Family Support: Measuring the Benefits to Families
Valerie McGuffin 251

ABSTRACT This article outlines the process undertaken by Home-Start, the leading family support agency, to develop and implement a Monitoring Evaluation format that could measure the outcomes for families who had been supported by Home-Start. Home-Start as an organisation began with a small scheme in Leicester in 1973 supporting a few families through volunteers, themselves parents, visiting the families in their own homes, offering support, friendship, reassurance and practical help. It currently has schemes in 320 areas throughout the UK and operates in 27 areas in Northern Ireland. There are 895 families with 2362 children, 1571 of whom are under 5 years of age being supported by over 500 volunteers in Home-Start schemes in Northern Ireland. The purpose was to devise a format that could be integrated into the normal organisational procedures, while respecting the privacy and dignity of the families being supported. The initial impetus came from within the organisation itself to ensure that the service was constantly under review and maintaining relevance with the needs of families in a constantly changing environment. The development of this process was also in response to the increasing demands from funders for evidence of outcomes for families and cost-effectiveness. The process of developing this monitoring and evaluation tool was piloted by 38 Home-Start schemes in four 4 countries in the UK for a period of 1 year. It was adapted and reviewed during that time and is currently being introduced to all Home-Start schemes UK-wide.

The Contribution of Volunteers to Work with Children in a Criminal Justice Organisation
Tom McGonigle 262

ABSTRACT This article outlines the experience of managing a large pool of volunteers to work with children in a criminal justice charity, and some of the attendant issues. The extent of volunteering contributions is shown to be both significant and worthwhile, and much of The Northern Ireland Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders’ work with children could not take place without volunteer input. Associated with this is the fact that in order to ensure safe and satisfactory operations, the organisation has to manage its volunteers in an increasingly sophisticated manner, which to all intents and purposes is tantamount to managing a workforce. Yet an organisation that involves volunteers cannot make the same demands of them as can be made of a paid workforce. These are important factors that are well known to our colleagues in the voluntary sector, and which need to be recognised by government when encouraging the involve­ment of volunteers. There are also important resource implications if volunteering is to be managed properly and responsibly.

The Arts Provider Partnership Summer Project 2001
Richard McEvoy 273

ABSTRACT Cedar Grove, a statutory residential facility within Newry and Mourne Health and Social Services Trust, is a short-term assessment centre located in Newry, Northern Ireland. The Centre is resourced by a qualified social work team, and has been operational since September 1999. It accommodates six young people, both male and female, between the ages of 12 andl6 years. Referrals are made to the Centre for a variety of reasons and may include: Physical Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Emotional Abuse and/or Neglect, Disability, Family Breakdown, and Offending behaviours.This paper focuses upon the conception and completion of an art programme held within the Centre during the summer of 2001. Of the six young people who participated in the project, four were male and two were female. The original group did not remain static throughout the project, but were joined at varying stages by others who were referred to the Centre. One female was referred mid-project, while two males joined the group during the latter part of the summer. The project was conceived by young people and staff within the facility during the spring period of 2001. A sense of commonality between the resident group was evident in their own identification of art and music as media through which they could come together as a working unit. The project sought to capitalise upon the aforementioned motivation and to provide a tailored programme of events throughout the summer period. As educational attendance and attainment had also presented as a difficulty within the last term of school, it was envisaged that this project would provide young people with opportunities to develop through more holistic activities. Thus the project, while not acting as a substitute for school, would seek to complement the more formal academic system.

Gender Differences Among Children with Externalising Behaviour
Disorders in a Clinic Population
Helle Wessel Andersson 282

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to compare the referral patterns for males and females with externalising disorders who were admitted for specialised psychiatric treatment. The study was based on the total population of children receiving specialised mental treatment in Norway in 2001. From the total patient population of 28,571 children and adolescents aged 0—17 years, a sample was drawn of boys and girls who were referred for externalising behaviour disorders. The sample comprised a total 9729 children, of whom 2218 were females and 7511 were males. Males and females were compared with regard to age at referral, referring agents, secondary reasons for referral as indicated by referring agency, and diagnostic status. The analyses revealed several gender differences in referral patterns. A statistically significant larger proportion of males than females were referred at ages between 6 and 12 years (67.3 % and57.1%, respectively; p <0.001), whereas relatively more females than males were referred at ages above 12 years (32.4% and 21.70c, respectively; p < 0.001). Males were more frequently referred from the school sector than females (31.2% and 2l.8%, respectively; p <0.001), and exhibited more externalising symptoms than females as indicated by their secondary reason for referral (47.8% and 31.5%, respectively; p <0.001). Co-occurring internalising symptoms were relatively more frequent in females than in males (21.9% and 16.9%, respectively; p <0.001). Furthermore, results showed statistically significant differences in diagnostic status between males and females. Among males 37.7% was assigned an lCD-10 axis I diagnosis of hyperkinetic disorders or conduct disorders; the corresponding number for females was 24.0% (p <0.001). The results may reflect the true prevalence in the child and adolescent population, or alternatively indicate a gender-related bias in the referral process of children. 

Expert Witness in Children Order Proceedings Conference, 1 October 2002
Lynne Peyton 291

Achieving Best Practice to Secure the Best Interests of Children
Mr Justice Gillen 295

ABSTRACT This paper was presented as a keynote address at the ‘Expert Witness in Children Order Proceedings Conference’ at the Hilton Hotel, Belfast, 1 October 2002. The paper identifies when, why and how expert witnesses should be commissioned and examines their role in providing independent advice to the court. Reasons why experts are in short supply are examined and ways in which this can be addressed, such as the creation of a national register for Northern Ireland and the introduction of judicial pupillage schemes, are discussed. The paper also explores how the creation of a code of practice is likely to improve the current situation and argues for the need for a multidisciplinary approach if best practice is to be achieved.

LYNNE PEYTON

While there is no one specific theme for this edition, readers will identify with a number of ongoing issues, including mechanisms for measuring whether family support is effective, valuing/promoting high-quality volunteer work with children, and achieving best practice in children’s legal proceedings. We also have a welcome international contribution from a colleague in Norway.

In the first of two papers considering the provision of family support services, Pat Dolan and Stephanie Holt compare and contrast two projects within Health Boards in Ireland, both of which supported families in adversity. They recognise that to be perceived as helpful by parents, support needs to be enduring, non-directive and non-judgemental. In the second paper, Valerie McGuffin reviews the history of Homestart Northern Ireland in helping families with children under 5 years old and reports on the development of a monitoring format to measure outcomes for families. Evaluation of the impact of the Volunteer support scheme is conducted in conjunction with families to assess progress against identified difficulties. As in the earlier paper, the family’s perspective is acknowledged as critical.

Following these research papers, Tom McGonigle and Richard McEvoy each present a fascinating account of practice issues in two very different areas. McGonigle examines the role of volunteers working with young people in a criminal justice setting. He highlights the significant contribution made by volunteers as well as the need for safe and effective volunteering to be properly managed, supervised and adequately funded. McEcoy outlines how music and art were used to facilitate relationship building with young people in a residential facility. He describes how young people who had experienced a variety of trauma in their backgrounds identified art and music as a vehicle for addressing some of their issues. The views of both staff and the young people who participated in the project would seem to illustrate the positive benefits of such an approach.

Helle Wessel Andersson describes gender differences among almost 10,000 young people with externalised behaviours who represented one-third of the entire referrals to the young people’s mental health service in Norway. She identifies that boys tend to be referred younger than girls and are more often referred by the school sector, while girls were more likely to display internalising symptoms as well. Andersson speculates as to whether the gender bias is reflected in Norway’s entire child mental health referrals.

Despite its principle objective to promote the paramountcy of the child’s welfare in all matters, Children Order Proceedings have tended to be characterised by delay and frustration. In a recent conference to consider the role of expert witnesses, Mr Justice Gillen identified and addressed the many issues that need to be overcome if the goal of best practise for children is to be achieved. The complexities of the responsibilities of expert witnesses were considered by Alice Swann, drawing on personal experiences and relevant case law. Both papers give some insight into the extent of change required. My own paper summarises the proceedings and details of the Conference’s recommendations to the Children Order Advisory Group.

Finally, Elaine McElduff and Nicola Kerr introduce a new policy briefing service available through the Four Nations Childcare Policy Network website, offering easy access to current legislative and policy developments.