Joanne Emma Robinson and Leam Craig
The purpose of this paper is to adapt a social climate measure for use within a forensic intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) service and examine perceptions of…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to adapt a social climate measure for use within a forensic intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) service and examine perceptions of social climate and the links with patient aggression across three levels of security.
Design/methodology/approach
Four staff participated in a focus group to discuss how the Essen Climate Evaluation Schema (EssenCES) could be adapted for IDD patients. Subsequently, a pilot study with three patients highlighted some difficulties in administering the adapted measure. Alterations in the administration of the measure were implemented with a further ten patients residing across three levels of security. The EssenCES was adapted to include more visual prompts to assist in the patients’ completion of the measure. The frequency of aggressive incidents in each of the three settings was also collated.
Findings
Statistical analysis revealed a non-significant trend where positive social climate ratings increased as the security level decreased. There was a significant difference in the frequency of aggressive incidents across the three levels of security; however, there were no significant relationships found between the questionnaire ratings and the frequency of incidents.
Research limitations/implications
The results lacked statistical power due to the low number of participants. Further studies with adapted social climate measures need to be conducted to assess the implications of social climate on individuals with IDD in secure forensic services.
Originality/value
The study adapted and piloted a social climate measure for individuals in a forensic IDD service.
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This paper attempts to provide a number of strategic reference points for individuals and organizations seeking a clearer view of the future. These reference points plot a course…
Abstract
This paper attempts to provide a number of strategic reference points for individuals and organizations seeking a clearer view of the future. These reference points plot a course that starts with the surfacing of underlying philosophies and ends with the melding of foresight with strategy. Underpinning these reference points is the belief in achieving balance between our understanding of “the inner self” and external drivers of change. This paper draws together a number of well‐developed theories and concepts as a way of linking both insight and practice.
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WITH the sentiments expressed in Mr. Doubleday's excellent paper in the February number almost every librarian will be in substantial agreement. First, it is wholesome for the…
Abstract
WITH the sentiments expressed in Mr. Doubleday's excellent paper in the February number almost every librarian will be in substantial agreement. First, it is wholesome for the welfare of Public Libraries that the subject should not be tabooed; librarians ought to be continually obsessed and worried by it, and should exercise their minds chiefly, not in framing apologies for their prodigious issues of fiction, but in finding a drastic remedy. That these excessive issues are “an abuse of the privileges offered by Public Libraries” and a principal reason for the bad odour in which the institution stands in the minds of many thinking people; that the expense of furnishing “leisured or semi‐leisured people” with this kind of luxury is an injustice to the most worthy class of readers; and that the feeble expedients hitherto adopted to lessen the evil have had no real success, are propositions that command well‐nigh unanimous consent. But is Mr. Doubleday conclusive enough? Does he state in a sufficiently clear and positive manner what is the alternative policy?
AT Oxford, on October 8th and 9th, was celebrated the tercentenary of the founding of the Bodleian Library by Sir Thomas Bodley, an Exeter man, who early realised the value of…
Abstract
AT Oxford, on October 8th and 9th, was celebrated the tercentenary of the founding of the Bodleian Library by Sir Thomas Bodley, an Exeter man, who early realised the value of books in the work of education. The occasion was made one of great importance, and there were gathered together distinguished representatives of literature and librarianship from all parts of the world. The list of delegates given below will show how extensive this representation was, although it will occur to some, as a somewhat remarkable circumstance, that not a single municipal library in London was represented, while many of the more important English towns were also ignored. Considering that such libraries are doing so much in the cause of popular education, compared to which the work of many of the colleges and institutions represented is microscopical, it does strike the outsider that the gathering would have been much more impressive and representative had there been more “Town” and less “Gown” in the celebration. The following is a full list of all but the Oxford representatives, who included practically every head of a college, professor, or college librarian, together with various local celebrities:—
Paula Robinson, Emma Griffith and Chris Gillmore
Studies show that experiences of repeated or complex trauma are very common in patients with severe mental health problems. Unfortunately, many professionals do not routinely ask…
Abstract
Purpose
Studies show that experiences of repeated or complex trauma are very common in patients with severe mental health problems. Unfortunately, many professionals do not routinely ask about abuse, due to concerns about how to ask and respond. There is also a need for frontline staff to be trained in trauma-informed care. The purpose of this paper is to identify the needs of inpatient staff and developed a tailor-made training package.
Design/methodology/approach
A training programme was developed from focus-group discussion and delivered to the team. Questionnaires were administered pre-, post-training and at three-month follow-up, to assess changes in knowledge, confidence and worries in the assessment and treatment of complex trauma.
Findings
There was an increase in self-reported staff confidence (p=0.001) and knowledge (p=0.028) about working with complex trauma and their worries decreased (p=0.026) between pre- and post-training.
Practical implications
In order to sustain the benefits of training for longer, recommendations were made to the service for on-going training, supervision and evaluation.
Originality/value
Given the recent interest in complex trauma within the literature (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – Fifth Version (DSM-V); International Statistical Classification of Diseases – 11th Version (ICD-11)), the piloting and development of complex trauma training packages is timely. To the author’s knowledge, this is the first published account of complex trauma training for inpatient staff. This paper offers clinical and research implications to services who may want to develop as trauma-informed services within the NHS.
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The emotional labor of headteachers and teachers is complex. The purpose of this paper is to explore the relevance of the use of the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence…
Abstract
Purpose
The emotional labor of headteachers and teachers is complex. The purpose of this paper is to explore the relevance of the use of the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence test (MSCEIT) (Mayer, Caruso & Salovey, 2000) when assessing the emotional intelligence of headteachers as part of an investigation which aimed to reveal the ways in which female secondary school leaders were emotionally intelligent and whether it was possible to test for emotional intelligence.
Design/methodology/approach
Seven female headteachers’ MSCEIT reports are investigated. Semi-structured interviews were held pre- and post-test to explore the headteachers’ emotional labor. In addition, teachers serving under the headteachers were interviewed.
Findings
The accuracy of the MSCEIT is questioned, rather than taking the results at face value, attention is given to its content, language and cultural differences. The MSCEIT originates from the USA and is used globally. The findings of this investigation suggest it is possible the MSCEIT represents a deficit model due to the test takers’ interpretation of nuanced language. The findings show a disparity in relation to MSCEIT scores and self-reported emotional responses.
Research limitations/implications
Although the sample size is small and therefore cannot claim generalization from the findings, the use of emotional intelligence tests should be used with caution. Emotional responses are best understood through life experience as the headteachers attach retrospective meaning to their leadership actions.
Originality/value
Headteachers’ work is multifaceted because emotion is integral to the processes of teaching and learning. The emotional labor of headteachers and teachers impacts and has relevance to their roles as educational landscapes continue to shift.