Stout, Prof. Robert William, (born 6 March 1942), Professor of Geriatric Medicine, Queen’s University, Belfast, 1976–2007, now Emeritus; Director of Research and Development, Northern Ireland Health and Personal Social Services, 2001–08

BackgroundResearch has highlighted the poor mental health of looked after children compared to those never in care. However, little is known on what becomes of these children and their mental health trajectories after they leave the care of social services. In addition, previous studies are limited in their ability to differentiate between type of social care intervention received; kinship care, foster care or residential care. AimTo utilise nationwide social services data from two countries (Northern Ireland (NI) and Finland), with similar populations but different intervention policies, linked to a range of demographic and health datasets to examine the mental health outcomes of young adults in the years following leaving care. MethodsData from both countries on children born 1991-2000 were linked to social services data, hospital admissions, prescribed medication data and death records. Mental health outcomes were defined after the age of 18years (when statutory care provision ends) examined by care intervention and included admissions to psychiatric hospital, for self-harm and death by suicide. ResultsThe gender split in care in Finland is reflective of the population but more males are in care in NI. Initial results from Finnish data suggest those exposed to care in childhood have an increased risk of self-harm, psychiatric hospital admission and suicide after the age of 18years compared to those never in care. After adjusting for gender, age of entry to care and deprivation at birth those exposed to any care intervention had 3 times the risk of suicide (HR=3.06, 95% CI 1.18,7.98). Risk increased with duration in care but was equivalent across care intervention types. Analysis on the NI data is underway. ConclusionFull results will be available December 2019 and will explore which care pathways are most associated with poor mental health outcomes informing discussion around intervention opportunities and policy.

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Introduction

Conflict, Peace and Mental Health ◽

10.7228/manchester/9780719090998.003.0001 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

David Bolton

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Northern Ireland ◽

Social Services ◽

Social Worker ◽

Well Being ◽

Conflict Processes ◽

Post Conflict ◽

Personal Experiences ◽

The Impact ◽

Health And Well Being

In the Introduction, the author describes the background to the book and his personal experiences of violence in Northern Ireland - as a social worker and health and social services manager in Enniskillen and Omagh. He addresses the impact of loss and trauma linked to conflict and the implications for mental health and well-being. The structure of the book is outlined and the author sets the rest of the book in the argument that the mental health of conflict affected communities should be an early and key consideration in peace talks, politics and post-conflict processes.

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7. Devolution and the Territorial Constitution

Public Law ◽

10.1093/he/9780198765899.003.0007 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Mark Elliott ◽

Robert Thomas

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Northern Ireland ◽

Social Services ◽

Policy Formulation ◽

Political Systems ◽

Wide Range ◽

Governmental Power ◽

The Uk ◽

Single Set ◽

Governance Arrangements

This chapter focuses on the UK’s territorial constitution, that is, the governance arrangements that result in power being dispersed rather than concentrated in a single set of national institutions. Devolution involved creating new governments in Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales, and investing them with powers that were previously exercised at a UK level. Devolution in the UK is therefore intended to be part of the answer to questions that must be confronted in all political systems: where should governmental power lie? And at what level should laws be enacted and the business of government transacted? Local government plays a key role in decision-making, policy formulation, and the delivery of public services across a wide range of areas, including education, housing, personal social services, transport, and planning control.

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