Listening to Children, Speaking for Children: Health and Social Services Complaints and Child Advocacy
Wendy Cousins; Sharon Milner & Eithne McLaughlin 109

Abstract: Health and Personal Social Services are required to respond positively and effectively to complaints from service users. This paper discusses the importance  of such complaints systems in upholding children's rights, and in particular Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. It outlines the mature of some of the advocacy services available to children and young people who may wish to make a complaint about their treatment within Northern Ireland Health and Personal Services. It then moves on to discuss some possible future development's. and in particular speculates on the potential role of the Northern Ireland Children's Commissioner in investigating complaints concerning the care and treatment of children in Northern Ireland health and personal services.  

The Impact of Childhood Cancer on Adult Survivors Interpersonal Relationships
Terri Forsbach 117

Abstract: A mixed method design examined the impact of surviving childhood cancer on later adult relationships with peers and siblings. One hundred and eleven adult survivors of childhood cancer (ages 18-45) completed a survey. Age at diagnosis was significantly related to adult relationships with peers. The number of physical changes due to chemotherapy was significantly related to adult relationships with siblings. Factors perceived to be most influential for overall health in adulthood included lifestyle factors, fertility issues, employment discrimination, and passing the disease onto children. Intimate relationships are sometimes difficult due to feat of relapse. Self-consciousness about scars was an issue, especially for those who were diagnosed at a later age. Suggestions for counselling children and adolescents are discussed.

Victims and Perpetrators, Racism and Young People in Northern Ireland
Neil Jarman 129

Abstract: This paper looks at the relationship between racist harassment and children and young people in Northern Ireland. It reviews the evidence from police records of cases where  children and young people have been subjected to and victimised by such harassment, abuse and violence, and uses the same data to reveal the role of young people as perpetrators of racist harassment — both to young people and also towards adults from the minority ethnic communities. The material is drawn from a larger study on racist, homophobic and sectarian harassment, funded by the Office of Minister and Deputy First Minister, but this paper focuses on 152 of the 881 cases reported to the police between 1996 and 2001 in which children and young people were the victims of some form of violence or abuse. Worryingly, the research reveals that young people report a prominent role that young people play in the racist harassment of members of more than 50% of cases reported to them. Having provided basic analysis of the issues, the paper also reviews the main policy responses in relation to racism and children and suggestions as to what is needed to develop an effective strategy to respond to this emergent problem for the immediate future.

Delivering family Support Services in Rural Ireland
Dr Roger Manktelow 140

Abstract:  The delivery of family support services is a key target in the planning of child-care services in the Republic of Ireland. The research study investigates a cross-border partnership project between a Health Board in the South of Ireland and a voluntary agency in the North of Ireland to deliver ' at home' family support service in rural County Donegal. Samples of users, social workers and managers were interviewed to evaluate the effectiveness of the service. Findings revealed that family support is provided to families with long-term difficulties, including those with children at-risk and with a history  of admission to care. In the absence of family centre provision, this family support service might be more correctly described as a family preservation service. In a rural context, the effective use of limited resources is constrained by the time and cost of traveling long distances to provide an "at home" service. family support intervention is often long term and part of a wider package of domiciliary care. The key mechanism for change is the worker-parent relationship. The experience of what works in parenting for change is the worker's own experience as a parent is shared, not as an expert, but in a bond of solidarity as fellow parents with the family. professionals view the scheme as effective in maintaining children at home, and users report positively on the family support worker involvement.

Adoption and Long-term Fostering: Themes from research
Sean Mulligan 156

Abstract: This paper has been prepared to explore the current literature on adoption and long-term foster care. In a climate where adoption appears to be the model for attaining permanence for children who cannot be looked-after by birth-parents, factors are considered to explain why some children's needs may not be met in such an arrangement. The paper will identify the factors that need to be taken into consideration when determining the most appropriate care arrangement for children. The issue of contact with birth families following a permanent change in care arrangements generally concluded that it was beneficial for older children; however, there remains some debate as to the benefits for all. These decisions have been based on many factors and each case must be considered individually.

The Silent Majority — The Position of Children Involves in the Divorce and Separation of their Parents
Judith Timms OBE 162

Abstract: This article reviews the position of children and young people involved in disputes about their residence and contract arrangements following the divorces and separation of their parents. It contrasts their situation with that of children in public law proceedings and critically examines the current arrangements for hearing the voice of the child within the proceedings. the author draws on the experience of the National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS) in seeking to identify which children and young people need the safeguard of separate representation within private law proceedings.

The articles in this edition of Child Care in Practice span a range of topics, with the issues of racism, health, family support, children’s rights and children in care all receiving coverage. The edition does not have a pervading theme but a number of the papers complement each other and in so doing, assist in broadening and deepening our knowledge of how many children in our society experience the world.

The journal contains two papers presented at a major conference held in November 2002 entitled ‘Children (NI) Order — Fit for Purpose.’ Professor Dominic Burke, in his paper ‘Courts/Trusts — No Trespassing’ examines the relationship between Health and Social Services Trusts and the Courts in Northern Ireland. He argues for ‘enhanced assessment’ and investment in family support in seeking to reduce the need for Care Order applications. Judith Timms’ paper, ‘The Silent Majority’, delivered at the same conference, explores the position of children whose parents are separating or divorcing and power­fully advocates for the right of children involved in such situations to have their voices heard in the related Court proceedings.

The family support theme is picked up by Dr Roger Mankeltow in his evaluation of a project delivering family support services in rural Ireland. This paper provides a most useful review of a number of evaluations of family support schemes, before describing the research undertaken to evaluate this ‘at home’ family support service in Donegal. In a useful contribution to the thinking on the nature of family support, Dr Mankeltow argues that this scheme may be considered as a ‘family preservation service.’ The children’s rights theme res­onates in the paper by Wendy Cousins, which highlights the importance of complaints systems in upholding children’s rights. The role of some advocacy services in enabling the child’s voice to be heard is described, and the potential contribution of the Northern Ireland Children’s Commissioner considered.

The remaining three papers, while on diverse topics, are significant additions to our understanding of these subject areas. Firstly, the exploration by Tern Forsbach into ‘The Impact of Childhood Cancer on Adult Survivors’ demon­strates that a relationship exists between childhood cancer and later interper­sonal relationships, and makes suggestions for counselling to deal with such difficulties. Secondly Neil Jarman’s study of racism in Northern Ireland consid­ers both the racist harassment of children and young people and looks at young people as perpetrators of racist harassment. He suggests that the scale and impact of racial harassment of children and young people is severely underesti­mated and emphasises that the education system should be to the fore in addressing the issue.

Finally, a most helpful review of the literature pertinent to long term fostering and adoption is provided by Sean Mulligan. In identifying the changing nature of adoption, he picks out the key themes emanating from the research.

The papers featured in this journal all contain challenges for practice, or further research, or both. It is my desire that reading and thinking about these articles will stimulate many of us to meet those challenges.