health and health care

Impact of family breakdown on children's well-being: evidence review

This review investigates the impact of parental separation and divorce on children’s well-being and development. The review incorporates evidence concerning family breakdown, and its consequences, in the context of understandings of ‘the family’, ‘breakdown’ and the ‘well-being’ of children and young people, and includes research relating to both married and cohabiting parents. ‘Well-being’ is defined as incorporating children’s mental, emotional and physical health.

Towards a strategy to support volunteering in health and social care: consultation: response to the consultation

This document is in response to the 'Towards a strategy to support volunteering in health and social care' consultation. It sets out messages heard during the consultation process through nine regional workshops held around England, an on-line questionnaire; and detailed written responses received by the Department of Health.

Female binge-drinking (Radio 4 series: Woman's Hour)

This episode of Radio 4's Woman's Hour series looks at female binge-drinking. Hospital consultants in the North of England have noticed increasing numbers of young women are seeking treatment after being injured in drunken brawls. They claim fighting between women is resulting in horrific injuries such as broken cheek bones, fractured hands, or facial wounds inflicted by being hit with glasses or bottles. Is this another consequence of binge-drinking or are women becoming more violent?

Developing the use of 'MDS-RAI' reports for UK care homes

The MDS-RAI (Minimum Data Set Resident Assessment Instrument for Long Term Care Facilities) is designed to provide a comprehensive standard assessment of residents' needs for use in nursing and residential homes. This action research project explored how care home staff and management could raise care provision standards through embedding its use in daily practice.

Improving care in residential care homes: a literature review (summary report)

This review by a team from the University of Warwick and University of the West of England, with support from the University of York, examines research evidence available to support improved care for older people in residential homes. The review explores seven themes: residents' and relatives' views on care; clinical areas for improvement; medication in care homes; medical input into care homes; nursing care in care homes; interface between care homes and other services; care improvement in care homes.

OU on the BBC: A Picture of Health

A Picture of Health is a sixty minute documentary on a day in the life of the National Health Service. On Wednesday November 13th 2002, nine NHS workers were followed for the day by nine film crews. The film starts in the morning and ends very late at night, cutting between different stories. The aim is to see what our NHS is really like – by seeing it through the eyes of those working for it. This resource is part of Open2.net which is the online learning portal from the Open University and the BBC.

Reference paper for Valuing Young People

This paper provides background information on the individual elements of the nine pillars set out in Valuing Young People. The list of polices approaches outlined here is not exhaustive but is intended as a set of concise summaries to give partners, supporters and users of Valuing Young People an overview of polices and approaches that can support young people to achieve their potential.

The changing needs of people with sight loss

Presents the findings from a research study which identifies and explores the changing support needs of people with sight loss from the clinical, visual function and quality of life perspectives. Data were derived from biographical narrative interviews and a visual function questionnaire with people with sight loss, and semi-structured interviews with professionals involved in the delivery of specialist visual impairment services.