The paper summarises some of the main results of a study of inter‐agency collaboration in the provision of community mental health services in one city in Britain. The research…
Abstract
The paper summarises some of the main results of a study of inter‐agency collaboration in the provision of community mental health services in one city in Britain. The research was based on interviews with service purchasers and providers in health, social services and the voluntary sector. The results suggest that, in spite of cordial working relationships and a historically stable organisational structure, collaboration between agencies in the provision of mental health services was being seriously damaged by contradictory central government policies of tight operational control yet fostering internal markets in purchasing and providing. It is recommended that research is urgently needed to assess the impact on vulnerable clients’ quality of life and level of functioning of changes in inter‐agency collaboration forced by the introduction of internal market mechanisms.
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The pharmacological addition syndrome which integrates the complex factors involved in maintenance of smoking as a behaviour, has led to many attempts to find aneffective…
Abstract
The pharmacological addition syndrome which integrates the complex factors involved in maintenance of smoking as a behaviour, has led to many attempts to find aneffective cessation treatment, either through replacement therapy or through behavioural programmes or a combination of both. Research carried out by the Wessex branch of Operation Smokestop, a project providing training, support and research for community‐based self‐help stop‐smoking groups, reveals that the problem may now be more fruitfully examined through a social and political framework. Such influences may prove to have more bearing on the suggested gender‐based differences in smoking and cessation than that of nicotine alone. Women smoke as a way of dealing with their daily lives. Health and addiction worries result in their greater numbers of attempts to stop smoking. Significant drops in prevalence for women are not found since they are more likely to relapse through their dependence and because girls are taking up smoking at a greater rate than boys. Women are not smoking more to be more like men but because they feel powerless and unable to change their cultural, social and political and economic environments. The results are based on 516 Smoking Patterns test questionnaires which produce a picture of an individual's smoking motivations based on seven factors.
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The purpose of this paper is to review historical and contemporary union driven advances in gender and race equality within the movement and the workplace in order to show how far…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to review historical and contemporary union driven advances in gender and race equality within the movement and the workplace in order to show how far unions have come in the last 50 years, but also to identify continuing equality deficits.
Design/methodology/approach
As well as reviewing extant literature in order to provide historical background, the paper draws upon original analysis of the series of biennial TUC Equality Audits, the latest SERTUC equality survey and interviews with national union officers responsible for equality in large-, medium- and small-sized unions.
Findings
Over the last 50 years, unions have made considerable progress in representing women both in leadership and democratic structures as well as in the workplace bargaining and consultative arena. However, BAME members remain underrepresented in both domains. A hostile socio-economic/political context threatens to hinder further progress.
Research limitations/implications
It is quite clear that the authors cannot assess unions’ current record on equality by reference only to outcomes and benefits of big set-piece organisation, industry or sector negotiations. Future research could usefully explore in more depth unions’ qualitative contribution to workplace equality practices in context of challenges in the internal and external environments.
Practical implications
Unions need to step up commitment to integrating equality into the bargaining agenda. They also need to continue investing in campaigning activities and identify ways of making successful outcomes more visible within the union, to members and to non-unionised workers. Workplace unions need to develop strategies to confront the fact that strong equality policies do not necessarily translate into good workplace practices.
Originality/value
The paper provides a long-term evaluation of union progress on equality within the movement itself and the workplace.
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Thomas N. Garavan, Patrick Gunnigle and Michael Morley
Addresses some of the key debates within the HRD literature and considers the extent to which HRD can be described as a field of study. The paper addresses the issues raised in…
Abstract
Addresses some of the key debates within the HRD literature and considers the extent to which HRD can be described as a field of study. The paper addresses the issues raised in the contributions that make up this special issue and identifies a broad range of methodologies and use of research methods. It argues that all of the contributions fit into at least one theoretical perspective: capabilities, psychological contacts and the learning organization/organizational learning. The paper concludes with a consideration of the prescriptions which the perspectives advocate for HRD in organizations.
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Dominic Joannou, Mina Fernando, Carol Harrison‐Read and Nisha Wickramasinghe
The purpose of this paper is to explore models of community outreach to BME and faith communities in the London Borough of Harrow.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore models of community outreach to BME and faith communities in the London Borough of Harrow.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper explores community outreach with a specific emphasis on the delivery of community mental health services through partnership working with BME faith groups.
Findings
The paper considers models of community outreach to BME and faith communities and explores the impacts of service cuts and the emerging Big Society agenda on BME and faith groups.
Practical implications
Having identified some of the challenges that exist, solutions are proposed that can help to enhance the likelihood of achieving funding through delivering flexible innovative models of working which play to pre‐existing strengths.
Originality/value
At a time of service cutbacks when people are increasingly reliant on locally based BME communities to provide essential services, the role of information provision and basic training is critical in delivering culturally accessible and tailored services.
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Katho Jacobs, Steffi De Jans, Tom Evens and Bram Constandt
This systematic literature review examines the domain of sports sponsorship involving controversial industries. We delve into the shared patterns, differences and overarching…
Abstract
Purpose
This systematic literature review examines the domain of sports sponsorship involving controversial industries. We delve into the shared patterns, differences and overarching themes prevalent across various dark consumption industries (i.e. alcohol, food and beverages high in fat, salt and sugar, gambling and tobacco).
Design/methodology/approach
This study systematically reviews research on controversial sports sponsorships (CSS). Literature searches in Web of Science and Scopus, and additional searches in reference lists resulted in a total of 90 publications meeting the inclusion criteria, which can be grouped into three research clusters: prevalence, impact and (in)appropriateness of CSS.
Findings
This review revealed a high prevalence of so-called controversial sponsors in sports, particularly in – but certainly not limited to – soccer. Especially gambling sponsorships have become more prominent in recent years. Ethical concerns surfaced since CSS are positively related to attitudes, preferences, purchase intention and consumption, potentially causing health-harming consequences for children and adults.
Practical implications
This study provides scholars and practitioners with insights to advocate for policy measures curbing CSS.
Originality/value
In light of the identified research gaps, we propose a research agenda to particularly investigate causal relationships between exposure to CSS and its impact by conducting longitudinal and experimental research. Additionally, we propose to establish a consumer-centered framework for processing CSS.
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The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the relevance of intersectional theory (Crenshaw, 1989; Winker and Degele, 2011) in understanding how youth workers name themselves in…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the relevance of intersectional theory (Crenshaw, 1989; Winker and Degele, 2011) in understanding how youth workers name themselves in their everyday lives. An intersectional approach will assist youth workers in developing a clear understanding of their own self as they work with young people from diverse and challenging backgrounds.
Design/methodology/approach
This research takes a qualitative approach, using in-depth interviews with cisgendered, female lesbian, gay and bisexual respondents of different social class, religion, ethnicity and age about their everyday experiences.
Findings
Intracategorical and anticategorical intersectional approaches (McCall, 2005) were used to assist in understanding how these professionals chose to name themselves in their personal and working lives.
Originality/value
The youth work literature, although focussed on the importance of issues of diversity, has not engaged with the ideas of intersectionality. The focus on intersections of sexuality, as well as social class, religion, ethnicity and age, fills another gap in the literature where less attention has been paid to the “category” of sexuality (Richardson and Monro, 2012; Wright, 2016b). These findings will be useful for youth workers and for practitioners and their trainers from a range of professional backgrounds such as therapists, social workers, teachers and health care practitioners.
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Vanessa Melton and Sue Ledwith
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the use of node-link mapping (NLM) on the effectiveness of a structured treatment for dual diagnosis for men living in a low-secure…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the use of node-link mapping (NLM) on the effectiveness of a structured treatment for dual diagnosis for men living in a low-secure environment.
Design/methodology/approach
In total, 15 participants were recruited and randomly allocated to one of two conditions. The control group, treatment as usual (TAU) or the treatment group, TAU with NLM. Outcome measures used were: a qualitative evaluation form, The Alcohol and Illegal Drugs Decisional Balance Scale and the Brief Situational Confidence Questionnaire.
Findings
Results indicate no statistically significant difference for either group on the pre- and post-treatment outcome measures used. Qualitative data indicated that those using NLM reported the intervention as useful and instructive more often.
Research limitations/implications
The results gained were only a snapshot of the intervention straight after treatment and did not take into account any long-term benefits of therapy such as substance use relapse rates. The outcome measures used may not have been properly understood by all respondents, or reflect practical change. The NLM tool may not have been used as confidently as TAU. The TAU condition needs to be reviewed to improve effectiveness, and NLM to be included to improve the accessibility. A study comparing other outcome tools needs to be completed. Training for staff using NLM may require coaching.
Originality/value
This paper has a high/low originality. It highlights a number of advantages to NLM when comparing this to TAU.
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The aim of this paper is to give a critique of the extant literature on union commitment and participation in order to develop remedies to identified weaknesses
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this paper is to give a critique of the extant literature on union commitment and participation in order to develop remedies to identified weaknesses
Design/methodology/approach
The paper uses a critical assessment of extant literature.
Findings
A number of critical deficiencies exist in the literature to which remedies are proposed.
Research limitations/implications
The remedies need testing through empirical research.
Practical implications
Future research needs to have different research foci and questions.
Social implications
With a reorientation of future research on union commitment, participation and leadership, unions may be better able to benefit from academic research in the area.
Originality/value
The paper suggests that a reorientation of future research on union commitment, participation and leadership will allow more incisive and more robust contributions to be made to understanding unions as complex social organisms.
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Filip Flankegård, Glenn Johansson and Anna Granlund
This paper aims to identify critical factors that influence small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) suppliers’ involvement in their customers’ product development and contrast…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to identify critical factors that influence small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) suppliers’ involvement in their customers’ product development and contrast these with the factors identified from the customer perspective.
Design/methodology/approach
A multiple case study approach was used, including four companies. Data were collected through 32 semi-structured interviews, six workshops and documents.
Findings
A model is presented that merges this study’s nine identified critical factors with seven critical factors from the customer perspective. The model provides a dual perspective of supplier involvement in product development, wherein the supplier and customer perspectives are concurrently addressed. Some factors are unique for the supplier, but several mirror those on the customer side.
Research limitations/implications
The study is based on data from SME suppliers in Northern Europe. As it is expected that SME companies are more constrained by limited resources, future studies could study critical factors at larger suppliers.
Practical implications
Customers and suppliers having insights about the critical factors can provide better conditions for product development for the other actor; for example, when evaluating customer–supplier integration.
Originality/value
The presented model of critical factors provides a more nuanced picture of supplier involvement in product development as prior research has been biased toward the customer perspective. This study emphasizes the importance of contextual information that has been unnoticed in the literature.