Issues of Access and Choice in the Mixed Economy of Daycare for Under Fives in Tower Hamlets Docklands

SUMMARY. The ‘market’ is now being promoted as the most appropriate mechanism for meeting parents' needs for daycare. This article reports research undertaken in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets early in 1992 to assess the consequences for access to child daycare of changes in policy which have led to increased emphasis upon market-based solutions and a ‘mixed economy’ of daycare. Socio-economic change, with a widening range of employment and income levels, and increasing numbers of young children characterise the area. There has been a reduction in daycare options for the majority of households with under fives. Affordability is now one of the major factors determining access to daycare. Many other problems in the operation of the market in Tower Hamlets are described. Questions are raised about the viability of a mixed economy of daycare, in the light of the financial problems being experienced by day nurseries operating in the area, and the extent to which private companies can be relied on to provide childcare assistance for their staff. National policy makers must ensure that the daycare needs of low income households are met through the mixed economy of daycare.     

Bending over Backwards? Using a Pluralistic Framework to Explore the Management of Flexible Working in the UK Police Service

Professional reduced-hours working is a form of flexible working that runs counter to the increasing trend of employer-led flexibility, and exemplifies the rise of the so-called 'idiosyncratic' employment deal. Although an emerging body of literature, there is evidence to suggest that despite the claim that professional reduced-hours working provides 'better' part-time employment than usually typifies this pattern, it actually confers considerable costs to both individuals and organizations. Some academics have called for a more strategic approach to the introduction and management of professional reduced-hours working, in order to combat these problems. Utilizing a pluralistic perspective on the employment relationship, I draw on data from research in three metropolitan UK police forces to argue that the needs of the part-time employee and the organization will be difficult to integrate. Showing how the negotiation context of the employment relationship has changed and resulted in a power shift from the manager to the part-timer, I argue that the best that can be achieved is a minimal integration of the needs of both parties, and draw out the theoretical and practical implications of this position.     

A framework for treating partner aggressive women

Women are increasingly referred to intervention programs to address their use of physical violence against intimate partners. This article reviews the scant treatment outcome and attrition literature for partner aggressive women and describes important characteristics of partner aggressive women that must be taken into consideration in designing treatment. Recommended treatment modules are described in detail and include skill-building to enhance safety planning, conflict management, emotional regulation, communication and negotiation, and stress management. Additional modules should be included for some women based on individualized needs. These may include parenting skills and education and referral for treatment of conditions that undermine emotional stability, such as posttraumatic stress symptoms, substance abuse, and mood disorders. Treatment structure is outlined and pragmatic issues regarding the implementation of treatment are discussed. Interventions for partner aggressive woman must be designed to address women's victimization experiences as well as their perpetration.     

St Christopher's and the future

The founding vision of St Christopher's Hospice was based on a recognition that permeating mainstream health care services would be essential and an emphasis on an adaptable philosophy rather than a building. Today, demographic and disease related changes mean that need and demand for end-of-life care will inevitably outstrip professional and financial resource. Hospices must engage with the development of cost-effective models of service delivery and rational planning. Only partnership working with the National Health Service, care homes, and others will ensure that appropriate care is available to everyone wherever the bed in which they die, regardless of diagnosis. Only collaboration and active engagement will ensure that future strategy in end-of-life care retains the original insight that its focus rightly includes not only patients but also the social context that will be affected by their death. Cost and patient choice dictate an emphasis on care at home. Health-promoting, public education and family-focused strategies will be essential. At a pivotal moment for the delivery of health care generally, hospices can play a vital part by marrying the role of "insistent conscience" of the health care service with continued cost-effective clinical innovation.     

Work–family conflict among Black,White, and Hispanic men and women

Are there racial/ethnic differences in work–family conflict? Using a nationally representative survey of Americans, we analyze differences in work–family conflict among Blacks, Whites, and Hispanics and then utilize an intersectional approach, disaggregating men and women within each racial/ethnic group. Using structural equation modeling, we find that the usual predictors of conflict – family and work characteristics – have varied effects on work–family conflict among men and women of different racial/ethnic groups. Nonstandard schedules were uniformly linked to increased work-to-family conflict among all respondents, regardless of subgroup. Our findings reveal the merits of intersectional approaches, and suggest the need for theoretical models of the work–family interface that better reflect the experiences of men and women of color.     

The Structure of Parent–Child Dyadic Synchrony in Toddlerhood and Children's Communication Competence and Self-control

The aim of the present investigation was to examine parent–child synchrony and its link to children's communicative competence and self-control. Data were collected from 80 families with toddler age children (41 girls, 39 boys) during a laboratory assessment. Five components of parent–child dyadic synchrony were assessed during a semi-structured parent–child play activity at 18 months. Assessments of children's communicative competence and self-control were obtained at 36 months. Results indicated that parent–child synchrony, shared positive affect, and mutual compliance were highly intercorrelated components of dyadic synchrony. Moreover, children from highly synchronous parent–child dyads displayed more communicative competence and more self-controlled behavior. Mother–child mutual compliance and father–child shared positive affect were particularly significant contributors to children's self control. The associations between synchrony and child developmental adjustment remained significant after controlling for individual child and parent behavior. Developmental implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.