Is NHS Direct meeting the needs of mental health callers?

Background: NHS Direct is a new service that offers 24-hour advice from trained nurses. The National Service Framework for Mental Health and the National Strategy for Carers both mention NHS Direct as an important source of support for people with mental health problems. Aims: This paper reports findings from an evaluation of the Department of Health's NHS Direct mental health initiative. This initiative was established to ensure that NHS Direct can meet the needs of callers with mental health problems by offering additional training to all staff and improving the database of mental health services. Method: The findings reported here are based on routine computer data provided by 12 out of 17 NHS Direct sites, 552 data forms completed by nurse advisers from the 17 sites, and 111 questionnaires administered over the telephone with callers to the 17 sites. Results: Mental health calls accounted for 3% of NHS Direct's workload, although these calls were often longer and more complex than other calls. The majority of callers to the service were in touch with other services for their mental health problems (59%), typically their GP. Most callers had 'moderate' mental health problems, as indicated by the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale. Generally callers were satisfied with the service they received, although satisfaction was lower in some areas than previous studies of NHS Direct. Conclusions: Improvements could be made in the mechanisms for referring callers on to other services, and training to increase nurse advisers' knowledge of mental health problems.

ASSET: moving forward through feedback

Providing high quality and timely feedback to students is often a challenge for many staff in higher education as it can be both time-consuming and frustratingly repetitive. From the student perspective, feedback may sometimes be considered unhelpful, confusing and inconsistent and may not always be provided within a timeframe that is considered to be ‘useful’. The ASSET project, based at the University of Reading, addresses many of these inherent challenges by encouraging the provision of feedback that supports learning, i.e. feedback that contains elements of ‘feed-forward’, is of a high quality and is delivered in a timely manner. In particular, the project exploits the pedagogic benefits of video/audio media within a Web 2.0 context to provide a new, interactive resource, ‘ASSET’, to enhance the feedback experience for both students and staff. A preliminary analysis of both our quantitative and qualitative pedagogic data demonstrate that the ASSET project has instigated change in the ways in which both staff and students think about, deliver, and engage with feedback. For example, data from our online questionnaires and focus groups with staff and students indicate a positive response to the use of video as a medium for delivering feedback to students. In particular, the academic staff engaged in piloting the ASSET resource indicated that i) using video has made them think more, and in some cases differently, about the ways in which they deliver feedback to students and ii) they now see video as an effective means of making feedback more useful and engaging for students. Moreover, the majority of academic staff involved in the project have said they will continue to use video feedback. From the student perspective, 60% of those students whose lecturers used ASSET to provide video feedback said that “receiving video feedback encouraged me to take more notice of the feedback compared with normal methods” and 80% would like their lecturer to continue to use video as a method for providing feedback. An important aim of the project was for it to complement existing University-wide initiatives on feedback and for ASSET to become a ‘model’ resource for staff and students wishing to explore video as a medium for feedback provision. An institutional approach was therefore adopted and key members of Senior Management, academics, T&L support staff, IT support and Student Representatives were embedded within the project from the start. As with all initiatives of this kind, a major issue is the future sustainability of the ASSET resource and to have had both ‘top-down’ and ‘bottom-up’ support for the project has been extremely beneficial. In association with the project team the University is currently exploring the creation of an open-source, two-tiered video supply solution and a ‘framework’ (that other HEIs can adopt and/or adapt) to support staff in using video for feedback provision. In this way students and staff will have new opportunities to explore video and to exploit the benefits of this medium for supporting learning.

Adverbial quantification and perfective/imperfective interpretive nuances in L2 Portuguese

Slabakova (2006b) poses and directly addresses the question of whether or not there is a maturational effect (a critical/sensitive period) that affects the semantic component. She demonstrates that there is no empirical evidence suggesting that adults are unable to acquire phrasal semantic properties, even when the accessing of semantic universals is conditioned upon the acquisition of L2 morphosyntactic features (see Dekydtspotter and Sprouse 2001, Slabakova and Montrul 2003). In light of this, the authors test for interpretive properties associated with the aspectual projection higher (outer) AspP in advanced English learners of adult L2 Portuguese via their knowledge of [+/- accidental] related nuances in adverbially quantified preterit and imperfect sentences (Lenci and Bertinetto 2000; Menéndez-Benito 2002). In two experiments, the authors test for L2 knowledge of this [+/- accidental] distinction via semantic felicitousness judgments of adverbially quantified preterit and imperfect sentences depending on a supporting context as well as related restrictions on subject DP interpretations. Overall, the data show that advanced learners acquire this distinction. As the authors discuss, the present data support Full Access theories (White 1989, Schwartz and Sprouse 1996; Duffield and White 1999) and the No-Critical Period for semantics position (Slabakova 2006b), demonstrating that the syntax-semantics interface is not an inevitable locus for fossilization.

Att vårda patienter i rättspsykiatrisk vård som uppvisar självskadebeteende : sjuksköterskors erfarenheter och upplevelser

Deliberate self harm as defined pathologically as well as socially is becoming an increasing phenomenon within forensic psychiatry. Nurses working with patients who have self harm behaviour and are confined to forensic psychiatry face different challenges which affect their feelings and attitudes in different ways, in their nursing practice. Purpose: To explore nurses’ experiences of caring for patients who suffer from deliberate self harm behaviour and are confined to forensic psychiatry. Method: Qualitative semi- structured interview s from eight nurses working within the forensic psychiatric clinic. Interviews were analysed by using a qualitative content analysis. Results: They worked strategically and emphasized the importance of teamwork, good communication and urged for the need to get necessary education, staff focused tutoring and patient focused therapy. Conclusion: Need for necessary education, patient focused therapy and staff focused tutor is needed to empower staff working with patients who are confined within forensic psychiatry and suffer from deliberate self harm behaviour.

Muntlig framställning : att tolka och förstå kunskapskraven i nationellt prov SVA 1

Den här studien har haft som syfte att studera om kvalitetskraven i betygsskalan stämmer överens mellan nationellt prov i SVA1 och motsvarande kursplan svenska som andraspråk 1 (SVA1) samt på vilket sätt det nationella provet underlättar tolkningen av kunskapskraven i kursplanen för SVA1. Undersökningen begränsar sig till att omfatta enbart den muntliga delen, delprov A muntlig framställning. För att beskriva och analysera vilka kunskaper som anses vara eftersträvansvärda i muntlig framställning har en kvalitativ innehållsanalys genomförts som ger en grundmodell till den efterföljande kunskapsanalysen. Resultaten från studiens innehållsanalys visar fram en hur processen kring den muntliga framställningen utgår från den retoriska arbetsmodellen med ett gediget förberedande arbete som följs upp med anförande och avslutas med elevresponser. Resultatet från kunskapsanalysen visar hur eleverna behöver behärska en kombination av kunskapsformerna episteme, techné och fronesis för att uppfylla betygskraven på de högre nivåerna. Studiens slutsatser är att kvalitetskraven stämmer överens mellan det nationella provets bedömningsmatris och kursplanen i svenska som andraspråk 1 (SVA 1) vad gäller bedömningen av elevens språkliga kvaliteter. Dessutom går det att dra slutsatsen att de krav på anpassning till det retoriska sammanhanget också är krav som återfinns i kursplanen men beskrivs mer allmänt i ett språkutvecklande perspektiv vilket underlättar tolkningen av kunskapskraven i kursplanen. Studien visar hur eleven för att få det lägsta betyget (E) behöver kunskaper om en retorisk framställning och att eleven kan presentera ett förberett innehåll inför en publik.

Spridning av innovation i högre utbildning : En studie av spridningen av Videochat vid Högskolan Dalarna

Syftet med denna uppsats har varit att beskriva och analysera spridningen av en innovation, Videochat, inom Högskolan Dalarna för att utifrån det lägga förslag på fortsatt arbete för att öka spridningen av Videochat. Frågorna som legat till grund för uppsatsen är: Vad är Videochattens spridningstakt inom Högskolan Dalarna? På vilka grunder har Videochat anammats inom Högskolan Dalarna? I de fall man inte har anammat Videochat, på vilka grunder man gjort det valet? Var och hur kan åtgärder sättas in för att stimulera spridningen av Videochat? Undersökningen har baserats på ett webbaserat frågeformulär bland Högskolan Dalarnas undervisande personal och frågorna i formuläret utarbetades med hjälp av förberedande intervjuer med nyckelpersoner inom Högskolan Dalarna. Undersökningen visar att användningen av Videochat har spridits olika långt på de olika akademierna och på två av fyra akademier anses det finnas ett behov av särskilda åtgärder för att stimulera spridningstakten. Den främsta anledningen till att börja använda Videochat är möjligheten att föreläsa för nätstudenter och campusstudenter samtidigt. Undersökningen visar samtidigt att anledningarna för att använda Videochat skiljer sig mellan de olika akademierna. Ett antal åtgärder föreslås för att stimulera spridning på de två akademier med lägst andel användare av Videochat där de viktigaste går ut på att öka kunskapen om Videochat och dess fördelar.

Hälsofrämjande friskvårdsarbete : En fallstudie om friskvårdsarbete inom kommunal vård- och omsorgsförvaltning

Under senare år har frågan om ett hållbart arbetsliv blivit allt viktigare. Det innebär att goda arbetsförhållanden kommer att bidra till att människor orkar arbeta fram till pensionen. Friskvård har gått från att enbart vara en förmån till att bli en investering för att främja hälsa. Anställdas hälsa och arbetsmiljö är en del av personalfunktionens övergripande arbete för att behålla personal. Fysiskt krävande yrken som omsorgsarbete är ett stort arbetsmiljöproblem som kräver att organisationer försöker förhindra att arbetsrelaterad sjukdom inträffar. Syftet med detta examensarbete är att undersöka vilka förutsättningarna, ur ett medarbetarperspektiv, organisationer bör ta i beaktande för att skapa ett framgångsrikt arbete med hälsofrämjande friskvårdsaktiviteter inom kommunal vård- och omsorgsförvaltning. Arbetet är begränsat till personal inom Ludvika kommun. Friskvård kan förebygga sjukdom, men det kan också öka individens välbefinnande och kan därmed utgöra en framgångsrik strategi för att skapa hälsosammare arbetsplatser. En kombination av metoder användes för datainsamling, i form av en kvantitativ enkätundersökning och en kvalitativ fokusgruppintervju. Resultaten visade bland annat att majoriteten av de anställda är positiva till friskvård på arbetstid och att det är ett fördelaktigt sätt att öka deltagandet, även för dem som är mindre fysiskt aktiva. Tidsbrist och socialt stöd är skäl till varför fysisk aktivitet är lägre eller uteblir. Förutom att de anställda som har ett individuellt ansvar är det chefer, i samråd med organisationen, som har det övergripande ansvaret för att skapa goda förutsättningar för att främja hälsan.

Motivation genom sponsring : En studie som utvärderar sponsringens möjligheter till ökad motivation bland personalen i en organisation

Sponsring är ett utbyte och en marknadsföringsmetod som används av allt fler organisationer. Med syftet att påverka personalen i en organisation är sponsring en relativt oanvänd metod för marknadsföring. Trots detta så påverkar sponsring personalen oavsett organisationens målsättning med sponsring. Syftet med studien är att utvärdera om sponsring fungerar som ett verktyg för motivation i en specifik organisation, sedan utvärderas hur sponsring bidrar till motivation. För att besvara syftet genomfördes en kvantitativ studie i form av en enkätundersökning. Denna genomfördes hos vårt studieobjekt Länsförsäkringar i Gävleborg. Analysen av den insamlade datan har genomförts med stöd av den teoretiska referensramen. Resultatet av studien visar att sponsring kan användas till att motivera personalen på Länsförsäkringar. Dock så är organisationens nuvarande sponsring något som inte tydligt motiverar personalen. Länsförsäkringar vill med sin sponsring bidra till samhället och på så sätt skapa engagemang och stolthet bland personalen. Sponsring får personalen att känna stolthet men däremot inget tydligt engagemang. Länsförsäkringar är bra på att informera personalen om sponsring, däremot så är organisationen inte lika bra på att lyssna till personalens värderingar kring sponsring. Det bristande engagemanget skulle då kunna bero på att personalen inte får tycka till om organisationens sponsring.

Racionalidade comunicativa e processo administrativo em equipes funcionais: o caso do Banco Central do Brasil

o objetivo desta dissertação é analisar como se configuram as funções '< administrativas de planejamento, organização, direção e controle, nas equipes funcionais em nível operacional do Banco Central do Brasil, em função do grau de racionalidade comunicativa I. que referencia a ação gerencial. A partir dos conceitos de processo administrativo e de suas funções integrantes, decorrentes da teoria clássica da administração, a ação gerencial é analisada à luz da epistemologia crítica, particularmente quanto aos conceitos de racionalidade comunicativa e das categorias de ação social. A pesquisa classifica-se como explicativa quanto aos fins e utiliza-se do método de estudo de caso, pois a análise é ambientada nas equipes de trabalho em nível operacional do Banco Central do Brasil. Os dados foram coletados por meio de aplicação de questionário junto aos servidores da instituição que trabalham nos componentes administrativos denominados "Coordenadorias". A partir desses dados foi possível a validação", das escalas e das correlações estabelecidas entre os construtos integrantes do modelo de pesquisa. Os resultados obtidos permitiram confirmar e discutir a hipótese principal do presente estudo de que a racionalidade comunicativa é preditora dos atributos das funções administrativas de planejamento, organização, direção e controle nas equipes funcionais em nível operacional do Banco Central.

A gestão de pessoas em centros de serviços compartilhados no Brasil: um estudo sobre a percepção dos gestores e empregados operacionais

Os estudos da área de Administração se concentraram em compreender as atividades core das organizações, de forma que os esforços para se entender as atividades de staff e a maneira pela qual elas podem agregar valor foram menos exploradas. Assim, estruturas organizacionais como os centros de serviços compartilhados (CSCs) se apresentam não apenas como uma oportunidade de estudo, mas também como uma demanda da área, dada a expansão desse modelo de prestação de serviços de atividades de staff dos grandes grupos organizacionais. Diante desse contexto, existe um ambiente específico de trabalho que pouco se aprofundou em relação à área de Recursos Humanos (RH), sendo importante, portanto, entender quais são as percepções dos funcionários de CSCs (analistas e gestores) diante das práticas e características organizacionais relacionadas com a Gestão de Pessoas. Assim sendo, o objetivo do presente estudo é verificar como se configuram as características e práticas que se relacionam à Gestão de Pessoas nos CSCs, a partir das percepções de seus gestores e analistas. Embasando-se na literatura sobre as características dos CSCs, atrelada à gestão de pessoas nesse tipo de estrutura e da Administração Estratégica de RH, estruturou-se o arcabouço teórico do estudo e definiram-se as categorias de análise. Por meio de um estudo de caso, quatro CSCs instalados no Brasil foram abordados, sendo entrevistadas 44 pessoas (sete gestores e 37 analistas operacionais). Os resultados apontaram categorias específicas aos CSCs fossem levantadas: gerência de linha, desenvolvimento profissional e responsabilidade dos analistas, sentimento de inferioridade, estratégias de retenção de empregados, diversidade interna, formação de centro de excelência. Concluiu-se que os CSC requerem um departamento de Gestão de Pessoas específico para seus empregados internos para atender as especificidades do CSC; deve haver cuidado em aplicação de modelos rígidos internamente porque os CSCs maduros são diversificados; que os CSCs são centros de excelência para conhecimentos operacionais; os gerentes de linha poderiam ser mais bem treinados para melhorar seus relacionamentos com os analistas.

Desigualdades na rede de creches conveniadas da prefeitura de São Paulo: um olhar a partir da teoria de implementação de políticas públicas

Esta tese buscou identificar e analisar os fatores que influenciam a implementação da política de Educação Infantil nas creches conveniadas da prefeitura de São Paulo. Ao constatar a existência de um cenário de desigualdade no atendimento oferecido pelas creches, a pesquisa investigou coincidências e singularidades entre dois grupos de creches, respectivamente consideradas de boa e de má qualidade. O objetivo principal foi verificar as causas que contribuem para a diferença na qualidade do atendimento e as implicações desses fatores para a implementação da política de Educação Infantil. Foram analisadas 25 creches pertencentes às Diretorias Regionais de Educação de Butantã, Campo Limpo e Guaianases. Verificou-se que os recursos da entidade mantenedora e a forma como esta apoia a creche têm grande peso no atendimento oferecido, além do papel exercido pela direção do equipamento e a sua localização. Adicionalmente, foi investigada a influência da atuação da Prefeitura, por meio da Secretaria Municipal de Educação e, mais especificamente, das suas Diretorias Regionais. Constatou-se que, ao não lidar institucionalmente com as desigualdades existentes na rede conveniada, o poder público municipal contribui para sua manutenção. As condições que interferem no atendimento são materializadas por meio do espaço físico e dos materiais pedagógicos disponíveis, das características da equipe de profissionais (número de funcionários, acesso à formação continuada e nível de remuneração) e da diversidade de atividades oferecidas às crianças. A partir dos resultados encontrados propõem-se o aprofundamento do debate sobre as desigualdades presentes na rede de creches conveniadas que leve em conta a diferenciação existente entre rede direta e conveniada, a formação disponibilizada pela Prefeitura às equipes das creches conveniadas e outros recursos necessários para apoiar as creches que não dispõem de condições adequadas para oferecer um bom atendimento.

O Evangelho segundo a Pastoral da Criança :por uma pedagogia da sobrevivência

This work aims to analyze social and educational actions at Pastoral da Criança, using education as a survival tool. This was done at Parque dos Coqueiros, a neighborhood in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte. The methodology for data collection was composed of comprehensive interview (Jean Kaufmann), participant observation (Robert Bogdan) and documental analysis (Le Goff); all os which bring reflections related to concepts such as strategies, tatics and know how (Michel de Certeau), configuration (Nobert Elias), and control technology (Michel de Foucault), care ethics (Leonardo Boff) and etno-theories (Natália Ramos). Pastoral da Criança is a social action organism that belongs to the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil, originated at Florestópolis, Londrina (Paraná), in the year of 1983. These actions have been an expression of a new logic of actions of the Catholic Church. It values the participation of laymen in the activities of the Pastoral. Thus, the parish is seen as a nucleus that irradiates the Church s Social Doctrine. At Rio Grande do Norte this institution has guided poverty stricken families on issues related to children s health as well as working with laymen for volunteer work. This is considered devotion, that is firmed by an individual and group mystique. The social and educational actions are done in three axes: 1) Monthly home visits, where there is mother-child support; 2) Life Celebration Day, where they weigh children and promote nutritional surveillance; 3) Meeting for Evaluation and Reflection, that aims to articulate community leaders to think about problems attached to the social actions they realize. This action tripod , as it is called by the Pastoral Agents are the types of actions that fundament survival education for poor children ranging from 0 to 6 years old. The families learn to deal with prevention, the essential, the alternative and probabilities of survival tactics due to exclusion matters or even social extermination. The Pastoral da Criança aims to recover childhood emotions in poverty stricken areas. It also has influence in the diminishing of malnutrition and mother and child mortality. This education for survival is the base on the art of teaching and learning of poverty stricken children. It is a social educational action, non assistencialist, but considered a shy action in order to promote mobilization of the communities that are accompanied for the emancipation and change of social conditions

O trabalho em saúde como espaço pedagógico: desafios e possibilidades

The ongoing transformations in brazilian society, arising from technical and organizational changes in the working world, are making, with much emphasis, heated debates resurge related to themes and issues that refer to the relationship between work, skills and education. Thus, this study is inserted in the link between education and work, pointing to the work as an educational principle according to Antonio Gramsci. This paper aims to discuss the interfaces between education and work in the everyday health care teams and learn about the activities developed by health teams related to the learning processes in and with the work to analyze the opportunities and challenges of transforming spaces of health work in an environment of lifelong learning. This is a descriptive, exploratory with a qualitative approach case study developed from semi-structured interviews with the health staff professionals of the Unidade de Terapia Intensiva da Casa de Saúde Dix-Sept Rosado in Mossoró / RN , who answered open questions about the relationship between education and work. The interviews were conducted during the month of January 2010, the same being recorded, transcribed and analyzed, culminating in the production of new knowledge on the subject. It is understood that work and education activities are eminently human, therefore only the human being works and educates. Given the statements of participants, it is noticed that all work processes in health are learning moments. This happens through new demands imposed by the everyday of the services, by interaction with a multidisciplinary team, participation in educational activities and individual study. It was noticed that the institution in this case does not promote study courses related to Intensive Care and that there are obstacles to the realization of educational activities on and with the work, such as: excessive workload, inability to release staff to participate in events, low pay, which leads the worker to have more than one employment, rejection of new knowledge by some workers and lack of physical infrastructure and incentives for the activities. The daily situations must be transformed in learning, selfanalyzing the problems of practice and valuing the work process itself in its intrinsic context. We conclude that dealing with the web of relationships between educational processes and production processes of health services, unraveling the intricacies of the world of work and education requirements in this sector are increasingly on the agenda of Sistema Único de Saúde workers and managers. The continuing consideration of this issue becomes an essential condition for the proper discharge of their responsibilities. We consider that bringing the education to everyday life is the result of recognition of the educational potential of the work situation

A expansão da agroindústria do mel no Rio Grande do Norte

The beekeeping activity has become in all regions of Brazil until the early 80s and from 2000 to beekeeping Northeast also has developed, becoming a major oil producing honey. The Rio Grande do Norte following these developments happened to occupy fourth place in the ranking of export of honey between the states of the Northeast in 2007. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to present a macro radiography of recent developments in the production chain of honey in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, organizing and discussing the information, collected in the period 2004 to 2007, as well as evaluating the prospect of the honey industry in order to provide a diagnosis able to identify opportunities and enhance the marketing of their products. From the methodological point of view, this study can be classified as a research study exploratory and descriptive by using questionnaires. The group of several studies has been productivity, production and market. Search results indicated the growth of industry in 4 years of activity by the number of beehives full and populated, infrastructure, production and marketing of the state. It can be said that beekeeping of Rio Grande do Norte, despite its potential for developing the activity comes in a different way when compared to other activities, because the actors who play to start the activity through training and to play with it in a professional manner, in addition to support staff who work in the industry

Avaliação de programa de ginástica laboral e desempenho funcional: um estudo em empresa distribuidora de energia elétrica

This thesis treats of a avaliation of a laboral gimnastics program of a electrical energy enterprise from Rio Grande do Norte. The leading aim of this work is to analyse the laboral gimnastics program with emphasis on functional performing and personal changes of staff of different categories. The work shows two divisions: at first, it was carried out the bibliographic study approaching the concepts and historic about the ergonomy and the main focus of study, the laboral gimnastics , performing factors and lifestyle.The second time , it was carried out the field study where was used a questionnaire to a 160 staff population which participate of laboral gymnastics program; then the data were analysed through three statistics analyses: multivaried__ clusters, qui-quadrado and multiple linear regression. The results aim to the confirmation that the laboral gymnastics program developed two years ago on enterprise proposes to the white-collar and operational workers an improving on their functional performing and also, to the changes in some aspects of lifestyle, like the food, leisure and stress level. In conclusion, it was checked that the investiment in life quality programs offer benefits both to the staff and the enterprise which will account with good services and satisfaction of customer. Therefore, it was concluded that the laboral gymnastics while a ergonomic tool and a physical activity, it is an investiment which needs more and more to be strengthened and inserted by many segments of society