http://hdl.handle.net/1842/1694 2013-05-21T16:49:11Z 2013-05-21T16:49:11Z Roesch-Marsh, Autumn Ellen Marsh, Autumn Ellen Roesch http://hdl.handle.net/1842/5887 2012-03-29T13:48:50Z 2011-07-04T00:00:00Z

Title: Crossing the ‘threshold of risk’: a study of local secure accommodation decision making in Scotland. Authors: Roesch-Marsh, Autumn Ellen; Marsh, Autumn Ellen Roesch Abstract: Secure accommodation is locked residential child care for children, usually under the age of 16, who may represent a risk to themselves and/ or others. This thesis examines the findings of a study into decision making processes which determine the provision and legitimacy of secure accommodation for young people in one local authority area in Scotland. The thesis begins by investigating the legislative and policy context, arguing that policy confusion in this area means secure accommodation is likely to face an uncertain future. It goes on to provide an overview of relevant research and contends that there is a need to better understand the processes and factors influencing local decision making. The case study methodology employed is explicated which included the use of interviews, questionnaires, observations, and focus groups in order to gain the perspectives of managers, social workers, children’s panel members, residential workers and young people. The thesis explores the range of factors which were found to influence local decision makers including: their role in the decision making system and the operation of that system; their use of legislation and guidance; their subjective understanding of risk and risk assessment; their personal and collective ‘thresholds of risk’ which were linked to ideas about gender, age and vulnerability; the quality of ‘evidence’ about risks and needs which was influenced by who and how this ‘evidence’ of risk was presented; available resources and perceptions about the suitability of those resources to meet the needs of particular young people and the resident group already in secure placement. Participant conceptualisations of risk are analysed. In contrast to adult decision makers, this thesis demonstrates that young people often understand their own ‘risky’ behaviour as an attempt to communicate with social work systems within which they feel disempowered. The thesis concludes by making a number of recommendations for improvements to decision making policy and practice, including the need for greater transparency in relation to decision making systems and processes and more opportunities for service user participation at every level of local decision making.

2011-07-04T00:00:00Z Pullar, Arlon http://hdl.handle.net/1842/4024 2010-10-21T13:59:05Z 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Violent and non-violent convicted women offenders in Fife: an analysis of offending patterns, criminogenic need and effective service provision Authors: Pullar, Arlon Abstract: This research emerged out of an idea which originated in an earlier MSc dissertation, in which I had explored the differences between male and female offenders (Pullar, 2000). Here I discovered that a substantial number of women had been found guilty of offences that were violent in nature. This finding was backed up by my own recent practice experience relating to women involved in the probation services. What I began to suspect was that women offenders, contrary to conventional assumptions operating within criminal justice social work services, were not an homogeneous group. On the contrary, I began to consider whether there were identifiable differences between women who had been convicted of offences involving violence and those who had been convicted of non-violent offences. This observation led me to turn to some of the more recent research on women offenders, some of which, (e.g. Loucks and Zamble, 2001), suggested that in practice, women offenders display significantly different offending patterns in terms of their pathways into offending, their offending behaviour and the factors that sustain that behaviour. It is also suggested that women w are convicted of violent offences display behaviour that is very similar to that of male offenders. The target group for my own research was all women who had appeared in court and had had a social enquiry report prepared about them and were living in Fife within the financial year April 2003 to March 2004. This time-scale allowed verification of the quantitative data collected, by comparison with figures submitted by Fife Council Criminal Justice Service to the Audit Commission for Scotland. A population of women offenders was considered in this year and 200 separate cases were included. In addition to the quantitative data collected, in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 21 women, all of whom were subject to statutory supervision. Both parts of the data collection were completed by August 2004. In order that the quantitative data could be collected in a systematic fashion, the Level of Service Inventory (Revised), or L.S.I.-R., was used to collect information about the target group. Furthermore, two additional parameters were added to this inventory, both of which were factors that had been identified previously by researchers as being associated with offending behaviour in women. These were firstly, experiences of childhood abuse and neglect, and secondly, having a male partner who was involved in criminal activity. The differences between the two groups of women offenders were analysed for statistical significance, using the Excel worksheet package. The L.S.I.-R. was also used in helping to construct a framework for the collection of the qualitative data. The interview schedule for the semi-structured interviews with women probationers was devised to reflect the areas of criminogenic need identified as relevant both by the L.S.I.-R. and by researchers in the field of women offenders (e.g. Carlen, 1988). Once completed, the interviews were transcribed, coded and analysed, with the help of the NUD*IST qualitative data analysis computer package. The research concludes that marked differences were found between women offenders convicted of violent offences and those convicted of offences which did not involve violence. Strong evidence was gathered regarding differences in the ways that the women had become involved in offending and some of the elements that sustained that behaviour, notably substance abuse. There was also some indication that life-course experiences were particularly significant for the group of women who had been convicted of violent offences. The thesis concludes that, in view of the differences, these groups require different kinds of social work service provision.

2009-01-01T00:00:00Z Parlalis, Stavros K. http://hdl.handle.net/1842/3447 2010-06-08T13:42:46Z 2008-09-01T00:00:00Z

Title: De-institutionalisation of people with learning disabilities, organisational changes and the impact on professional roles Authors: Parlalis, Stavros K. Abstract: This study explores the development of a discharge programme in one learning disability hospital in Scotland. The aim of the study is to explore professionals’ perceptions of how the discharge programme developed with a focus on capturing professionals’ experience and knowledge so as to reach an understanding of how best to facilitate a discharge programme and help professionals make the transition from the institution to the community. Different groups of professionals were interviewed and different views and perspectives regarding the progress of de-institutionalisation were collected. Based on the professionals’ perceptions and with a particular emphasis on those of social workers, the following issues were identified as the key points which have to be taken into account for facilitating stable progress in a discharge programme: the creation of a consortium with centralized authority which includes the establishment of a formal process and joint working between health and social work, the setting up of a socalled “stakeholder” management model, the implementation of specific practices and policies with regard to the actual discharges and arrangements for enhancing professionals’ adaptability.

2008-09-01T00:00:00Z