Tackling exclusion and encouraging inclusion

LJMU are continuing to create an inclusive culture where diversity is celebrated. As part of this strategy, during the summer of 2021 a small team of undergraduate interns from LSAD were tasked with the challenge to analyse and compare their University (LJMU) with others in response to the themes of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.       Conducted as a student led activity, with limited guidance from staff in order to provide them with the freedom to express authentic and honest opinions, these interns went about researching the visual identity and culture. Initially captured in the form of a visual audit, the interns went on to produce a series of research mood boards, and finally concluded with recommendations for future visual communication strategies in terms of EDI.     The nature and importance that LJMU placed on the project made the interns feel valued and part of something significant. Indeed, there was an emphasis that the work would shape and influence the future.       This presentation will feedback on the stages of the projects and the mood boards created by students that show how they would like to be portrayed by LJMU. &nbsp

Using photovoice to learn from our care experienced and estranged students

Care experienced and estranged students continue to be one of the most under-represented groups in higher education. Latest widening participation data show that in 2018 – 19, just 13% of young people who met the government definition of a Former Relevant Looked After Child entered higher education, compared to 43% of all other pupils (DfE). As such, OfS has designated care experienced learners as a Priority Cohort to be included in institutional Access and Participation Plans for targeted support. LJMU has a long history of supporting care experienced students and those estranged from their families and, in 2022, was the first university to be awarded the National Network for the Education of Care Leavers (NNECL) Quality Mark for Higher Education outside of the pilot phase after undertaking a significant review of current LJMU provision and the submission of a three year institutional action plan. As part of this action plan, colleagues from the Faculty of Arts, Professional and Social Studies, the Teaching and Learning Academy and Student Advice and Wellbeing Services have initiated a cross-institutional research project utilising PhotoVoice to capture the experiences of students studying at Foundation and Level 4 in 2022 / 23. This session will provide an initial insight into some of the initial findings of the project, in the context of institutional data on the access, progression and success of current care experienced and estranged students. Using photovoice to learn from our care experienced and estranged students, PowerPoint. Only LJMU staff and students have access to this resource

Transforming rehabilitation, emotional labour and contract delivery: A case study of a voluntary sector provider in an English resettlement prison

In 2019, the UK government announced a scaling back of changes enacted under the Transforming Rehabilitation (TR) agenda introduced in 2013. In doing so, it seemingly reversed key criminal justice policies surrounding the management and supervision of those subject to penal and community sanctions, which had drawn fierce criticism due to its financial and systematic failings. This article speaks to a small but growing body of literature concerned with the professional damage induced by this failed ‘rehabilitation revolution’ for practitioners (see Robinson et al., 2016; Millings et al., 2019b; Tidmarsh, 2019), through a sharpened focus on a small group of actors brought into the sector through out-sourcing and sub-contracting. Our findings are primarily based on observational and semi-structured interviews conducted with 11 staff employed by a Voluntary Sector Provider (VSP) working in a Category B resettlement prison during this period of profound change. Through the lens of emotional labour theory (Hochschild, 1983) we identify three themes; operational legitimacy; practice proficiency; and professional well-being - to make sense of VSP worker's experience of policy reform under Transforming Rehabilitation. In doing so we contend that working in such fraught conditions, and the excesses of emotional labour involved, can potentially compromise both the integrity and efficiency of service delivery

Transforming Rehabilitation and Through The Gate: Research from a resettlement prison

A strong emphasis within the TR agenda was placed on the establishment of 70 resettlement prisons to commence the ‘through the gate’ provision to allow rehabilitation support to extend from custody into the community. A key motivator for such developments was the need to provide additional support for those released from prison having been sentenced to 12 months or less - who, as a group, have a reoffending rate of 60% (Ministry of Justice 2013). This paper presents findings from phase one of a longitudinal project seeking to document the views and experiences of a series of individuals caught up in the grip of the profound changes to service provision taking place in one resettlement prison in the North West of England. The study seeks to explore how the structures, processes and operation of in-prison based resettlement service provision change; examine the views of those charged with implementing and managing these interventions; and gauge the experiences of those inmates (and their families) who engage services both within and outside the prison estate

A qualitative survey on distressful voice of children living in foster care

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the physical and mental condition of children living in a foster care, highlighting the standpoint of social educators working in these settings. METHODS: The data were collected between September and October 2016. The residential child care involved in this study hosted 100 children. All the interviews were registered and transcribed. To analyze the data we used Grounded Theory (GT) methodology. RESULTS: The interviewed underline some aggressive (anger, threats, bullying) and passive (depression, social isolation) children behavior. Aggressive behaviors are more frequent than passive behaviors and the most common children reaction is anger. The most common problem has a psychological aspect, such as excessive responsibility due to the crucial nature of the decisions these professionals have to take and the probability of making mistakes with serious consequences. CONCLUSIONS: Children living in residential child care, like foster care, have still serious deficiencies in their overall health and wellbeing, particularly in emotional health and behavior

Through the Gate: The implementation, management and delivery of resettlement service provision for short-term prisoners

This paper draws upon research documenting the implementation, management and delivery of Through the Gate service provision in one case study area across an 18-month period. In referring to interviews and focus groups with professionals, male prisoners, and the families of these men, the paper provides a critical examination of the practice implications of administering Through the Gate provision in a resettlement prison. In doing so we reflect upon the changes in organisational structures, the evolution of occupational culture(s), and on the impact on multi-agency partnership working practice evident within this Transforming Rehabilitation led period of transitional change

Alcohol consumption is associated with high concentrations of urinary hydroxytyrosol

Background: Previously, we reported the presence of hydroxytyrosol in red wine and higher human urinary recovery of total hydroxytyrosol than that expected after a single red wine intake. We hypothesized that the alcohol present in wine could promote endogenous hydroxytyrosol generation. Objective: The objective was to assess the relation between alcohol consumption and urinary hydroxytyrosol concentrations. Design: This was a cross-sectional study with baseline data from a subsample of the PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea (PREDIMED) trial, an intervention study directed at testing the efficacy of the Mediterranean diet on the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Participants included 1045 subjects, aged 55–80 y, who were at high cardiovascular risk. Alcohol consumption was estimated through a validated food-frequency questionnaire. Urinary hydroxytyrosol and ethyl glucuronide, a biomarker of alcohol consumption, were measured. Results: Urinary ethyl glucuronide concentrations were directly related to alcohol and wine consumption (P 20 g (2 drinks)/d and >10 g (1 drink)/d alcohol in men and women, respectively, were associated (P < 0.05) with elevated concentrations of hydroxytyrosol. Conclusions: We report for the first time a direct association between urinary hydroxytyrosol and alcohol consumption at a population level. These findings reinforce previous work in human and animal models that examines wine as a source of hydroxytyrosol and alcohol as an indirect promoter of endogenous hydroxytyrosol generation. This trial was registered at controlled-trials.com/isrctn/ as ISRCTN 35739639.Supported by the Spanish Network RD06/0045/0000 (ISCIII) and Sistema Nacional de Salud contracts (CP 03/00115 and CP06/00100) from Instituto de Salud Carlos III, and partially supported by the Generalitat of Catalunya (2005 SGR 00577). The CIBEROBN is an initiative of the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.Peer reviewe