Operation Modulus: Putting Christie into Practice in Gorbals

As part of its exploration of public service reform What Works Scotland carried out an evaluation of Operation Modulus, a highly successful, innovative, award winning violence and anti-social behaviour intervention targeted at a gang of young people in the Gorbals area of Glasgow, exploring why it was such a success. The aim of this case study was not to focus on how best to tackle issues related to young people and crime, but rather to show how the principles of public service reform as highlighted by the Christie Commission (2011) can best be operationalised. Operation Modulus is an exemplar of such reform, demonstrating what it means for public services in Scotland to put Christie into practice

Small Community Level Social Accounting Matrices and their Application to Determining Marine Resource Dependency

Social accounting matrices (SAMs) are constructed for two communities on the West Coast which have previously been classified as natural resource dependent; Westport, Washington and Newport, Oregon. The SAMs are constructed in an innovative way that allows for the economic dependency and utilization of natural resources, especially marine resources, to be examined in detail. The SAM utilizes data from a mix of publically available secondary sources and data collected directly from local governments. The SAMs are then subjected to an economic base analysis to develop indices of economic dependence. The results of this study indicate that while fishing and fish processing are no longer a major source of gross measures of output, employment, wages, or gross regional product (GRP) in any state or even county on the West Coast; from an economic export income perspective cities such as Westport, Washington are heavily dependent on these industries for their economic base.Marine resource dependency, social accounting matrix, economic base, Community/Rural/Urban Development, Environmental Economics and Policy, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods, R11, R15, Q22,

A sociotechnical history of the ultralightweight wheelchair: a vehicle of social change

The emergence of the ultralightweight wheelchair has transformed the lives of millions of disa-bled people. It has radically changed the principles and practices of wheelchair design, manufac-ture and prescription and redefined wheelchair users and wheelchair use. Designed and built largely by wheelchair users themselves it was driven initially by a desire to improve sport perfor-mance and later by a wish for improved access to the community and built environment. In this paper we draw on oral histories and documentary sources to reconstruct its socio-technical histo-ry. We employ the analytical concept of ‘boundary object’ to illuminate how the wheelchair as a technological artefact is implicated in relations of social change and show the role of wheelchair users in the development and emergence of the ultra-lightweight wheelchair. We highlight the tensions and negotiations within this history and the push and pull between different social groups. The emergence of the ultra-lightweight wheelchair helped to reconfigure ideas about wheelchairs and their users and allowed wheelchairs to gain a foothold within broader social and technological infrastructures. What makes this account powerful is that this is a success story for a group who have historically been excluded from design processes

Implementing health and social care integration in Scotland: Renegotiating new partnerships in changing cultures of care

Health and social care integration has been a long-term goal for successive governments in Scotland, culminating in the implementation of the recent Public Bodies (Joint Working) Scotland Act 2014. This laid down the foundations for the delegation of health and social care functions and resources to newly formed Integrated Joint Boards. It put in place demands for new ways of working and partnership planning. In this article, we explore the early implementation of this Act and how health and social care professionals and the third sector have begun to renegotiate their roles. The paper draws on new empirical data collated through focus groups and interviews with over 70 professionals from across Scotland. The data are explored through the following key themes: changing cultures, structural imbalance, governance and partnership and the role of individuals or “boundary spanners” in implementing change. We also draw on evidence from other international systems of care, which have implemented integration policies, documenting what works and what does not. We argue that under the current framework much of the potential for integration is not being fulfilled and that the evidence suggests that at this early stage of roll-out, the structural and cultural policy changes that are required to enable this policy shift have not yet emerged. Rather, integration has been left to individual innovators or “boundary spanners” and these are acting as key drivers of change. Where change is occurring, this is happening despite the system. As it is currently structured, we argue that too much power is in the hands of health and despite the rhetoric of partnership working, there are real structural imbalances that need to be reconciled

Tackling Disability Discrimination in the United Kingdom: The British Disability Discrimination Act

The social position of disabled people in the United Kingdom, as elsewhere in the developed world, has changed dramatically in the past twenty years. Disabled people are no longer forced into confinement in long-term institutions, increasingly more disabled children are being educated in mainstream schools, and employment rates for disabled people are rising. Despite these improvements there is still considerable evidence to suggest that disabled people in the United Kingdom are subjected to discrimination. This Essay provides an overview of the development of disability discrimination legislation in the United Kingdom over the past two decades. While highlighting early attempts to challenge the practice in the employment context, this Essay also explores the more recent adoption of a framework for anti-discrimination legislation. Although the United Kingdom has made significant progress in integrating an anti-discrimination agenda into key areas of social life, attitudinal and structural change has been considerably slower. This Essay seeks first to unravel the key debates underpinning legislative change. Discussion then moves to an exploration of the critique of the United Kingdom legislation from the disability movement. This highlights a broader focus on the definitions applied, and contrasts the approach taken by successive British governments with other international frameworks. The Essay concludes by arguing that the focus of antidiscrimination legislation needs to move beyond issues of definition and instead integrate a stronger emphasis on promoting the civil rights of disabled people and recognizing the diversity of identities

An in-depth examination of the implementation of the Disability Equality Duty in England

This seven-month study examined the implementation of the Disability Equality Duty (DED) in England. The DED, introduced through the Disability Discrimination Act 2005, applies to public authorities in England, Wales and Scotland