Report of a study tour in US on contracting between government and nonprofit organisations, ident... more Report of a study tour in US on contracting between government and nonprofit organisations, identifying problems and lessons that could be learned for the voluntary sector in the UK. Study looks at experiences in 5 major US cities.
Reflection is recognised as a critical part of professional practice. This paper looks at supervi... more Reflection is recognised as a critical part of professional practice. This paper looks at supervision in social work training and factors which can inhibit reflection.
Social Work in Action in the 1980's, ed Gutridge P, University of Bangor, 1988
Paper is published in Social Work in Action in the 1980's, ed Gutridge P, University of Bangor, b... more Paper is published in Social Work in Action in the 1980's, ed Gutridge P, University of Bangor, based on a presentation to conference of same name given at Bangor University.
Social Work Service - Department of Health and Social Security , 1982
Community Social work, evolving community based resources in the UK: a social work team in a Nott... more Community Social work, evolving community based resources in the UK: a social work team in a Nottinghamshire mining town worked with the local community to develop ways of supporting local informal networks. Using a combination of patch and team approaches, new resources were developed and alternative responses to social needs. These supported formal social service provision leading to changes in the way services were provided.
The voluntary organisation Liverpool Personal Service Society (PSS) was established in Liverpool,... more The voluntary organisation Liverpool Personal Service Society (PSS) was established in Liverpool, UK, as a charity in 1919. During subsequent years it has been at the forefront of innovation in health and social care services, having a remarkable impact through the UK and abroad. The article looks at how voluntary action responded to changing social need during the 20th and early 1st centuries and led to the development new services
Sin categoría Tags $ En muchísimos países del mundo, los gobiernos se enfrentan con el reto de re... more Sin categoría Tags $ En muchísimos países del mundo, los gobiernos se enfrentan con el reto de responder al cambio demográfico que consiste en el aumento del número y de la proporción de adultos mayores en la población. ¿Qué está pasando en los servicios de cuidado para ancianos frágiles en los paíes europeos, y qué elementos pueden orientar el desarrollo en otros lugares, pensando en lo que ha funcionado y en lo que no ha funcionado? ¿Podemos transferir las ideas que han tenido éxito? ¿Somos capaces de aprender de nuestros errores, o las diferencias entre los países significan que cada uno tiene que empezar desde cero y abordar los temas de forma independiente? Estos temas son el enfoque del programa Eurosocial, que intenta promover el intercambio de conocimientos y experiencias entre Europa y América Latina. La Unión Europea, bajo su programa Eurosocial II, ha financiado un programa de visitas de estudio y seminarios con SENAMA, el Servicio Nacional para Adulto Mayor de Chile, para revisar y evaluar los estándares de calidad de los servicios para adultos mayores en varios países europeos y considerar si y cómo éstos pueden informar y afectar el desarrollo de servicios en Chile. Contexto Contexto Una visita de estudio en 2014 a los servicios de Suecia, Países Bajos y Luxemburgo, realizada utilizando lo que se ha aprendido durante visitas anteriores en Francia e Italia. Participaron en las visitas directores de SENAMA, quienes fueron colocados en un contexto más amplio gracias a los aportes de expertos europeos de servicios de cuidado a adultos mayores de Europa y de Latinoamérica, a través de encuentros con funcionarios de la Unión Europea y la participación en una conferencia que involucró a adultos mayores, cuidadores, políticos y proveedores de servicios procedentes de toda Europa. Las visitas y los encuentros con organizaciones incluyeron: proveedores de servicios de cuidado residencial, de centros de día, de cuidado en el domicilio y en la comunidad, comisarios, responsables de las políticas, instituciones de investigación y formación, inspectores. También hubo ocasiones de hablar con adultos mayores, voluntarios y personal (profesionales) que se ocupan de los cuidados. Estos encuentros fueron útiles porque dieron tiempo para comprender y discutir de temas claves en el servicio de cuidado. Resultado de la revisión de los servicios Resultado de la revisión de los servicios Quizás el elemento más sorprendente de la visita de estudio fue la admisión que los servicios en el pasado se habían equivocado, porque no habían comprendido bien la situación. Funcionarios de los gobiernos, proveedores de servicios, cuidadores familiares y-más importante-los adultos mayores, todos mencionaron los errores hechos y los problemas de los sistemas de cuidado ya existentes. Nuevas iniciativas intentaron superar estos errores o reemplazar sistemas o servicios que ya no eran adecuados. Se argumentó que los servicios del pasado se habían desarrollado como servicios 'ad hoc', dando lugar a una gran fragmentación. Ahora los gobiernos de toda Europa están luchando para lograr la coordinación entre salud, cuidado social y servicios de vivienda, y entre los hospitales y los servicios de cuidado de largo plazo, residencial y de comunidad. Los servicios formales se habían basado a menudo en las preferencias de los profesionales, lo que aumentaba la dependencia de los adultos mayores de los servicios. Contrariamente, hoy el enfoque está cada vez más basado en lograr que los adultos mayores sean capaces de cuidar si mismos, dándoles la posibilidad de elegir, escuchándoles e involucrándoles en el diseño de su cuidado.
Social work concepts of the unitary approach, patch systems and teamwork can be combined to provi... more Social work concepts of the unitary approach, patch systems and teamwork can be combined to provide a more effective social work model.
How does unemployment change the face of volunteering. The impact of massive unemployment on inne... more How does unemployment change the face of volunteering. The impact of massive unemployment on inner city communities in the UK in the 1980s was devastating. Cold statistics which show some areas with over 70% of people without paid work or a city the size of Liverpool with 85 per cent of "economically active" young people, can numb us to the individual impact of the rejection, helplessness, financial hardship and depression it often entails. Can volunteering build skills, confidence and self esteem? if so, what are the issues and challenges that it raises both for agencies and individual people who are without work.
Shared lives, sometimes called adult placements, offer an alternative to residential care where s... more Shared lives, sometimes called adult placements, offer an alternative to residential care where staying at home is is no longer a viable option. This model has been developed over many years providing support for people with a range of disabilities. This project looked at whether it could assist people with dementia.
What is happening in care services for frail older people in European countries and are there les... more What is happening in care services for frail older people in European countries and are there lessons that can steer developments elsewhere about what has worked and what has not? Can we transfer ideas that have been successful? Are we able to learn from mistakes or do the differences between countries mean that each has to start afresh and tackle the issues independently? These questions lie at the heart of the Eurosocial programme as it seeks to promote the exchange of knowledge and experiences between Europe and Latin America. The European study visits highlighted a number of challenges facing health and care systems which transcended differences between countries and formed the basis of quality standards being set for services : Integration of services both vertically between different institutions: hospital, long term residential care, community care; and horizontally between health, social services and housing systems. Giving people control over their lives, choice, freedom, empowerment. Person-centred care. Care is safe, effective and appropriate. Services that promote independence rather than dependence. Quality of Life. Co-creation of services, engaging all stakeholders: older people, relatives, professionals, planners, researchers. Competent staff, staff motivation, commitment and knowledge. Low use of drugs, as little chemical restraint as possible; Involvement of families and informal carers. Are these lessons transferrable? Are these lessons transferrable? Countries can and should learn from each other, but also services need to reflect the individual cultural, historical and political experiences of particular regions. Expectations of what is acceptable to older people in one country may not be in another. Major challenges in responding to demands for improved services are faced as current economic problems and consequent public spending restrictions coincide with demographic change. The impact varies between countries which in turn limits the standards that many can achieve. Clearly finance is important and most services can be improved with more money. But it is often the philosophy behind services that determines how they turn out. Listening and responding to what older people want is often not more expensive. Robin Currie
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Papers by Robin Currie
The European study visits highlighted a number of challenges facing health and care systems which transcended differences between countries and formed the basis of quality standards being set for services : Integration of services both vertically between different institutions: hospital, long term residential care, community care; and horizontally between health, social services and housing systems. Giving people control over their lives, choice, freedom, empowerment. Person-centred care. Care is safe, effective and appropriate. Services that promote independence rather than dependence. Quality of Life. Co-creation of services, engaging all stakeholders: older people, relatives, professionals, planners, researchers. Competent staff, staff motivation, commitment and knowledge. Low use of drugs, as little chemical restraint as possible; Involvement of families and informal carers.
Are these lessons transferrable? Are these lessons transferrable? Countries can and should learn from each other, but also services need to reflect the individual cultural, historical and political experiences of particular regions. Expectations of what is acceptable to older people in one country may not be in another. Major challenges in responding to demands for improved services are faced as current economic problems and consequent public spending restrictions coincide with demographic change. The impact varies between countries which in turn limits the standards that many can achieve. Clearly finance is important and most services can be improved with more money. But it is often the philosophy behind services that determines how they turn out. Listening and responding to what older people want is often not more expensive.
Robin Currie