLT managers;improved information and knowledge about SLT team services for wider professional and service-user groups.Evidence used The evidence gathered by McCartney & Muir (2015,2016) was reported at a whole-SLT team conference. A 'transitions' working group covering all clients was formed in response to a call for members, and the research themes were agreed as relevant to transitions across the range of client groups. These were then used to scaffold further discussion, alongside professional examples and experiences collected from working group members and their colleagues, and from service-users who gave feedback to the group. Main outcomesThe working group: •developed and piloted a set of procedures to be employed to effect successful transitions and report outcomes, and a form to record these; •created a detailed directory of SLT teams, the clients served and services offered, with a dissemination and update plan; •developed a procedure to flag school leavers who had been discharged from SLT services at school but needed re-referral to plan post-school SLT interventions;•arranged for electronic record sharing for discharged service users who may be later referred to another team;•prepared a summary report and plan for further development of transitions pathways, including further development of accessible and compatible electronic patient records.ConclusionIssues influencing cross-team transitions identified in a research study were further considered in a formal KE service development project. The outcome was the construction of improved transition pathways constructed to meet the needs of clients within this large, complex SLT service, which are now being implementedImplications and future directionsCollection of SLT and client views about the new pathways is being undertaken, to monitor their utility and scope further improvements. Impact on SLTs and their clientsThere is an increased understanding of and procedure for implementing transitions, leading to increased client satisfaction, improved SLT team-working and information exchange, and improved SLT job satisfaction. Key wordsTransitions, pathways, developmentThree learning outcomes:1 Cross-SLT team planning of pathways is required to secure smooth transitions between SLT teams for clients.2 Transition pathways depend upon rapid access to client records.3 There remains a need for better public information on SLT services.For Conference ProgrammeResearch identified factors impeding or facilitating transitions between SLT teams in NHSGG&C. A Knowledge Exchange project between NHSGG&C and Strathclyde University validated these across other client groups. The project developed improved transition procedures, a form to record outcomes, and a directory of services. The process and outcomes will be presented

Analysis of the correlates of self-report work related illness in the Labour Force Survey

Work has long been acknowledged as an important social determinant of health with research being conducted as to how a range of workplace, personal and job characteristics influence occupational health. This report provides an analysis of work related ill-health within the United Kingdom based upon data from the UK Labour Force Survey. Analysis reveals that employment within physically demanding occupations is the key risk factor associated with an individual suffering from a musculoskeletal disorder. Working long hours and employment within managerial, customer service and teaching occupations are associated with an increased risk of suffering from stress, depression and anxiety. Reported levels of ill-health are higher amongst males, older workers and those in the public sector. Despite these findings, downward trends in rates of work related ill-health cannot be explained by changes in the observable characteristics of people and their jobs as recorded by the LFS. The inability to explain observed trends may relate to the absence of career history data within the LFS or the omission of questions about certain characteristics of people’s jobs that are known to effect health. Such data is included within the longitudinal Understanding Society survey. It is recommended that the feasibility of including additional questions in this survey should be investigated

Stormwater harvesting: Improving water security in South Africa’s urban areas

The drought experienced in South Africa in 2016 – one of the worst in decades – has left many urbanised parts of the country with limited access to water, and food production has been affected. If a future water crisis is to be averted, the country needs to conserve current water supplies, reduce its reliance on conventional surface water schemes, and seek alternative sources of water supply. Within urban areas, municipalities must find ways to adapt to, and mitigate the threats from, water insecurity resulting from, inter alia, droughts, climate change and increasing water demand driven by population growth and rising standards of living. Stormwater harvesting (SWH) is one possible alternative water resource that could supplement traditional urban water supplies, as well as simultaneously offer a range of social and environmental benefits. We set out three position statements relating to how SWH can: improve water security and increase resilience to climate change in urban areas; prevent frequent flooding; and provide additional benefits to society. We also identify priority research areas for the future in order to target and support the appropriate uptake of SWH in South Africa, including testing the viability of SWH through the use of real-time control and managed aquifer recharge

The Causes and Consequences of a Colonising Pollinator

Relatório de estágio do mestrado em Ensino da Educação Física dos Ensinos Básicos e Secundário, apresentado à Faculdade de Ciências do Desporto e da Educação Física da Universidade de CoimbraO Relatório Final de Estágio insere-se no âmbito da unidade curricular Relatório de Estágio, do 2º ano do Mestrado em Ensino da Educação Física dos Ensinos Básico e Secundário, da Faculdade de Ciências do Desporto e Educação Física da Universidade de Coimbra. Esta etapa representa o culminar da formação académica em que são colocados em prática, em contexto real, todos os conhecimentos adquiridos até ao momento. Todas as experiências vivenciadas, aprendizagens e conhecimentos adquiridos permitem-nos hoje o desempenho de uma prática pedagógica de mestria na área da Educação Física. O Relatório Final de Estágio pretende a realização de uma reflexão por parte do estagiário, relativa às atividades desenvolvidas e aprendizagens realizadas durante o estágio pedagógico, contemplando sempre as suas expectativas iniciais. Este documento contempla três grandes capítulos. O primeiro é uma área essencialmente descritiva relativamente à contextualização pedagógica. O segundo consiste numa reflexão crítica das práticas pedagógicas realizadas. Por último, o terceiro capítulo pretende ser um aprofundamento de um tema/problema. O tema/problema selecionado foram as atitudes dos alunos sem deficiência face inclusão de alunos com necessidades educativas especiais na Educação Física. O Estágio Pedagógico foi realizado na Escola Básica com Secundário José Falcão de Miranda do Corvo, no ano letivo de 2013/2014, para a disciplina de Educação Física ao 7º ano de escolaridade. The Final Training Report falls within the scope of the Course Training Report, the 2nd year of the Master in Teaching Physical Education Primary and Secondary Education, Faculty of Sport Sciences and Physical Education, University of Coimbra. This step is the culmination of academic training in which are put into practice, in the real world, all the knowledge acquired so far. All the experiences, skills and knowledge acquired today allow us the performance of a pedagogical practice of mastery in the area of Physical Education. The main goal of the Final Training Report is to conduct to a reflection of the trainee on the developed and knowledge acquired during the practicum activities, always contemplating their initial expectations. This document contains three main chapters. The first is an essentially descriptive area regarding pedagogical context. The second is a critical reflection on the practices carried out. Finally, the third chapter will be a deepening of an issue / problem. The issue / problem selected were the attitudes of students without disabilities face inclusion of pupils with special educational needs in physical education. The Pedagogical Training was conducted in Secondary School with Joseph Falcon Miranda do Corvo, in school year 2013/2014, to the discipline of Physical Education through the 7th grade

Improving client transitions between SLT teams in NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde: A knowledge exchange service development project

Susan Lloyd - ORCID: 0000-0003-4338-3630 https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4338-3630Deposited in University of Strathclyde (Strathprints) repository on 9 May 2018, available at: https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/63973Introduction SLT services in NHSGG&C are offered from around 37 locations, managed within community and hospital, adult and paediatric units. SLTs work in teams serving specified populations, and facilitating client transitions amongst SLT teams is a priority. Researchers at Strathclyde University interviewed 28 SLTs and 7 service-users about successful and less successful transitions between the 21 SLT teams for adults with long-term SLCN, including unplanned transitions on entering acute services, and planned transitions on leaving school (McCartney & Muir, 2015, 2016). The overarching themes facilitating or impeding transitions, showing both negative and positive examples, were SLT team properties; communication and information exchange; and outside influences on teams. Following this, a University of Strathclyde and NHSGG&C SLT services Knowledge Exchange (KE) project was jointly funded, and a 'transitions' working group representing SLTs across all client groups formed. This group extended the research analysis, and suggested further service improvements.Research funded by the Nancy Maxwell Memorial Bequesthttps://www.rcslt.org/past-events-and-webinars/rcslt-conference-201