Barbara Jacobs, Matt Bruce, Ketan Sonigra and John Blakesley
Managing the risk posed by violent and sexual offenders who have a personality disorder is a key priority in forensic mental health services. An important element of service…
Abstract
Managing the risk posed by violent and sexual offenders who have a personality disorder is a key priority in forensic mental health services. An important element of service delivery is to maintain client engagement with the care team in order to promote positive change. Service‐user involvement in multi‐method evaluations has been shown to increase involvement and ownership of services and thereby increase engagement. This study presents the findings from a qualitative service user evaluation of a pilot project known as the Forensic Intensive Psychological Treatment Service (FIPTS). The main findings highlight the importance of a good therapeutic relationship and good communication with the care team, how therapy work offers insight and understanding into behaviour, encouraging service users to make positive changes, and how returning to work gives hope, independence and confidence. Service users generally feel supported and able to approach the team with any concerns of escalating risk and also highlight certain areas of improvement.
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Mischa Gwaspari, Sanita Hochhauser and Matt Bruce
The main objective of the study is to investigate unmet needs of Black African and Caribbean Heritage (BAH) patients with and without a concurrent diagnosis of antisocial…
Abstract
Purpose
The main objective of the study is to investigate unmet needs of Black African and Caribbean Heritage (BAH) patients with and without a concurrent diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder (ASPD).
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 79 participants were recruited from ten psychiatric inpatient wards across two hospital sites in South London. Personality disorder was assessed using the SCID‐II for DSM‐IV, the prevalence of unmet needs was assessed by The Camberwell Assessment of Need Short Assessment Schedule and substance misuse problems measured using well validated drug and alcohol use disorder identification tools.
Findings
The presence of a concurrent ASPD was independently associated with a greater number of unmet needs. ASPD was associated with lower qualifications and a greater risk of homelessness and substance misuse. Unmet need was associated with lower qualifications and substance misuse. In a stepwise linear regression model alcohol dependence and drug misuse were the most significant predictors of unmet need.
Research limitations/implications
Further research is required to identify the reasons why these needs are not being met and establish reasons for these patients' high‐dropout rates from treatment.
Practical implications
The present findings suggest BAH psychiatric inpatients with ASPD are at greater risk of alcohol dependence and drug misuse and report a greater number of unmet needs thus requiring a greater volume of services; however, current services are not meeting these needs. Mental health teams should ensure thorough needs assessment procedures are incorporated into general psychiatric service practice ensuring effective treatment packages are tailored to these patients needs.
Originality/value
The research identifies a previously under‐researched sub‐group of psychiatric inpatients with a high proportion of unmet health and social needs and suggests further research to develop service improvements supporting their management.
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Presents a special issue, enlisting the help of the author’s students and colleagues, focusing on age, sex, colour and disability discrimination in America. Breaks the evidence…
Abstract
Presents a special issue, enlisting the help of the author’s students and colleagues, focusing on age, sex, colour and disability discrimination in America. Breaks the evidence down into manageable chunks, covering: age discrimination in the workplace; discrimination against African‐Americans; sex discrimination in the workplace; same sex sexual harassment; how to investigate and prove disability discrimination; sexual harassment in the military; when the main US job‐discrimination law applies to small companies; how to investigate and prove racial discrimination; developments concerning race discrimination in the workplace; developments concerning the Equal Pay Act; developments concerning discrimination against workers with HIV or AIDS; developments concerning discrimination based on refusal of family care leave; developments concerning discrimination against gay or lesbian employees; developments concerning discrimination based on colour; how to investigate and prove discrimination concerning based on colour; developments concerning the Equal Pay Act; using statistics in employment discrimination cases; race discrimination in the workplace; developments concerning gender discrimination in the workplace; discrimination in Japanese organizations in America; discrimination in the entertainment industry; discrimination in the utility industry; understanding and effectively managing national origin discrimination; how to investigate and prove hiring discrimination based on colour; and, finally, how to investigate sexual harassment in the workplace.
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The purpose of this research is to report on the surveying of three vernacular thatched properties in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland, all run as Youth Hostels.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this research is to report on the surveying of three vernacular thatched properties in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland, all run as Youth Hostels.
Design/methodology/approach
The case study buildings are compared with 42 Arnol, the blackhouse on North Lewis cared for by Historic Scotland. The paper compares plan form, roof structure, thatching material and securing methods using data collected during extensive field investigations in 2004.
Findings
The paper concludes that the more northerly property Garenin most closely resembles 42 Arnol and can be classified as “Hebridean” in structure, while Howmore to the south is typical of the “Skye” pattern. Berneray, the central of the three properties, exhibits construction techniques of both types, indicating that it defines the boundary between the two types.
Originality/value
The findings of this research will be useful to surveyors, owners and maintenance managers responsible for these unique vernacular structures.
The purpose of this paper is to explore the community development experiences of a communitarian leader who has worked with various global institutions. Through interviews and the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the community development experiences of a communitarian leader who has worked with various global institutions. Through interviews and the examination of lived experiences, findings yield new insights into the complexity of human identity and the flexibility of decision making in a multicultural setting. The narrative also aims to inform current discourse on leadership in the non-profit sector.
Design/methodology/approach
Narrative analysis was used to investigate outcomes and relay the personal anecdotes of the interview participant. Formal and open-ended questioning generated comprehensive responses concerning the participant’s personal and professional interactions while completing work-related tasks for global development projects. In general, questions that referenced conflict among colleagues, cultural proclivities, and gendered decision making allowed the participant to expound on answers that explored workplace relationships, organizational structures, and leadership perspectives. Interview responses were examined for emergent patterns or categories and detailed analysis of codes from interviews guided the creation of four key themes: feminine ethos, organizational identity, self-perception, and sociocultural interaction.
Findings
The narrative delves into the important human and humanitarian experiences that have shaped the professional life of Dr Thomas Bruce, an exemplar of leadership in the global non-profit sector. Bruce, a self-described communitarian, served as Chairman of the Board of Directors at Heifer International and oversaw community outreach initiatives in South Africa for the Kellogg Foundation. Based on Bruce’s knowledge, expertise, and responses, findings suggest global leaders take a multidimensional approach to colleague interaction and project completion. Narrative outcomes also indicate the evolving nature of grassroots initiatives requires both assertive and cooperative management styles.
Research limitations/implications
Due to the chosen research method, findings focus on the experiences of one global non-profit leader. Narrative outcomes are unique and may not have the requisite data to be applied to cases or situations beyond the global non-profit sector. Therefore, researchers are encouraged to interview other leaders who have worked on global humanitarian initiatives to further understand their diverse experiences.
Practical implications
The narrative includes practical implications for practitioners who oversee global development projects and other humanitarian initiatives in an interdependent world. Use of compromise, collaboration, and compassion often aid community outreach efforts and strengthen communication in the workplace, particularly for leaders who manage a multicultural workforce.
Social implications
In an interdependent world shaped by the forces of globalization and cosmopolitanism, leaders of global non-profit organizations regularly manage a multicultural workforce and resolve public disputes in order to address prevailing humanitarian challenges. Understanding the lessons learned by one exemplar in the global non-profit sector can aid cross-cultural communication and enhance community development activities in various countries.
Originality/value
This narrative fills an identified need to study and understand how global leaders work with diverse communities and a multicultural workforce to complete important institutional and humanitarian goals.
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Film provides an alternative medium for assessing our interpretations of cultural icons. This selective list looks at the film and video sources for information on and…
Abstract
Film provides an alternative medium for assessing our interpretations of cultural icons. This selective list looks at the film and video sources for information on and interpretations of the life of Woody Guthrie.
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President Bill Clinton has had many opponents and enemies, most of whom come from the political right wing. Clinton supporters contend that these opponents, throughout the Clinton…
Abstract
President Bill Clinton has had many opponents and enemies, most of whom come from the political right wing. Clinton supporters contend that these opponents, throughout the Clinton presidency, systematically have sought to undermine this president with the goal of bringing down his presidency and running him out of office; and that they have sought non‐electoral means to remove him from office, including Travelgate, the death of Deputy White House Counsel Vincent Foster, the Filegate controversy, and the Monica Lewinsky matter. This bibliography identifies these and other means by presenting citations about these individuals and organizations that have opposed Clinton. The bibliography is divided into five sections: General; “The conspiracy stream of conspiracy commerce”, a White House‐produced “report” presenting its view of a right‐wing conspiracy against the Clinton presidency; Funding; Conservative organizations; and Publishing/media. Many of the annotations note the links among these key players.
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Sarah-Jane Archibald, Colin Campbell and Derval Ambrose
Evidence has shown associations between personality disorder (PD) and poor treatment outcomes. The purpose of this paper is to: first, establish which risk assessment method (i.e…
Abstract
Purpose
Evidence has shown associations between personality disorder (PD) and poor treatment outcomes. The purpose of this paper is to: first, establish which risk assessment method (i.e. structured professional judgement or actuarial) is most reliable for predicting treatment outcomes for individuals with PD. Second, determine whether individuals identified as high risk are more likely to have poorer treatment outcomes. Third, determine if engagement in treatment helps to reduce risk assessment scores.
Design/methodology/approach
In total, 50 patients were recruited from a medium secure forensic PD service. Their risk was assessed using one structured professional judgement instrument (the HCR-20) and one actuarial instrument (the RM2000). The study used a retrospective cohort design.
Findings
Overall, the HCR-20 was a better predictor of treatment outcome than the RM2000. Personality-disordered offenders with high HCR-20 scores are at an increased risk of adverse treatment outcomes.
Research limitations/implications
This investigation used a small, non-randomised sample of male patients with PD at one South East England medium secure unit. The data were over-represented by white British males. Future research should compare PD offenders with non-PD offenders to investigate what factors best predict poorer treatment outcomes.
Originality/value
The findings indicate that structured professional judgement approaches are more effective predictors of risk than actuarial measures for assessing patients with PD. This study therefore adds value to forensic services and to the risk assessment debate.
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Bruce J. Malina and Thomas O. Nitsch
I. Introduction In their recent pastoral letter, the Catholic bishops of this country have reputedly taken a new approach in rooting their moral imperatives in the Bible. As…
Abstract
I. Introduction In their recent pastoral letter, the Catholic bishops of this country have reputedly taken a new approach in rooting their moral imperatives in the Bible. As opposed to the established, official convention of “proof‐texting”, the US bishops focus on certain biblical themes which presumably “speak to” contemporary issues and problems. Chief among these is the so‐called “preferential option for the poor”, which is attributed to both the Old and New Testaments and early Church (Christianity).