Young Wheelchair Users’ Play and Recreation

Despite a rapid increase in research into children and young people’s lives, the experiences of disabled children – and in particular disabled young people – still remain largely overlooked. This chapter offers some reflections on the leisure experiences of young wheelchair users (13–17 years) in their homes and across a range of public spaces. The data that are presented were collected during a multi-method UK-based project which was designed to capture their use of different spaces away from the school environment. The teenagers and their parents discussed the physical and social barriers inherent in these places which impeded on their access to leisure. Their contributions signal the importance of situating the leisure experiences of young people in the context of families. The complex relationships and negotiations between parents and teenagers in accessing leisure are explored, signaling the ways that they work together, or at times in opposition, to open up or close down leisure opportunities

Introduction : Children, young people and ‘care'

This editorial essay contextualises, and calls for further research on, the topic of childhood, youth and ‘care’. The chapter begins by providing an overview of intersections between the ideas of childhood, youth and care. The edited collection is then situated in relation to recent, rich, multidisciplinary theorisations of care which direct attention to everyday practices and relationships of caring, the complex spatialities of ‘caringscapes’, and the radical politico-ethical possibilities of ‘ethics of care’. However, the essay develops an argument that work in this context has often not engaged directly with children and young people, constituting an absence of work on children and young people’s participation in caring, their presence in designated spaces of/for care, and the potential significance of care as a critically important new lens for (re)thinking childhood and youth. The chapter critiques some of the normative habits, discourses and assumptions underpinning this absence. The editors call for further research with – rather than about – children and young people in relation to care, and highlight the significant contributions of the following chapters in this context

Reflection 2 : Providing care: challenges for practitioners and service-providers

This reflective piece is based on our (re)considerations of care in the lives of young people, and the challenges (and indeed the many positive messages) that authors in this collection of chapters on childhood, youth and care have signalled for practitioners and service providers (for brevity referred to collectively as care [also read caring] stakeholders. The chapters that you will have read in this collection have highlighted the multiple, varied and oftentimes inspiring ways that practitioners work with, care for, or care about, children and young people. Our review of these chapters has highlighted a series of evidence-based messages for us. These occur throughout the book and guide our reflection here. We signal some questions for future reflective practice and to close we set a challenge for practitioners, service providers, and indeed any individual who works with young people and wishes to enhance their caring approach to working with children and young people

Carer-centred care: general practice support to family caregivers

Rationale, aims and objectives In February 2009 the UK’s Department of Health invited bids for funding to host demonstrator sites in order to test new approaches to working with and for carers within the national Carers’ Strategy [1; 2]. This paper discusses some of the findings of the local level evaluation of one of the host sites, situated in Northamptonshire. Methods A mixed-method approach was used to gather data from a range of participant groups. This paper presents the findings of two of those methods; a postal survey of carers and an audit of support offered by general practices. Results The findings of the evaluation show a considerable improvement in the extent to which carers’ roles were identified by their surgeries, however there is a need to ensure that this information is recorded and used in ways which benefit carers. Carers noted challenges in dealing with practice staff, particularly administrative staff who were not aware of their needs. Practices noted a range of services which were offered to carers, however carers were not always aware that these were available, suggesting that further publication of these opportunities is needed. Conclusions The paper argues the importance of the role undertaken by carers, and signals the range of ways in which General Practice can support or inhibit these activities

Leaving it at the gate:Phenomenological exploration of resilience in mental health nurses in a high secure personality disorder unit

Aims & design:This study reports a qualitative phenomenological investigation of resilience in nursing staff working in a high secure personality disorder service.Method:Interviews were carried with six nursing staff, and these captured the richness and complexity of the lived experience of nursing staff.Results:Four superordinate themes emerged from the analysis: Management of emotions: participants showed an awareness that their job is about giving care to patients who may present with very challenging behaviours. The care that they offered appeared to be conceptualised as something that needed to be provided in a measured way, with boundaries. A clear distinction was drawn between ‘caring personally’ for patients, and ‘providing care’. Teamwork: teamwork was cited as a major influencing factor by all participants. This was seen as directly impacting on the smooth running of the ward, and therefore on the wellbeing of staff, but also of patients. Understanding: staff were acutely aware that they were working in an environment where everyday interactions would be open to intense scrutiny and possible misinterpretation by patients. Work-life balance: All participants spoke of making a conscious effort to have a separate work and home life, which appeared to be influenced by a number of factors.Conclusion:There was an acknowledgment of the emotional labour of the work, and discussions about how they managed within this demonstrated an emotionally intelligent approach to their own health, wellbeing and resilience.Impact:In secure environments mental health nurses need organisational support and assistance to develop ways of managing difficult experiences with patients, systems that promote recovery, and the educational and supervisory support to help understand and process the effects on them. This paper provides evidence to support the work of managers and clinicians in these environment

Leaving it at the gate:Phenomenological exploration of resilience in mental health nurses in a high secure personality disorder unit

Aims & design:This study reports a qualitative phenomenological investigation of resilience in nursing staff working in a high secure personality disorder service.Method:Interviews were carried with six nursing staff, and these captured the richness and complexity of the lived experience of nursing staff.Results:Four superordinate themes emerged from the analysis: Management of emotions: participants showed an awareness that their job is about giving care to patients who may present with very challenging behaviours. The care that they offered appeared to be conceptualised as something that needed to be provided in a measured way, with boundaries. A clear distinction was drawn between ‘caring personally’ for patients, and ‘providing care’. Teamwork: teamwork was cited as a major influencing factor by all participants. This was seen as directly impacting on the smooth running of the ward, and therefore on the wellbeing of staff, but also of patients. Understanding: staff were acutely aware that they were working in an environment where everyday interactions would be open to intense scrutiny and possible misinterpretation by patients. Work-life balance: All participants spoke of making a conscious effort to have a separate work and home life, which appeared to be influenced by a number of factors.Conclusion:There was an acknowledgment of the emotional labour of the work, and discussions about how they managed within this demonstrated an emotionally intelligent approach to their own health, wellbeing and resilience.Impact:In secure environments mental health nurses need organisational support and assistance to develop ways of managing difficult experiences with patients, systems that promote recovery, and the educational and supervisory support to help understand and process the effects on them. This paper provides evidence to support the work of managers and clinicians in these environment

The Balanced Participation Model: Sharing opportunities for giving people with early-stage dementia a voice in research

Much has been written about the stigmatisation and discrimination ascribed to people with dementia in society and in research. This marginalisation has led to a silencing of their voices and their experiences both on a national and international scale, and an often limited understanding about how people with dementia experience daily life. In this study, a participatory research project was conducted in collaboration with people with early-stage dementia who attended an adult school in Denmark. The study explored how to work collaboratively with people with dementia to develop their own research projects. Based on the findings, a qualitative participatory research model has been designed to support the active engagement of people with early-stage dementia in research. The project involved 12 people with early-stage dementia, who were divided into two groups (n = 6 in each group) and then trained in research skills. Each group was then supported to design, develop and undertake a group research project. This was one continuous process, and constantly took account of the individual competencies of each group member. Based upon the knowledge gained from the training in research skills and the participatory research project The Balanced Participation Model was developed. The model illustrates five phases in a participatory research process focusing on the considerations needed for participant recruitment, planning, training in research skills, the participatory research project, and the evaluation and dissemination of results. The core of the model highlights the importance of the researcher role in facilitating the collaboration

Exploring young people’s aspirations through community drama

This paper explores young people’s aspirations and the influence of community drama in shaping these arts-focussed aspirations. Research was undertaken using creative drama methods with young people who attend a youth drama group. The young people identified career and personal aspirations, recognising the hard work and support that it can take to achieve their goals. Youth drama was discussed as supporting the development of these young people’s aspirations to enter careers in the arts industry, but also in other areas, as well as helping to develop transferable skills that could support the young people in their future and current aspirations