CARL Research Reports 2014

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https://hdl.handle.net/10468/8273

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    Exploring the role of the Traveller family in supporting Travellers experiencing addiction
    (Community-Academic Research Links, University College Cork, 2014-10) Murphy, Edward; Cronin, Mary; The Traveller Visibility Group; Civil Society Organization
    Background: In recent years, Health Research Board data indicates a significant increase in substance abuse within the Irish Traveller Community. There is a new challenge for national and regional drug and alcohol services providers to keep up to date with the cultural dynamics of drug and alcohol abuse within ethnic minorities such as the Irish Traveller community, who are at a high risk for problematic substance use as a result of the compromising social factors they experience throughout their lives (1). In order to provide positive, integrated and improved service provision for Travellers, it is important to uncover the needs and feelings of Travellers and their families, their experiences with drug and alcohol misuse, awareness of services and the possible discrimination and lack of support they may experience in their lives. Study Aim: To gain a better sense of the understanding of addiction within the Traveller Community, particularly in how it impacts on the family and what methods work best in helping drug and alcohol users and Travelling families to engage with drug and alcohol services. Study Design: This is a qualitative study in which members of the Traveller Community participated in structured, open-ended one-to-one interviews or a focus group. Data was analysed using a thematic framework analysis. Setting: This study took place in the Traveller Visibility Group (TVG) in Cork City and also in study participants’ homes around the Cork City area. Study Population: A total of ten members of the Traveller Community who had experience of the TVG Drug and Alcohol service or another drug and alcohol service took part in the study. Results: The study demonstrated that there can be a casual attitude to misuse of alcohol within the Traveller Community. Attitudes to drugs are more contravening but there is increasing drug use within the community. It was observed that a persons’ family can greatly affect whether they have a positive or negative experience in addiction recovery. Substance abuse has an overwhelming effect on the family unit with many Travelling families reporting common shared experiences such as financial hardship, violence, premature deaths and suicide and involvement with the criminal justice system. The research found that Traveller engagement with drug and alcohol services is poor due to cultural differences, time restrictions and a level of shame that exists within the community around accessing drug and alcohol services. Participants valued cultural awareness, flexibility and choice when discussing mainstream drug and alcohol service use. Conclusion: Travellers who are attempting to access drug and alcohol services are often experiencing hardships on a multidimensional level and often will not have faith in mainstream services. It is important for drug and alcohol services to be culturally aware, open to suggestions from service users and flexible around where and when they can meet with service users.
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    Sexual education for adults with intellectual disabilities: a critical review of policy and practice in four service providers in County Cork
    (Community-Academic Research Links, University College Cork, 2014-10-02) O'Sullivan, Louise; Leane, Máire; Down Syndrome Cork; Civil Society Organization
    In this research my aims are: • To explore views of parents from Down Syndrome Cork around sexuality of their children. • To investigate policy and practice in relation to sexual education in four intellectual disability service providers in County Cork. • To investigate service provider’s opinions on sexual education for people with intellectual disabilities My objectives to achieve these aims are to: • Complete a policy review in terms of sexuality and intellectual disability to highlight the key policies and legislation affecting those with the capacity to have fulfilling relationships. Review the key pieces of literature on sexuality and relationships of people with intellectual disabilities as to gather a general perspective from public, services and parents of people with intellectual disabilities. • Do a focus group in which parents from Down Syndrome Cork would feel comfortable to speak about their child sexuality. • Complete one to one interviews with service providers to discuss in depth their attitude towards people with intellectual disabilities expressing their sexuality and the policies they have in place within the services on Relationships and Sexuality. • To analyse and present the data and findings collected from the primary research. • Conclude with a discussion of the key research questions and recommendations for future pieces of research.
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    Child protection social workers’ (CPSW) experiences of the Bessborough Parent and Baby Unit (BPBU): the interface between infant mental health and child protection
    (Community-Academic Research Links, University College Cork, 2014-09) Veale, Kevin; O’Suilleabhain, Fiachra; Burns, Kenneth; Bessborough Parent and Baby Unit; Civil Society Organization
    This research project examines the experiences of child protection social workers who have collaborated with the Bessborough Parent and Baby Unit and also the use of early intervention methods in child protection social work practice. It also serves the purpose of exploring the term infant mental health and how the child protection social worker understands this relatively new concept. The research was proposed by the Bessborough Parent and Baby Unit, through the CARL initative, with the purpose of exploring the experiences of child protection social workers who have collaborated with this service and to identify if this collaboration could be adapted in any form to aid the interagency work between the Bessborough Parent and Baby Unit and child protection agencies. This research is conducted by research methods in the form of a literature review and qualitative research in the form of interviews of child protection social workers. The findings of this research show that child protection social workers view the Bessborough Parent and Baby Unit as being a vital service in preventing family breakdown. However, the study recommends that early intervention services need to be established so that child protection social workers can provide adequate support in order to prevent children being placed into out of home care. While all participants’ reported that, in their opinion, the services provided by the Bessborough Parent and Baby Unit were of an excellent standard but that early intervention services on a broad scale were in need of resourcing and establishment. This lack of service provision was noted as being a consequence of a lack of guidelines and policy in the area of early intervention.
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    A review of the intervention strategies and approaches used with young offenders: Southill Outreach a case study
    (Community-Academic Research Links, University College Cork, 2018-04-28) Tuohy, Maeve; Forrest, Eilish; Southill Outreach; Civil Society Organization
    This study reviewed the intervention strategies and approaches used with young offenders by gaining the perspectives of such interventions with Southill Outreach staff members, members of the Board of Management and young people. An intervention in the context of this study is a structured service or series of actions that aims to achieve change overtime when working with young offenders. The study presents findings from relevant national and international literature including findings from three interviews carried out with clients and from a focus group comprising of staff and members of the Board of Management in Southill Outreach. A thematic analysis identified relevant themes that arose during the focus group and interview group regarding effective intervention strategies used when working with young offenders. Findings suggest that there are multiple interventions and approaches that are effective when working with young offenders. Examples include; Motivational Interviewing, Family Interventions, Relationship Building, Tailored interventions and the importance of the recognition of, and work to address, individual needs in order to engage young people who offend. The findings illustrate that an effective system for measuring outcomes would be of great benefit to the agency. Furthermore, it was identified by participants that there was a real need to encourage the use of effective self-care strategies and further utilise supervision as part of this process.
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    An exploration of foster carers’ experiences of access between children in long-term care and their birth parents
    (Community-Academic Research Links, University College Cork, 2014-04-28) Tansley, Treasa; O’Gorman, Fiona; Irish Foster Care Association (Waterford Branch); Civil Society Organization
    This study was undertaken in collaboration with the Irish Foster Care Association (Waterford branch) and is based on interviews with six foster carers. It provides an insight into carers’ experiences of access between children in long-term care and their birth parents. In particular, it focuses on the role of foster carers in facilitating access, the perceived benefits and challenges inherent in fulfilling this role, and the formal and informal supports accessed by carers. The findings are analysed and placed in the context of Irish and international research as well as relevant policy and legislation. This research explores the important and influential role that foster carers have in facilitating access. The accounts of the carers in this study suggest that this role is expanding and that there are now greater expectations placed on them. The accounts also highlight the commitment that foster carers have towards facilitating access as well as the potential for access to be challenging and a source of stress for foster carers. A lack of consistent and adequate supports for foster carers in relation to managing access emerges as a key finding of this study. The findings of the research together with the literature review informed a number of recommendations in relation to supporting foster carers and helping ensure that access is a positive experience for children, their birth parents and the foster carers.