Online Lifeline : An Evaluation of Right Click Parent Training Programme

The Present Study used parents as key stakeholders and a phenomenological approach to examine parent perceptions of Right Click, an online, telehealth training programme that supports parents in their understanding of ASD. As the Right Click parent programme is designed as self-referring and self-directed learning support; the specific research questions for this study included (1) What are parents’ general perceptions of Right Click? (2) How does Right Click support family wellbeing and parent coping? (3) How do these experiences inform receptivity of Right Click as a parent intervention? From the interviews participants clearly see Right Click as a useful, valuable resource and recognised that, certainly for Scottish families (predominant sample) that it is the most extensive one stop resource available of its kind for parents

Scottish teachers' experiences of the effectiveness of nurture groups in supporting autistic children

Nurture groups (NGs) are recognised as an effective early practice for the development of children with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties (SEBD). Early educators outline enhanced social and emotional development, academic attainment and secure attachments with peers and adults. Nevertheless, there is limited data reporting on the efficacy of this approach for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This small-scale phenomenological study reports Scottish primary teachers’ experiences of NGs in promoting wellbeing in autistic pupils. Data were gathered through an online questionnaire. Results were mixed in that they suggest some significant progress in academic attainment, with slight improvements in emotional and social functioning. After the inclusion of pupils in NGs, continued positive impact appeared to persist with both difficulties in emotional expression and in forming secure attachments with peers and adults. This indicates that for good NG practice for autistic pupils there is a need for structural modifications and curriculum adaptations to create an ‘autismfriendly’ environment

Development of the Priority Perpetrator Identification Tool (PPIT) for domestic abuse

Executive Summary Overview Our previous research into serial domestic abuse indicated the importance of shared multi-agency understanding when it comes to identification of and responses to the most serious forms of domestic abuse. Our last report, published in November 2014, questioned the prevailing assumption that serial abusers should be the focus of enhanced targeting and intervention, and instead recommended developing perpetrator-focussed responses that take into account serial alongside repeat and high-risk offending. Specifically, we recommended the development of a consistent definition and monitoring/flagging process for priority perpetrators. Informed by extensive experience and research indicating the efficacy of multi-agency responses to domestic abuse, we embarked on a project to create a Priority Perpetrator Identification Tool (PPIT), incorporating serial, repeat and high-risk offending into a single tool with input and agreement across relevant agencies (e.g., Police, Criminal Justice and Third Sector). The intention is for the PPIT to complement and draw upon other existing tools (e.g., DASH for victims, OASys and SARA for perpetrators) so that agencies can reliably identify those individuals whose offending behaviour requires priority action. The development of this tool represents the first stage of establishing a more robust identification and referral pathway for priority domestic abuse perpetrators in Wales. This report documents the development and consultation process which was undertaken January-March of this year to create the PPIT. Findings Based on the evidence collected from the consultation (n=15 participants in the stage one stakeholder event and n=25 participants in the stage two online survey), there appears to be a high level of support amongst both operational and strategic agency representatives (from a range of agencies in Wales and elsewhere in the UK), for a tool to assist with the identification of those committing the most serious and harmful forms of domestic abuse. It is noteworthy that an overwhelming majority of respondents felt that the ten items in the PPIT captured the most important aspects to consider, and the brief guidance accompanying the tool was largely fit-for-purpose. Despite the complexities of what is involved, the majority view is favourable to implementing the PPIT. Implications The PPIT is envisioned as an instrument to be used to trigger an intervention, rather than an intervention itself, and aims to support the identification of a commonly recognised priority cohort of individuals which will be the focus of the collective efforts all partners. Concept and planning work is already underway to address the ‘what comes next’ question raised by many of those involved in the consultation process. To maximise its efficacy and potential to be a reliable and useful tool for frontline use across a range of agencies, we recommend further testing of the PPIT. Further research is needed to assess the range of policy and practice implications likely to result from the implementation of the PPIT

BAICE Thematic Forum:Challenging deficit discourses in international education and development

Research and policy in international education has o en been framed in terms of a deficit discourse. For instance, policy debates on women’s literacy and education have begun by positioning women as a group who need to ‘catch up’ on certain skills in order to become more active in development. Rather than recognising the skills and knowledge that participants already have and prac se in their everyday lives, researchers who adopt this deficit perspective on learning and education may find that the research agenda and questions will already be shaped to a large extent by the providers’/ policy makers’ standpoint. This BAICE Thematic Forum aimed to deepen understanding around how deficit discourses have shaped the questions and objectives of international educational research. As well as deconstructing and gaining greater knowledge into why and how these dominant deficit discourses have influenced the research agenda, we also set out to investigate and propose alternative conceptual models through two linked seminars. The seminars were intended to explore and challenge dominant deficit discourses that have shaped the way researchers/policy makers look at specific groups in development and thematic policy areas

Emotion-focused therapy for autism spectrum disorder : a case conceptualization model for trauma-related experiences

People with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) report painful experiences through emotional misunderstandings with typically developing (TD) peers. There are limited intervention methodologies for ASD on the impact of emotional injuries and how to work with resulting trauma. This paper presents a rational-empirical model of trauma-related experiences with the first presentation of a new case conceptualization model for Emotion-Focused Therapy for ASD. It describes the transformation of problematic emotion schemes through a sequence of emotional processing steps illustrated with a case example. These steps include: overcoming differentiation of core painful feelings (such as loneliness, shame, and fear); autobiographical memory recall of distanced trauma, using a novel method of video Interpersonal Process Recall; and articulation of the unmet needs contained in core painful feelings. This is followed by the expression of an emotional response to those feelings/needs; typically, self-soothing, protective anger and compassion responses offered interpersonally by group members. These emerging adaptive emotions facilitate mentalization of self and other that strengthens intrapersonal and interpersonal agency. This rational-empirical case conceptualization acts as a hypothesis for testing in subsequent trials

The Autism Toolbox : An Autism Resource for Scottish Schools

The Autism Toolbox will draw upon a range of practice experience, literature and research to offer guidance for authorities and schools providing for children and young people with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Lieb-Robinson Bounds and Existence of the Thermodynamic Limit for a Class of Irreversible Quantum Dynamics

We prove Lieb-Robinson bounds and the existence of the thermodynamic limit for a general class of irreversible dynamics for quantum lattice systems with time-dependent generators that satisfy a suitable decay condition in space.Comment: Added 3 references and comments after Theorem 2; corrected typo

New initiatives to tackle domestic violence using the Priority Perpetrator Identification Tool (PPIT)

This research reports on three innovative pilots (located in Hampshire, Dyfed Powys and Greater Manchester) that have incorporated the PPIT into their working practices in order to establish a more robust identification and referral pathway for priority domestic abuse perpetrators. A process evaluation was undertaken between January and November 2017 to assess the strengths and limitations of each of the three pilots, compare the offender cohorts being identified, identify the strategies being undertaken to manage these individuals, and gather the perceptions of those involved about the effectiveness of these new arrangements. The research adopted a mixed method approach comprising interviews with practitioners (n=18) a number of site visits and a quantitative analysis of monitoring data of perpetrators (n=513) coming through the PPIT pilots. This research illustrated the many ways that practitioners can work together to create meaningful change in how domestic abuse is tackled in local areas. This is a complex area of work, which requires partnership working across multiple agencies to address offending that is both high volume and which can also be highly harmful to adults as well as children. Further research is required to systematically evaluate the full range of outcomes that are possible (i.e. in addition to the positive changes reported here, such as more informed and coordinated responses in the identification and management of priority domestic abuse perpetrators, do the actions taken within the PPIT pilots also produce significant reductions in re-offending and corresponding improvements to victims’ safety?). In addition to data gathered through the monitoring databases already in place in the pilots, future research needs to access the views of those perpetrators and victims directly affected by these new working arrangements and interventions. Finally, opportunities for mutual learning and critical reflection on practice should be provided to support practitioners and to help build a community of practice of key stakeholders engaged in this type of work

Convergences and divergences of geographies from an East-Central European perspective

STUDY DESIGN:  Prospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE:  This study investigates the results of long posterior instrumentation with regard to complications and survival. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA:  Fractures of the cervical spine and the cervicothoracic junction related to ankylosing spinal disease (ASD) endanger both sagittal profile and spinal cord. Both anterior and posterior stabilization methods are well established, and clear treatment guidelines are missing. METHODS:  Forty-one consecutive patients with fractures of the cervicothoracic junction related to ASD were treated by posterior instrumentation. All patients were followed prospectively for 2 years using a standardized protocol. RESULTS:  Five patients experienced postoperative infections, 3 patients experienced postoperative pneumonia, 2 patients required postoperative tracheostomy, and 1 patient had postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leakage due to accidental durotomy. No patient required reoperation due to implant failure or nonunion. Mean survival was 52 months (95% confidence interval: 42-62 mo). Survival was affected by patient age, sex, smoking, and spinal cord injury. CONCLUSION:  Patients with ASD experiencing a fracture of the cervicothoracic region are at high risk of developing complications. The posterior instrumentation of cervical spinal fractures related to ASD is recommended due to biomechanical superiority. Level of Evidence: 4