Indigenous youth transitioning from out-of-home care in Australia: a study of key challenges and effective practice responses

Purpose This paper aims to report on the findings of a qualitative study that explored the views of 53 service providers assisting Indigenous young people (known in Australia as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth) transitioning from out-of-home care (OOHC) in Australia. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative approach was adopted involving semi-structured interviews and focus groups with 53 representatives of state and territory government departments, non-government organisation service providers and Aboriginal community-controlled organisations (ACCOs) across Australia. The project was designed to gain the perspectives of those working within the system and their views on how it interacts with Indigenous care leavers. Interview questions aimed to ascertain the strengths and weaknesses of the leaving care support systems available to this cohort, as well as the key challenges facing service providers in supporting them. Finally, the study aimed to make recommendations for policy development in this area and identify potential best practice service responses. Findings The study found that the OOHC service systems continue to fail Indigenous care leavers, their families and communities. Study findings revealed that Indigenous care-leavers face substantial challenges and that the support systems for those leaving OOHC are often culturally insensitive and ineffective. Many Indigenous OOHC leavers lacked the supports they needed to develop safe and ongoing relationships with their traditional Country, family and communities. To promote more positive transitions and outcomes, effective practice responses were identified, including culturally safe programmes and proportional funding for ACCOs to advance greater self-determination. Originality/value This research is the first national study in Australia to examine the specific transition from care pathways and experiences of Indigenous young people. The findings add to the limited existing knowledge on Indigenous care leavers globally and should inform practice and policy innovations with this cohort in Australia and beyond.

Effect of Internal Audit on Expenditure Control in Mubi North Local Government Area

This study examines the effect of internal audit on expenditure control in Mubi North Local Government Area. This study employed the survey research design. From the population of the study 50 staffs were selected as a sample for this study. The instrument used for collecting data from the respondents is the questionnaire. The data gathered from the respondents was analyzed using simple percentage statistics and hypothesis was tested using chi-square. The finding shows internal audit in Mubi North LGA is very ineffective. This is because internal audit is not carry out effectively, internal audit has significant effect on expenditure control and among the factors militating affecting the effectiveness of internal audit in Mubi North LGA, low quality of staff is the most importance factor. The study therefore, recommends that there is need for top management of LGA to give high priority to internal audit, by putting in place strategies that will lead to effective practice of internal audit among the staff of the LGA which in turn will lead to effective expenditure control. Keywords: Audit, control, effect, expenditure & internal.

The Importance of Trust at the Level of Public International Law: A Contribution to Theoretical Considerations

The purpose of this article is to point to trust as a value serving the coexistence of international community cooperation, as well as the elimination of global threats in public international law. The article presents selected approaches and typology of trust adopted in social sciences (with particular emphasis on the sociology of law as an auxiliary science of jurisprudence), their reference to the understanding and meaning of trust in public international law, as well as consequences in the form of shaping the quality and content of legislative solutions and practice of acting in the international arena. As a result of the conducted analyses, trust in international law can be considered in three ways: first, as trust in the binding rule established by the subjects of international law; second, as a value expressed by the axiology of international law and principles of institutional significance; third, as a requirement of effective practice that exemplifies the theoretical and axiological assumptions of law.

TRENDS OF EDUCATIONAL POLICY IN KAZAKHSTAN IN THE CONTEXT OF RESEARCH ACTIVITIES OF TEACHERS

This article discusses the extreme importance of peer educators participating in collaborative research, as it enhances professional dialogue and mutual risk, which gives educators the chance to “learn to learn” and explore why something works and doesn’t work in different contexts. Thus, the contribution of research to professional growth of the teacher is potentially very high for improving the quality of learning outcomes for students. It has been proven that the involvement of practitioners in research and their participation contributes to the successful improvement of the school in various ways: through the exchange of information on effective practice; involving practitioners in testing new ideas, implementing and monitoring.

On (not) learning from self-neglect safeguarding adult reviews

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to update the core data set of self-neglect safeguarding adult reviews (SARs) and accompanying thematic analysis. It also explores whether lessons are being learned from the findings and recommendations of an increasing number of reviews on self-neglect cases. Design/methodology/approach Further published reviews are added to the core data set, mainly drawn from the websites of safeguarding adults boards (SABs). Thematic analysis is updated using the domains used previously. The domains and the thematic analysis are grounded in the evidence-based model of good practice, reported in this journal previously. Findings Familiar findings emerge from the thematic analysis and reinforce the evidence-base of good practice with individuals who self-neglect and for policies and procedures with which to support those practitioners working with such cases. Multiple exclusion homelessness and alcohol misuse are prominent. Some SABs are having to return to further cases of self-neglect to review, inviting scrutiny of what is (not) being learned from earlier findings and recommendations. Research limitations/implications The national database of reviews commissioned by SABs remains incomplete. The Care Act 2014 does not require publication of reports but only a summary of findings and recommendations in SAB annual reports. National Health Service Digital annual data sets do not enable the identification of reviews by types of abuse and neglect. However, the first national analysis of SARs has found self-neglect to be the most prominent type of abuse and/or neglect reviewed. Drawing together the findings builds on what is known about the components of effective practice, and effective policy and organisational arrangements for practice. Practical implications Answering the question “why” remains a significant challenge for SARs. The findings confirm the relevance of the evidence-base for effective practice but SARs are limited in their analysis of what enables and what obstructs the components of best practice. Greater explicit use of research and other published SARs might assist with answering the “why” question. Greater scrutiny is needed of the impact of the national legal, policy and financial context within which adult safeguarding is situated. Originality/value The paper extends the thematic analysis of available reviews that focus on study with adults who self-neglect, further reinforcing the evidence base for practice. Propositions are explored, concerned with whether learning is being maximised from the process of case review.