Joining up children's services: safeguarding children in multi‐disciplinary teams

In this article we reflect on the complexity and the contested nature of the roles of multi‐disciplinary teams working with children. This is an increasingly important issue in the current UK child welfare policy environment. The article uses the theories of Etienne Wenger to understand data gathered from five multi‐disciplinary teams working with children. We explore key issues relating to location; information sharing; models of understanding; and professional identities. We hope to demonstrate that the teams addressed tensions creatively through their engagement with diversity while at the same time developing common team values. We argue that effective strategies for making multi‐disciplinary teams work will combine inter‐agency issues with internal team‐specific aspects. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Clarifying the merits of argument in evaluation practice

In prior writings, we have explored alternative means of justifying claims in evaluation practice. After a brief review of these previous investigations, we provide an analysis employing Toulmin's (1958) jurisprudence metaphor in the assessment of evaluative arguments. Applications and implications for evaluation practice are discussed.     

A Comparison of Depression and Styles of Coping in Male and Female GA Members and Controls

Depression and maladaptive coping styles are important components of theories of pathological gambling and are frequently foci of treatment with individuals with gambling problems. The present study aimed to improve understanding and treatment of pathological gambling by comparing levels of depression and styles of coping in male and female members of Gamblers Anonymous (GA) to a group of non-pathological gambling controls matched according to gender, age, education, and income. Pathological gambling was measured by the South Oaks Gambling Scale, depression by the Beck Depression Inventory, and coping styles by the Problem-Focused Styles of Coping inventory. Results showed that GA members reported significantly higher levels of depression and more maladaptive styles of coping than controls. Pathological gamblers' greater use of maladaptive coping was evident even when variance attributable to depression was removed, suggesting that their coping deficits may be pervasive. Female subjects reported significantly greater levels of depression and maladaptive coping thantheir male counterparts. Implications for treating depression and coping styles in pathological gamblers are discussed.     

Children's services in the UK 1997–2003: problems,developments and challenges for the future

This article reviews developments in children's services since 1997 and considers their effect on children in need by examining government statistics, recent additions to the evidence‐base, and data from two studies conducted by the authors. It shows that there has been extensive service development, mainly beyond the Department of Health, and considerable effort to improve assessment and administrative data. The limits to what can be demonstrably achieved by children's services, particularly in a short period, are acknowledged, and it is argued that the approach of providing predominantly low level interventions to large groups may need re‐thinking if significant and lasting changes to children's development are to be secured. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Presentation of Self and the New Institutional Inmate: An Analysis of Prisoners' Responses to Assessment for Release*

This paper bases an analysis of the prison experience on Goffman's The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life rather than on Asylums. It describes the situation of prisoners in an institution where release decisions are individualized and where release recommendations depend on official assessments of the character, background, and moral “change” of each prisoner. The paper then focuses on the work that prisoners do to demonstrate institutionally approved character and “change” to the prison staff or, in the words of prisoners, to “show them who you are.” The concepts and premises of dramaturgy are employed to analyse prisoners' techniques of self-portrayal and to analyse prisoners' resistance to institutional assessment through describing their behaviour as simply “conning” and “manipulating.”     

The Process of Passing for White in South Africa: A Study in Cumulative Ad Hoc-ery*

Des observations faites à Capetown, quant au com-portement d'éléments de la population mixte qui tente de passer pour blanche, indi-quent l'existence dans les relations intergroupes d'un processus au cours duquel ces éléments multiplient la nécessité pour les autorités de prendre d'innombrables décisions ad hoc á leur sujet. Tous les membres d'autres groupes qui aspirent à une promotion sociale collective se comportent, vraisemblable-ment, de la sorte. Ces décisions cumulatives facilitent le passage de la catégorie mixte á celle de la race blanche.     

Community Structure and the Mobilization of Support

Grâce à l'étude d'un mouvement social en faveur de l'incorporation de deux banlieues dans une agglomération, les auteurs examinent le succès du leadership à s'assurer l'appui populaire en rapport avec les structures sociales de la communauté. Leur analyse indique que l'obtention de cet appui est affecté par deux ensembles de conditions. Premièrement, les dispositions structurales qui contribuent à la communauté. Leur analyse collectivité nuisent aux leaders dans leur tâche alors que celles qui l'intègrent morphologiquement la facilitent. En second lieu, la position sociale de ceux qui assument la direction du mouvement et leurs liens avec divers organismes communautaires affectent aussi leurs possibilités de mobiliser l'appui populaire qu'ils souhaitent.