scholarly journals […] you feel there’s nowhere left to go: the barriers to support among women who experience substance use and domestic abuse in the UK

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 57-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Fox
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Domestic Abuse ◽  
Research Policy ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Problematic Substance Use ◽  
Problematic Substance ◽  
The Uk

Purpose Domestic abuse victimisation is a common experience among women with problematic substance use, but support provision for both issues is siloed within the UK. Research on the topic focuses on practitioner responses, dominating women’s voices within research, policy and practice. As such, knowledge about women’s experiences of help-seeking is missing. This study therefore aims to fill a gap in knowledge by exploring the lived experiences of supporting seeking among women impacted by domestic abuse and substance use. Design/methodology/approach Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 women who had a history of co-occurring problematic substance use and domestic abuse. Influenced by interpretive phenomenological analysis and feminist research praxis, the study explored how women with dual needs navigated support and help seeking and the barriers they faced. Findings The women reported the biggest barrier was the disconnect between substance use and domestic abuse support, including a gap in the communication of information. This resulted in them having to choose which of their needs to seek support for. None of the women received support for their combined experiences, and most of the women never received support for their domestic abuse experiences alone. Originality/value This is the first piece of research from the UK to explore, in-depth, women’s journey through support for their co-occurring substance use and domestic abuse victimisation. Previous research has not consulted with women to understand how they navigate the complex support systems available. This paper is, therefore, important, because it demonstrates the journeys to services these women take and the barriers they have to overcome.

scholarly journals Domestic abuse and older people: factors influencing help-seeking

2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 247-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Wydall ◽  
Rebecca Zerk
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Domestic Abuse ◽  
Continuous Process ◽  
Age Discrimination ◽  
Significant Shift ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Service Engagement ◽  
The Uk

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore professionals’ perceptions of the barriers to help-seeking for victim-survivors of domestic abuse aged 60 years and over. Help-seeking as defined by Anderson and Saunders (2003) is not a single act or decision, but a complex and continuous process, victims engage in when seeking support. Design/methodology/approach A total of 50 qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with statutory practitioners and managers from 21 out of 22 local authorities in Wales. The research team worked collaboratively to produce a coding scheme which was subjected to a systematic coding exercise using the software package NVivo. Findings Professionals believed that older people’s “interconnectedness” with family, social embeddedness in the community and “meanings of the home” influenced help-seeking. The research suggests that for older victim-survivors of domestic abuse, age discrimination by practitioners, compounds older people’s experiences of help-seeking, restricting the range, quality and type of support provided. The paper demonstrates that a significant shift is required in practice to ensure that older people are in a position to make informed choices and their wishes are central in the decision-making process. Research limitations/implications Further qualitative research is needed to explore what older people themselves believe are the factors that impact on statutory service engagement. Originality/value This study is the first in the UK to conduct Pan-Wales research on professionals’ views on help-seeking behaviours of older people. One of the key findings from the study is that professionals from the statutory sector feel that connections to the home and social networks strongly influence help-seeking for older victim-survivors of domestic abuse.

“There is still a perception that homelessness is a housing problem”: devolution, homelessness and health in the UK

2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 33-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Whiteford ◽  
Glenn Simpson
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Homeless People ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Issue Salience ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Healthcare Provision ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Comparative Policy

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide an exploratory account of the links between devolution, homelessness and health in the UK. Specifically, it focusses on the policy context and governance structures that shape the systems of healthcare for homeless people in London, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Design/methodology/approach Empirically the paper draws on semi-structured interviews with a small sample of policy and practice actors from the devolved territories. Qualitative interviews were supplemented by a comparative policy analysis of the homelessness and health agenda within the devolved regions. Theoretically, it takes inspiration from Chaney’s concept of the “issue salience of homelessness” and explores the comparative character of healthcare as pertains to homeless people across the devolved territories. Findings The paper provides clear evidence of areas of divergence and convergence in policy and practice between the devolved regions. These features are shown to be strongly mediated by the interplay of two factors: first, the scope and scale of national and local homelessness prevention strategies; and second, intra-national variation in public health responses to homelessness. Originality/value The paper offers considerable insight from a comparative policy perspective into the nature of healthcare provision for homeless people in the devolved regions.

Managing cancer in contemporary workforces: how employees with cancer and line managers negotiate post-diagnosis support in the workplace

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Remnant
Keyword(s):  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Line Managers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Managerial Support ◽  
Cancer Support ◽  
Narrative Interview ◽  
Global North ◽  
Line Manager ◽  
The Uk

PurposeThis paper explores how deservingness features in how line managers and employees with cancer negotiate post-diagnosis support in the workplace.Design/methodology/approachIt draws on narrative interview data from people with cancer in the UK who were employed when diagnosed and line managers with experience of managing an employee with cancer. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with members of occupational health and human resources staff and staff from a UK cancer support charity.FindingsIt shows that post-diagnosis support for employees with cancer was negotiated in subjective, individualised ways, drawing on pre-diagnosis workplace contribution as well as the perceived deservingness of cancer as an illness. Managerial support for employees with cancer was also influenced by post-diagnosis employee behaviours, particularly those that implied a readiness to return to work.Research limitations/implicationsThe sample size and methods limit the generalisability of the results. However, sampling choices were instrumental in reaching a rich set of data, which enabled deeper understanding of individual workplace negotiations.Social implicationsPervasive and unhelpful notions of deservingness in the context of ill-health and disability have distinct and worrying implications for ageing workforces, particularly across the Global North. This has been exacerbated by the ongoing uncertainty and insecurity triggered by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. As a result insight into the management of ill-health at work has never been more relevant, and can be used to inform policy and practice.Originality/valueThis exploratory paper extends debates usually reserved for social welfare and health provision to a new domain by exploring how deservingness features in line manager–employee interactions in the context of an employee diagnosis of cancer.

Men who experience domestic abuse: a service perspective

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 127-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Wallace ◽  
Carolyn Wallace ◽  
Joyce Kenkre ◽  
Jo Brayford ◽  
Simon Borja
Keyword(s):  
Domestic Abuse ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Service Needs ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Policy Practice ◽  
Practical Support ◽  
Abused Men ◽  
Shared Commitment ◽  
The Uk

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the needs of men experiencing domestic abuse from the perspective of the professionals supporting them. Design/methodology/approach An all Wales qualitative study, 20 semi-structured interviews were completed with managers and practitioners of domestic abuse services supporting men. Interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. Findings Analysis identified six themes: against the tide of recognition, a need to recognise and accept domestic abuse, knowledge of provision, low numbers of men, resources (time and funding) and rebuilding. However, against the tide of recognition was central. Domestic abuse is understood as a heteronormative and gendered experience; abused men defy these notions. Research limitations/implications Findings cannot be generalised across the UK. This study offers a valuable base on which to build future knowledge. Future research might consider recruiting larger samples or follow up qualitative findings with a larger quantitative survey. Practical implications This paper presents the manager and practitioner views of the service needs and solutions for men. They perceive that abused men need to recognise and accept victimisation, have knowledge of provision and know it is acceptable to seek help and receive practical support. Social implications Increasing recognition cannot be achieved in isolation. A shared commitment is required from policy, practice and research to raise the agenda for abused men. Originality/value This is an under-researched area. This paper is the first to explore the needs of men through the lens of domestic abuse professionals.

Mental health support needs within Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller communities: a qualitative study

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca May Thompson ◽  
Bridie Victoria Stone ◽  
Philip John Tyson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Practical Reasons ◽  
Support Needs ◽  
British Isles ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mental Health Support ◽  
The Republic ◽  
The Uk

Purpose Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) people within the UK and the Republic of Ireland are underrepresented within research and policies despite high rates of mental illness and suicide. This study aims to explore the mental health (MH) support needs for GRT people within the British Isles. Design/methodology/approach This study was a thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with nine self-identified GRT people. Findings The analysis revealed a longing for acceptance, both within and outside the GRT community; barriers to help seeking, specifically unsuitable services, poor awareness, stigma and distrust; and increased vulnerability owing to participants’ perceived lack of prospects and adverse life events. Originality/value Despite increased vulnerability, MH services are underutilised by GRT people for a variety of cultural and practical reasons. To reduce the current inequality, it is imperative that services take steps to increase accessibility. This study expands upon previous research by using the voices of GRT people themselves, creating a narrative built from their own emic perspectives. Unlike previous research, this study focuses exclusively on the MH of participants and includes participants from across the British Isles.

Young people transitioning from out-of-home care and problematic substance use The views of young people and workers in Victoria

2010 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 23-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Baidawi ◽  
Philip Mendes
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Young People ◽  
Home Care ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Self Medication ◽  
Out Of Home Care ◽  
Problematic Substance Use ◽  
Problematic Substance ◽  
Research Findings

Existing research findings indicate that young people from state care backgrounds experience higher rates of substance use and misuse than the general population. This study explored the nature of this relationship via semi-structured, qualitative interviews with four young people who had recently transitioned from state care and three workers in the out-of-home care field, plus a focus group with seven out-of-home care and leaving care workers. The findings suggest that a range of individual, interpersonal and systematic factors contribute to problematic substance use. They include the use of self-medication to address past and present trauma, a lack of meaningful and stable relationships, and state care policies and practices that lead to young people experiencing premature and unplanned exits from state care. Some significant implications for policy and practice are identified.

scholarly journals Practitioner Insights Regarding Modern Slavery in Gloucestershire, UK.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Jordan Brealy
Keyword(s):  
Research Policy ◽  
Sexual Exploitation ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Local Responses ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Modern Slavery ◽  
Local Awareness ◽  
The Uk

Slavery remains present in society and has been found to occur under various manifestations throughout the United Kingdom. Knowledge derived from academic enquiry regarding modern slavery has increased over recent years although sparse attention has been given to localised communities. It is important to develop the evidence-base locally to effectively increase the understanding of this diverse issue and aid local responses. This study aimed to produce evidence on local practitioners’ perspectives on modern slavery, focusing on the case study of Gloucestershire. Fourteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with a range of local practitioners in modern slavery related fields in Gloucestershire, including the police, healthcare and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Thematic analysis was used to identify key themes from the data. These themes related to differing perceptions of the problem locally and numerous types of exploitation e.g. sexual exploitation, labour exploitation, criminal exploitation. One example of this is the alleged increase in sexual exploitation during a localised sporting event. The data also highlighted several barriers hindering local responses, progress and awareness e.g. victims not perceiving themselves as victims, victim co-operation with services and public service funding issues. This study contributes to the evidence indicating that localities such as Gloucestershire are not exempt from a variety of slavery practices. The enquiry highlights evidence of various types of slavery offences manifesting in Gloucestershire. However, a key finding of this study is the fragmented perceptions of localised modern slavery, which highlights the need to support a collaborative approach to this diverse problem. Barriers and complexities with the local response are acknowledged such as; concerns regarding local awareness, pressures associated with resourcing and the struggles associated with identifying victims of hidden criminality and exploitation. Although these findings relate to Gloucestershire they carry wider implications relevant to other localities across the UK. Due to the wider implications of this enquiry, a number of research, policy and practice recommendations are made based on the data from this study.

scholarly journals Contextualising public entrepreneurship in Greek local government austerity

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (7) ◽  
pp. 1563-1579 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleni Melissanidou ◽  
Lorraine Johnston
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Research Policy ◽  
Contextual Influences ◽  
Policy Reforms ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Public Entrepreneurship ◽  
Fiscal Austerity ◽  
Austerity Policy

Purpose Public entrepreneurs are an under-researched group in local government. The purpose of this paper is to explore the contextual complexities of public entrepreneurs who pursue more creative ways of “doing more with less” to cope with dynamic financial and societal anxieties of Greek local government fiscal austerity policy reforms. Precisely, this study aims to the understanding of how specific contextual influences impact, first, on the nature of public entrepreneurship and, second, on manifested outcomes. A systematic approach marks the authors attempt to assess the broader impact pointing out the implications for research, policy and practice. Design/methodology/approach A case study of Greek local government draws on 26 in-depth semi-structured interviews with public entrepreneurs across top, middle and front-line levels of management, field notes, documentary and archival evidence. Findings The findings demonstrate unique Greek contextual complexities such as contradictory tensions between triggered decentralisation of control and responsibilities of the local government and attempts of external reinvention rather than internal renewal. These complexities influence public entrepreneurs’ systemic entrepreneurship behaviours in Greek local government since the implementation of fiscal austerity policy reforms in 2010. Their representation is manifest in policy, administrative and technological outcomes with public value consequences. Originality/value This research contributes to a deeper understanding of public entrepreneurship in context. Greek local government public entrepreneurs bring original insights on the contextual influences of their systemic enactment and manifested outcomes, with implications for research, policy and practice.

Developing inclusive and collaborative entrepreneuring spaces

2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 291-302
Author(s):  
Nicola Patterson
Keyword(s):  
Research Policy ◽  
Women In Leadership ◽  
Macro Level ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Collaborative Spaces ◽  
Leadership Diversity ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Enterprise Policy

Purpose The call for more women to start up and grow businesses as a vehicle for economic vibrancy is a prevailing discourse in the UK. There have been calls for greater co-ordination between research, policy and practice to create collaborative spaces whose focus is to influence and shape structures and processes beyond the individual or community level to a macro level of enterprise policy. However, calls have not specifically focussed on the issues of gender or other categories of social difference. This study aims to understand how such co-ordinations can be established to enable progress within the women’s entrepreneurship space through the development of collaborative spaces fusing research, policy and practice and how they should be structured to ensure inclusion through the process as well as enabling greater inclusion as part of the collaborative space outcome. Design/methodology/approach Taking a critical feminist perspective, the study draws from extant literature on women and minority networks research from the women in leadership, diversity and inclusion fields as a lens through which to frame the analysis of women’s enterprise policy in the UK, research and practice. Findings The study highlights the importance of collective feminist action drawing upon post-feminist sensibilities and an Engaged–Activist Scholarship approach. Such collective feminist action appreciates the importance of the micro as an enabler to progressive action at the macro level to enact structural and system change within the entrepreneurial ecosystem. A framework for inclusive and collaborative entrepreneuring space development is offered. Practical implications This paper offers policymakers, researchers and practitioners a framework as a practical way forward to ensure efforts are progressive and enable structural and systemic change. Originality/value The paper offers a framework for developing inclusive and collaborative entrepreneuring spaces to ensure progression by lifting the focus to a macro level of change to enable inclusion as part of the process and outcome of such collaborative spaces.

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