Developing Frameworks for School Self-Evaluation to Improve School Effectiveness for Peace in Northern Ireland

This article contributes towards redefining school improvement more broadly than conventional outcomes sometimes imply, and describes original and practical applications of school self-evaluation models. The significance of the work has been acknowledged by reviewers in the school improvement and peacebuilding and development fields. As a result of the research reported here, Smith was invited to support the work of the Department for Education Northern Ireland Schools Community Relations Panel and the Community Relations officers representing the five Education and Library Boards. The latter used the self-evaluation framework as a model for developing a regional whole-school self-evaluation document. Smith was the lead author of the paper.

Professional perspectives on decision making about the long-term care of older people

With the increasing pressure on social and health care resources, professionals have to be more explicit in their decision making regarding the long-term care of older people. This grounded theory study used 19 focus groups and nine semi-structured interviews (99 staff in total) to explore professional perspectives on this decision making. Focus group participants and interviewees comprised care managers, social workers, consultant geriatricians, general medical practitioners, community nurses, home care managers, occupational therapists and hospital discharge support staff. The emerging themes spanned context, clients, families and services. Decisions were often prompted by a crisis, hindering professionals seeking to make a measured assessment. Fear of burglary and assault, and the willingness and availability of family to help were major factors in decisions about living at home. Service availability in terms of public funding for community care, the availability of home care workers and workload pressures on primary care services influenced decision 'thresholds' regarding admission to institutional care. Assessment tools designed to assist decision making about the long-term care of older people need to take into account the critical aspects of individual fears and motivation, family support and the availability of publicly funded services as well as functional and medical needs.