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1 – 10 of 112This paper offers an empirical study of the Emergency Support to Integration and Accommodation (ESTIA) programme, as the policy initiative for the provision of housing and social…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper offers an empirical study of the Emergency Support to Integration and Accommodation (ESTIA) programme, as the policy initiative for the provision of housing and social integration for asylum seekers over the last few years in Greece. Greece is a country that is geographically situated on the southern external borders of Europe and has been experiencing a rise in refugee flows since 2015. At a first glance, it seems that ESTIA’s central aim is social integration. The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether the design and implementation framework of ESTIA essentially promotes the goal of social integration or whether it is merely a gesture that has no real effect.
Design/methodology/approach
The field research focussed on an evaluation of the ESTIA programme on the basis of its impact on the social integration of its beneficiaries. This was attempted by examining the attitudes and perceptions of key stakeholders during its design and implementation stages. In order to examine these dimensions, qualitative research methods were developed. In particular, in-depth interviews were conducted with key informants involved in the design and implementation processes of ESTIA.
Findings
Social integration is something much more than providing permanent shelters to asylum seekers. ESTIA has been designed and implemented with a view to providing better temporary housing conditions for its beneficiaries. The rest of the range of actions for their social actions was left to voluntary actions by the implementing agencies, without offering them any financial support – a fact that suggests that the use of the term “social integration” in relation to this programme is disingenuous. Such an intervention does not aim at significant social integration but, primarily, the temporary management of extreme impoverishment. ESTIA can, therefore, be added to the scientific literature as yet another case study where the complex concept of social integration is misused by the EU and European states to legitimise the policies of repression and control of refugee populations.
Originality/value
This is the first field research that examines the design and implementation framework of ESTIA, the most important programme for the social integration of asylum seekers in Greece. The presentation of research findings is expected to make a significant contribution to the improvement of many aspects of the design and implementation framework of ESTIA.
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Eddie Chaplin, Jean O'Hara, Geraldine Holt, Steve Hardy and Nick Bouras
There are high rates of emotional, behavioural and psychiatric problems (Cooper et al, 2007) in the learning disability population. This paper describes the Mental Health in…
Abstract
There are high rates of emotional, behavioural and psychiatric problems (Cooper et al, 2007) in the learning disability population. This paper describes the Mental Health in Learning Disabilities (MHiLD) service for adults with learning disabilities in four South London boroughs. This service has been in operation in two South East London boroughs from 1982, and was extended to a third in 1999 and a fourth in 2006.
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Eddie Chaplin, Sarah Halls, Guy Carlile, Steve Hardy and Theresa Joyce
This paper explores some of the issues and barriers to service user involvement for people with learning disability in mental health settings. In particular the paper focuses on…
Abstract
This paper explores some of the issues and barriers to service user involvement for people with learning disability in mental health settings. In particular the paper focuses on barriers to involvement including staff attitudes and the involvement of service users in their own assessment and treatment. The issue of getting people involved in their own care is addressed and is highlighted using examples of good practice.
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Peter Cronin, Liam Peyton and Yolanda Zimock
This paper describes the thoughts of three people with learning disabilities about mental health and what can help people stay mentally well.
Abstract
This paper describes the thoughts of three people with learning disabilities about mental health and what can help people stay mentally well.
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Dimitrios Paschos, Michael Mwim, Virginia Essam and Jane McCarthy
We report a case of a person with Down's syndrome presenting with symptoms of depression and symptoms of an atypical eating disorder. Significant challenges and dilemmas were…
Abstract
We report a case of a person with Down's syndrome presenting with symptoms of depression and symptoms of an atypical eating disorder. Significant challenges and dilemmas were encountered during his assessment and treatment. Twenty years ago he had presented in a similar way and his lengthy but successful treatment was published. We will present his case in two parts. The first will cover his clinical presentation and assessment and the second will focus solely on his treatment. During the time of his assessment and management the Mental Capacity Act 2005 had just been introduced in England and Wales and the implications of this new legislation in the management of such cases will also be discussed.
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Eddie Chaplin, Jill Lockett, Lynette Kennedy, Steve Hardy, Lisa Seaburne‐May and Jane Sayer
Monitoring care quality is integral to modern health service delivery. This paper describes how a specialist mental health assessment and treatment inpatient service for people…
Abstract
Monitoring care quality is integral to modern health service delivery. This paper describes how a specialist mental health assessment and treatment inpatient service for people with intellectual disabilities put in place a process to improve and reprovide the service, following an audit, in partnership with local stakeholders. In describing the process the paper highlights the need for transparent and honest working relationships with stakeholders, along with the role of audit and monitoring of quality to determine the ‘health’ and effectiveness of services. This included evaluating the continuing need for service and maintaining an agenda driven by needs rather than beds, based on best practice.
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Antoine Millet, Audrey Abi Akle and Jérémy Legardeur
Regarding industrial sports products, there is sometimes a dual sport and health meaning intended by designers. Appearances of sport products are often quite opposite to health…
Abstract
Purpose
Regarding industrial sports products, there is sometimes a dual sport and health meaning intended by designers. Appearances of sport products are often quite opposite to health products. Design choices made by designers can thus be misunderstood by users. This paper aims to deeper understand the perception gap between designers and users within earlier stages of the design process to limit this confusion and help designers.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors propose an approach to help designers defining the perception of a new dual and hybrid product field. The first step is to collect designers’ perception through interviews combined with card sorting. The second step is to compare the perception of designers with that of users. Comparisons are based on an agreement measure.
Findings
The approach provides a first step to evaluate the perception of a dual hybrid product field. It allows designers to extract trends and perceptions to be considered for the design of products, to consolidate and confirm their intuitions regarding the intended dual meaning.
Originality/value
The main contribution of this paper is to evaluate the perception of a new and non-defined hybrid product field presenting a duality in appearance. This approach can be used by designers either to identify trends to be considered, reinforce the intended meaning, or validate their intuitions while designing products with dual meanings before.
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Ionel Vechiu, Octavian Curea, Alvaro Llaria and Haritza Camblong
Nowadays, distributed generation and microgrids (MGs) are becoming an important research line because of their peculiar characteristics. MGs are composed of small power sources…
Abstract
Purpose
Nowadays, distributed generation and microgrids (MGs) are becoming an important research line because of their peculiar characteristics. MGs are composed of small power sources which can be renewable, placed near customer sites. Moreover, they have the inherent property of islanding: the disconnection of either the MG from the main grid or a part of a MG from the rest of the MG. The purpose of this paper is to study two different control strategies allowing grid connected and islanding operation of the MG.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, the behaviour of a particular MG during grid connected and islanding operation is investigated. The studied MG is based on different energy sources: a wind turbine, a photovoltaic array, a backup diesel generator and a storage system. The renewable sources and the storage system are connected on a DC bus which is interconnected with a main grid through a voltage source inverter (VSI). The attention focuses on the control technique of the VSI during grid connected and islanding operation of the MG. The behaviour of the AC signals on the point of common coupling between the MG and the main grid as well as the DC signals on the DC bus on which are connected renewable energy sources of the MG has been investigated by simulation using a MATLAB/Simulink model.
Findings
For the investigated MG, the simulation results show that using a single master VSI and classical control strategies, it is possible to have a good power quality on the MG during grid connection and islanding operation.
Originality/value
This paper investigates the behaviour of a particular MG in order to analyse two different control strategies allowing grid connected and islanding operation.
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Colin Hemmings, Lisa Underwood and Nick Bouras
Three separate focus groups were conducted to compare the views of service users, carers and specialist health professionals on community services for adults with psychosis and…
Abstract
Three separate focus groups were conducted to compare the views of service users, carers and specialist health professionals on community services for adults with psychosis and learning disabilities. Participants were asked which staff, treatments or interventions and methods of working or style of service organisation make a significant contribution to helping people with psychosis and learning disabilities. Although there were few direct contradictions or conflicts between the three groups, the priorities of service users, carers and professionals often differed. Development of community services for adults with psychosis and learning disabilities should incorporate the views of service users and their carers as well as clinicians.
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