Konstantina Poursanidou

Hospital-school liaison: Perspectives of health and education professionals supporting children with renal transplants

This article explores collaboration between health and education staff as a key aspect of educational provision for children with chronic medical conditions, drawing upon material from interviews with eight health professionals (paediatric nephrologists and specialist renal nurses) and 11 mainstream schoolteachers involved in the care and schooling of children with renal transplants. Notwithstanding the apparent existence of good practice, a complex interplay of attitudinal, institutional and wider political and economic factors is identified that is likely to undermine the effectiveness of collaboration between health and education professionals. The importance of hospital—school liaison — that is, of a proactive, preventative and hence systematic and strategic nature — is highlighted. Such findings have a particular relevance for policy and practice in the context of the current Every Child Matters agenda, and are likely to have wider applicability to the education of chronically-ill children at large.

Educational difficulties and support needs of children following renal transplantation: student, parent and teacher perspectives

ABSTRACT This article reports on a study that sought to map difficulties and problems in the school lives of children who have renal transplants, to investigate and evaluate the educational provision made for them, as well as to explore their support needs in relation to school. The study used a combined qualitative and quantitative research design. Individual semi-structured interviews were used with 12 transplanted children, their parents and their teachers. Statistical information on school attendance and school achievement was also collected for a number of transplanted children and their classmates/school peers. The article draws on interview material in order to illustrate and discuss key issues and areas of concern identified by the study participants. The results of the school statistics analysis are also presented and implications for practice are considered.

Conflict of roles: A conflict of ideas? The unsettled relations between care team staff and independent mental health advocates

Drawing on a national study of independent mental health advocacy, we explored the social relations of independent advocacy. The study was commissioned by the Department of Health (England), and involved a case study design covering eight different geographies and service configurations, and interviews or focus groups with a total of 289 stakeholders across two phases of inquiry. This paper focused on the analysis of qualitative data relevant to the relationship between mental health-care services and independent advocacy services, drawn from interviews with 214 participants in phase two of the study. Discussion of these particular findings affords insights into the working relations of independent advocacy within mental health services beset by reorganizational change and funding cuts, and increasing levels of legally-sanctioned compulsion and coercion. We offer a matrix, which accounts for the different types of working relationships that can arise, and how these are associated with various levels of understanding of independent advocacy and appreciation for the value of advocacy. The discussion is framed by the wider literature on advocacy and the claims by practitioners, such as nurses, for an advocacy role as part of their professional repertoire.

“Shotgun partnership”: a Systems‐Centered™ case study analysis

Purpose – This case study aims to explore the relationship between identity and locality in two groups of young people from different environments working with a community artist to explore representations and perceptions about their environment, culminating in an exchange visit. The paper seeks to explore the challenges and complexities of partnership working in community regeneration in order to move beyond prevalent idealised views of partnership as a policy tool.Design/methodology/approach – The multi‐method qualitative evaluation included filming, direct observations of project sessions and interviews with key professionals. A systems analysis was then conducted using the Systems‐Centered® Training framework.Findings – The extent to which multi‐agency partnerships in community regeneration are likely to be effective and sustainable is related to the development of the partnership systems. Shared goals, clear roles and a common understanding of the context of the collaborative work are critical for de...

Medical skin camouflage: a recovery intervention for female prisoners who self-harm?

Women prisoners comprise 5% of the prison population and are far more likely to inflict harm directly on their bodies than women in the community or male prisoners. Their self-harm challenges the criminal justice system, not least because it may be life threatening and is a predictor of an inflated risk of suicide. Detailed studies of self-harm in prison populations are few, but recent research found that cutting and scratching were the most frequent self-harming methods and, particularly among women in prison, self-strangulation was common, followed by hanging (Hawton et al. 2013). The Hawton group also showed that rates of self-harm by women prisoners are more than ten times higher than among male prisoners (Hawton et al. 2013). Women prisoners also appear to have suffered higher levels of prior psychiatric contacts, alcohol and drug misuse, physical and sexual abuse than their male counterparts (Ministry of Justice, 2012a; 2012b). Healthcare services have significantly improved the management of acute self-harm crises in the community and prison service, but there has been little focus on the recovery from self-harm and those who have to live with the scars that are left behind. The authors argue that female prisoners with self-inflicted scarring may experience psychological distress owing to perceived disfigurement. This can disturb quality of life and capacity to participate in activities such as work and social events in the prison environment and after release. The authors suggest that for those female prisoners with permanent or chronic disfigurement from self-harm, the use of medical skin camouflage can help them to adjust to