children

The cost of short break services: understanding the contracting and commissioning process

The aim of the research was to explore the costs of short break services for disabled children and their families. The study also sought to understand the contracting and commissioning process, including the factors that inform decision making processes and the management of budgets.

The research was commissioned by Action for Children and carried out by the Centre for Child and Family Research, Loughborough University.

The impact of disability on the lives of young children: Analysis of growing up in Scotland data

This research project was commissioned by Scottish Government Children and Families Analysis with the objective of undertaking an in-depth analysis of data from the Growing Up in Scotland study (GUS) to examine the circumstances and outcomes of children living with a disability in Scotland. The overall aim of this analysis was to explore the impact of disability on the child, their parents and the wider family unit.

Better Breaks: Round 1 evaluation

The Better Breaks programme awarded its first grants in March 2012. 51 grants, totalling £1,121,602 were distributed to projects across Scotland so that these projects could deliver quality short breaks for children and young people with disabilities which would be tailored to their needs whilst giving their families a break from caring.
The evaluation was based on information provided by the funded projects through their applications, their End of Grant reports, any supporting materials provided, selected telephone calls and review of the Shared Stories films.

Frontline. Improving the children’s social work profession

This paper investigates the nature and extent of the problems facing the children's social work profession. Last year, there were around 1,350 vacant jobs in this field, many of which were concentrated in certain areas. Despite a concerted effort to tackle this shortage of workers, there are widespread concerns about the skills, competencies and calibre of new recruits to the profession.

A critical review and analysis of current research and policy relating to disabled children and young people in Scotland

The main purpose of this report is to inform the work of Scotland‟s Commissioner for Children and Young People over the next four years, specifically in relation to disabled children and young people whom he has already identified as a priority group.
The aims are:
1. To identify and review the major social research studies about disabled children and young people in Scotland published since devolution (1999), looking at issues which can be a barrier to their inclusion in society.

More than a break

The purpose of this discussion paper is to set out some of the key issues related to the experience of disabled children and their families in being able to access suitable short break and respite care support, and their experience of services received. The paper is intended as a starting point to stimulate a wider discussion amongst service users, carers, providers, planners and others to determine the main priorities for improving provision and achieving better outcomes for all concerned.

Working outside the box: An evaluation of short breaks and intensive support services to families and disabled young people whose behaviour is severely challenging. Summary report

The summary report brings together the main findings from the evaluation undertaken of three Action for Children services in Cardiff, Glasgow and Edinburgh. These provide specialist short breaks and intensive support services to families and young people with developmental disabilities and whose behaviour is severely challenging. This summary report describes the aims of the evaluation and the methodologies used.

Safeguarding children peer review programme: learning and recommendations

The Local Government Group commissioned The National Foundation for Educational Research in England and Wales (NFER) to undertake an independent research study to draw out key messages and learning from the safeguarding children peer review programme. Telephone interviews were conducted with staff from five local authorities and their partners, as well as with a range of peers from the review teams of those local authorities. Interviews were carried out between August 2010 and February 2011.