scholarly journals Problems, needs and service provision related to stimulant use in European prisons

2007 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tom Decorte

Objective. The objective of this study was to examine practices and policies in place for the provision of targeted prevention and treatment of cocaine and Amphetamine Type Stimulant (ATS) users in prison in nine European countries. Methodology. Across nine European member states (Belgium, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Slovenia, Sweden, Malta, Ireland and Portugal), interviews were conducted with ministerial representatives and professionals (i.e. service providers and security officials) working in prisons and a total of 16 focus groups with a total of 125 prisoners. Results. The use of stimulants in prison is associated with aggression and violence, financial problems, and psychological and physical problems in prisoners (depression, anxiety and psychological craving). Both security and healthcare staff in prison often feel ill‐equipped to deal with stimulant‐related problems, leading to a lack of equivalence of care for stimulant users in prison, therefore the variety and quality of drug services outside is not reflected sufficiently inside prison. There is a need for more specific product information and harm reduction material on stimulants, for clear guidelines for the management of acute stimulant intoxication and stimulant withdrawal, for structural adjustments to improve potential diagnosis of personality and psychiatric disorders, for more non‐pharmacological treatment strategies and more opportunities for prisoners to engage in purposeful activities.

Author(s):  
Yvonne Magawa

Deteriorating quality of service provision and disease outbreaks (such as cholera) led to the institution of water supply and sanitation (WSS) sector reforms in Eastern and Southern Africa region in the 1990s. The realization of the urgent need to improve the performance of the sector, especially as related to health impacts, resulted in the formulation of new policy and legal and institutional frameworks to reorganize the sector and establish regulators who could address networked and nonnetworked WSS systems. Regulators as policy implementers have the delicate role of balancing the interests of government, service providers, and consumers. Decision- makers continue to design, implement, and evaluate the outcomes associated with new frameworks. Regional regulatory cooperation can accelerate improvements in service provision to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through development of common frameworks and approaches for WSS that can be adapted to unique country situations.


2000 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 57-66
Author(s):  
Lindsay Gething

Both the life expectancy and numbers of older people with intellectual disabilities are growing. Until recently, ageing with a disability had not been a major consideration for Australian policy makers and service providers. The situation was similar in countries such as the United States of America and United Kingdom where, unlike aged care, disability policy and practice had not evolved to meet needs. Ageing with long standing disability has now been specified by the Australian government as a priority area. This paper reports results of consultations held with consumers, their organisations, service providers and government in order to explore quality of life and service provision issues for people with long standing disabilities. It reports these issues and uses themes emerging from consultations to structure previously published information specifically related to ageing with an intellectual disability. Seven broad themes are discussed which relate to: life experiences; attitudes, skills and knowledge of consumers; attitudes skills and knowledge of community and service providers, the nature of service provision; the ageing of family care givers; financial security; and ageing in place. It is concluded that disadvantages and barriers experienced throughout life influence well being and quality of life in old age.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.E. Gasumova

This article presents the author’s definitions of “digitization of social service provision” and “digitization of social services” concepts and identifies the difference between them. It presents the results of an interview with 18 experts — the heads of institutions and organizations of social service provision implementing the rehabilitation of disabled people in Perm region. The research was conducted in 2019 and sought to identify problems and prospects for the digitization of the social services sphere. Interviewees rated their satisfaction regarding the convenience and time cost of automated systems that are currently being used in their organizations; characterized their needs in introducing various innovative interactive services, mobile applications, and other digital software; and expressed their attitude to various innovations. Social innovations were developed by the researchers and offered to experts by interviewers (for example, services for assessing the quality of work of specialists by service users, quick selection of the right social service, filing a complaint, referring a citizen to another organization, counseling in video mode, electronic appointment service, etc.). The research has shown how innovations can improve the performance of social service providers’ work and the quality of their interactions with citizens, which will ultimately increase the satisfaction of social service users and will positively affect the level of social well-being in society as a whole. A number of problems have been identified that currently impede the development of digitization: they are related to staff resources, the level of computerization, the lack of motivation among managers and personnel of social service organizations to implement innovative IT, and a certain distrust that such technologies can facilitate the activities of the organization and increase its effectiveness. Keywords: digitization, social service provision, social services, social institutions, social work


2018 ◽  
Vol 71 (11) ◽  
pp. 1427-1453 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian Greer ◽  
Lisa Schulte ◽  
Graham Symon

The delivery of public services by nonprofit and for-profit providers alters the nature of services and jobs, often in unintended and undesired ways. We argue that these effects depend on the degree to which the service is ‘marketized’, that is, subjected by the funder to price-based competition. Using case studies of British and German employment services, this article scrutinizes the link between funding practices and service quality. Of particular concern in marketized employment services is the problem of ‘creaming and parking’, in which providers select job-ready clients for services and neglect clients more distant from the labour market. We explore three questions. What are the mechanisms through which marketization produces creaming and parking? What are the differences between these mechanisms in commercial and non-commercial service providers? Which national institutions might serve as a buffer for the landscape of service provision facing price-based competition?


2021 ◽  
Vol 25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dave Holness

ABSTRACT Socio-economicaIIy, South Africa is a grossIy unequaI country. For the indigent there is a cIear need for IegaI aid services to enabIe meaningfuI access to the IegaI system as a mechanism to promote greater sociaI justice. This articIe proposes mechanisms to meet two aims: to promote high-IeveI free IegaI service provision through much improved coordination between IegaI service providers; and to incuIcate a co-operative and integrated approach to IegaI aid services for satisfactory standards of IegaI aid provision. This research has a quaIitative focus in contrast to aImost aII research on IegaI aid in South Africa, which has concentrated on the expansion of IegaI aid services quantitativeIy- ie in terms of increasing the number of cIients being assisted. If legal aid service provision is not of an adequate standard, it puts into serious question the value of the service delivery. A high quality and co-ordinated legal aid network is well positioned to act as a conduit for the realisation of legal rights and entitlements for a better standard of living for all. This article proposes various means for a more cohesive legal aid system in South Africa as well as the advantages which such cohesion would inevitably have for both legal service providers and those whom they serve. Keywords: South Africa; legal aid; civil legal matters; holistic; co-ordination; social justice; quality work; qualitative.


Author(s):  
Chatwadee Tansakul ◽  
◽  
Jirachai Buddhakulsomsiri ◽  
Thananya Wasusri ◽  
Papusson Chaiwat ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 826-844
Author(s):  
Ellyza Octaleny

Abstrak Inovasi merupakan suatu hal penting yang harus dimiliki oleh sebuah organisasi pemberi layanan sektor publik. Instansi pemerintah sebagai pemberi layanan dituntut memiliki inovasi untuk meningkatkan kualitas pelayanan kepada masyarakat. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk membandingkan inovasi pelayanan sektor publik di RSUD Prof. Margono dan Lembaga Permasyarakatan Nusakambangan Cilacap. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah metode deskriptif kualitatif. Teknik pengumpulan data melalui wawancara, observasi, dan dokumentasi. Temuan dalam penelitian ini adalah: 1). Kurangnya personil pegawai yang sesuai dengan tugas dan fungsinya; 2). Kuangnya kesejahteraan pegawai sehingga kinerja pegawai rendah dan tidak berkualitas; 3). Pegawai berpendidikan rendah sehingga tidak sesuai dengan beban tugas dan fungsinya. Rekomendasi untuk kedua Lembaga sector public tersebut dalam penelitian ini adalah: 1). Penambahan personel pegawai sesuai dengan tugas dan fungsinya sehingga cakupan kewenangannya luas; 2) Lebih memperhatikan kesejahteraan pegawai sehingga pegawai termotivasi untuk bekerja dengan baik dan berkualitas; 3) Memberikan Kemudahan kepada pegawai yang ingin melanjutkan pendidikannya kejenjang yang lebih tinggi sehingga kualitas Pendidikan personel lebih seimbang dengan beban kerja. Kata Kunci: Inovasi, Pelayanan, SektorPublik   Abstract Innovation is an important thing that must be owned by an organization that provides public sector services. Government agencies as service providers are required to have innovations to improve the quality of services to the community. This study aims to compare public sector service innovations in hospitals. Prof. Margono and the Nusa kambangan Penitentiary. The research method used is descriptive qualitative method. Data collection techniques through interviews, observation, and documentation. The findings in this study are: 1). Lack of employee personnel in accordance with their duties and functions; 2). The lack of employee welfare so that employee performance is low and not qualified; 3). Employees have low education so that it is not suitable with their work load and function. The recommendations for the two public sector institutions in this study are: 1). The addition of employee personnel in accordance with their duties and functions so that the scope of their authority is broad; 2) Pay more attention to employee welfare so that employees are motivated to work well and quality; 3) Providing convenience to employees who want to continue their education to a higher level so that the quality of personnel education is more balanced with the workload. Keywords: Innovation, Service, Public Sector  


Author(s):  
Falaq Naz ◽  
Yasir Hasan Siddique

: Neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington disease are have serious concern due to its effect on the quality of life of affected persons. Neurodegenerative diseases have some limitations for both diagnostic as well as at treatment level. Introducing nanotechnology, for the treatment of these diseases may contribute significantly in solving the problem. There are several treatment strategies for the neurodegenerative diseases, but their limitations are the entry into the due to the presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The present review highlights the application of nanotechnology during last 20 years for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Almira Osmanovic Thunström ◽  
Iris Sarajlic Vuković ◽  
Lilas Ali ◽  
Tomas Larson ◽  
Steinn Steingrimsson

BACKGROUND Immersive virtual reality (VR) games are increasingly becoming part of everyday life. Several studies support immersive VR technology as a treatment method for mental health problems. There is however minimal research into the feasibility, prevalence, and quality of commercially available VR games on commercial platforms as tools for treatment or add on to treatment of mental health problems. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence, feasibility and quality of commercially available games related to psychotherapy on a commercially available platform. METHODS We performed a search for keywords related to diagnosis and treatment strategies of mental health problems. The search was performed during March 27th on STEAM (VR content and gaming platform). A usability scale was used as a tool to look at the interaction and usability of the games, the VR-UI-UX-8. The tool contains 8 statements about usability scored 0-10, 0 indicating “Not at all” and 10 indicating “very much so”. The score ranges from 0-80 with a higher score indicating worse usability. RESULTS In total, 516 hits were found, 371 unique games. After the games were reviewed, 83 games passed the inclusion criteria, were purchased and played. Majority of the games which were excluded were either not connected to mental health, contained violence, adult content or were in other ways irrelevant or inappropriate. The mean score for the games on the VR-UI-UX-8 was 16.5 (standard deviation 15.8) with a range from 0-68. Most relevant and feasible games were found in the search words meditation, mindfulness, and LSD. CONCLUSIONS Commercial platforms hold great potential for VR games with psychotherapeutic components. The platforms are only at the beginning of the development towards serious games, e-learning and psychotherapeutic treatments. Currently the quality and usability for clinical and at home applicability are scarce, but hold great potential.


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