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ISSN 1357-5279
VOLUME 10 NUMBER 3
JULY 2004

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Contents

Foreword
Paul Gilliland 211

Causes and Alleviation of Occupational Stress in Child Care Work.
Karola Dillenburger, Queen’s University Belfast  213

Occupational stress in not a new phenomenon in the working population. However, in the helping professions it has only recently attracted attention. The survey reported here was carried out in order to assess the extent of occupational stress, identify its causes, and suggest ways in which occupational stress can be alleviated. Field social workers working in family and child care services took part in this study. The questionnaire devised for this survey included the General Health questionnaire. The findings showed that social workers experience more stress than would be expected in the general population. Consistent with a Demand—Control—Support model, this was mainly caused by high workloads, high staff turnover, and insufficient leadership and support.

Out of the Frying Pan into the Fire? A Critical Analysis of the Integrated
Children’s System.
Martin C. Calder, City of Salford Community and Social Services Directorate 225

Much has been promised from the government about providing a more contemporary and streamlined system for child care at the beginning of the 21st century. In this article Calder critically evaluates the origins of the incoming Integrated Children’s System and questions how welding two faulty and discredited systems from the 1990s together can possibly achieve this aspiration. Calder then raises some implementation issues before going on to offer some suggested remedial solutions to assist local implementation.

Child Poverty as Public Policy: Direct Provision and Asylum Seeker Children in the Republic of Ireland.
Bryan Fanning, University College Dublin, Angela Veale, University College Cork  241

This paper evaluates responses to asylum seeker children in Ireland from a child poverty perspective and from that of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. It draws upon research undertaken in early 2001 on behalf of the Irish Refugee Council among asylum seeker families with children in Cork, Limerick and Ennis on their experiences of poverty and social exclusion. The research was primarily qualitative. Interviews with adult members of households and some children were triangulated with data on benefit entitlements and take-up, household consumption, accommodation and amenities. The research sought to ascertain levels of income poverty and material deprivation. A range of indictors of child poverty and social exclusion were also employed. The research found that asylum seeker children experienced extreme income poverty, material deprivation, housing deprivation and social exclusion in considerable part due to the imposition of a system of lesser welfare entitlements, known as “direct provision’ introduced in April 2000. The paper argues that state-fostered social exclusion of asylum seeker children resulting from “direct provision” is contrary to Ireland’s obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the goals of the National Children’s Strategy and the goals of the National Anti-Poverty Strategy.

 Attitudes and Factors that Influence Decision-Making in Adoption from Care in Northern Ireland. Lily Barr, Guardian Ad Litem 253

This is a small-scale local study aimed at exploring the thinking and attitudes that inform or influence decision-making around proceeding to adoption. It also sought to explore or establish practitioners’ views of potential tensions in this area and potential supports. It included open questions, attitudinal questions and required respondents to consider and then give qualitative responses to case studies/vignettes. Issues considered included the age of the child, the implications of contact with birth parents/families, resource implications and the impact for the child(ren) for further disruption. 

 Irelands’ Immigrant Children.
Jonathan Culleton, Waterford Institute of Technology 265

Introduction:
In industrialised Western nations generally, and European Union (EU) nations particularly, immigration is an issue of considerable concern and debate. In the EU, however, discussion of immigration has tended to centre on a number of policy issues, from reliance on welfare provision, to labour force participation, to healthcare provision, to cultural issues. In the context of these narrow terms of reference, it becomes clear how:
amid the fray, children—lacking voting powers and unable to chose where they live—have been rendered largely invisible ... discussions remain riveted on issues of short term costs and societal impacts, to the neglect of considerations of the well-being and future contributions of immigrant children. (Board on Children and Families, 1995, p. 1)
It would appear inevitable that, in the longer term, exclusion of the interests of immigrant children by policy-makers will lead to difficulties for the individual children, and on a societal level. For example, the research of Dr Xia Ma (2002) in a Canadian context, on the emotional and behavioural problems experienced by immigrant children, should serve as a warning to policy-makers of the consequences of a lack of attention to the issue of immigrant children. That these children should experience difficulties integrating into a new society is hardly surprising, given this apparent lack of interest, at the policy-shaping level. This article will attempt to examine some of these difficulties in relation to the various groups of immigrant children in Ireland.

Towards a Better Future Conference.
Bernie Kelly, North & West Health and Social Services Trust 271

A three-day international conference, Towards a Better Future—Building Healthy Communities, was held in the Stormont Hotel, Belfast in October 2003, hosted by the North and West Belfast Health and Social Services Trust and the Eastern Health and Social Services Board.
The aim of the conference was to raise awareness of the impact of the conflict on the health and well-being of people throughout Northern Ireland and to develop a long-term strategy for dealing with the consequences of more than 30 years of violence. It also highlighted the significant role of the voluntary/community sector and explored best practice regionally and internationally.
In preparation for the conference, a series of workshops were held regionally between May and June 2004. The aim of the workshops was to seek the views of victims and survivors of the conflict, and groups and service providers working with them, to help inform the conference. A series of meetings was also held with the main political parties to seek their support.

Conflict Resolution—Towards A Better Understanding.
Ben Goldring, Campbell College 291

In January 2004, three Year 13 pupils from Campbell College entered an essay competition run by the Belfast Rotary Club. Entitled “Towards a Better Understanding’ the essays reflect different perspectives on conflict resolution. Ben Goidring (whose essay and subsequent presentation secured a trip to Chicago in April) discusses the significance of empathetic understanding in mediation and suggests that integrated education has a bigger role to play in a genuinely pluralist society. Samuel Poots explores the nature of conflict and argues that, properly handled, it is an essential mechanism for a progressive society. Rory Milhench takes an international view and concentrates on Power, “a universal currency”, as the primary cause of division and the importance of leadership for a successful non-violent response.

Alan Stevens
Teacher
Campbell College

Conflict Resolution.
Rory Milhench, Campbell College 295

In January 2004, three Year 13 pupils from Campbell College entered an essay competition run by the Belfast Rotary Club. Entitled “Towards a Better Understanding”, the essays reflect different perspectives on conflict resolution. Ben Goldring (whose essay and subsequent presentation secured a trip to Chicago in April) discusses the significance of empathetic understanding in mediation and suggests that integrated education has a bigger role to play in a genuinely pluralist society. Samuel Poots explores the nature of conflict and argues that, properly handled, it is an essential mechanism for a progressive society. Rory Milhench takes an international view and concentrates on Power, “a universal currency”, as the primary cause of division and the importance of leadership for a successful non-violent response.

Alan Stevens
Teacher
Campbell College

Conflict Resolution—Forgiving the Past.
Samuel Poots, Campbell College 299

In January 2004, three Year 13 pupils from Campbell College entered an essay competition run by the Belfast Rotary Club. Entitled “Towards a Better Understanding”, the essays reflect different perspectives on conflict resolution. Ben Goldring (whose essay and subsequent presentation secured a trip to Chicago in April) discusses the significance of empathetic understanding in mediation and suggests that integrated education has a bigger role to play in a genuinely pluralist society. Samuel Poots explores the nature of conflict and argues that, properly handled, it is an essential mechanism for a progressive society. Rory Milhench takes an international view and concentrates on Power, “a universal currency”, as the primary cause of division and the importance of leadership for a successful non-violent response.

Alan Stevens
Teacher
Campbell College

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