bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The non‐professionally affiliated workforce in mental health ‐ who are these generic mental health workers and where do they fit within a workforce strategy?
Authors: Cuthbert Sharon , Basset Thurstine
Published: August 2011

This paper gives an overview of the ‘non‐professionally affiliated’ (NPA) workforce in mental health in relation to their education, training and development. Some comparison is made with the current situation for the key professions in mental health. We argue that the NPA workforce is an increasingly significant and important part of the workforce and that attention needs to be paid to the construction of an overall development and qualification pathway for these workers, who embody many of the strengths of generic mental health work and have been found to be of great value to service users and their families.
Training graduate primary care mental health workers for collaborative practice: part 1
Authors: Bailey Di
Published: August 2011

This paper is the first of two linked articles that explores a shared learning approach to developing a module on collaborative working for graduate primary care mental health workers (PCMHWs). The article describes how the policy context shaped the training agenda and how the requirements of the roles and responsibilities in respect of collaborative practice were mapped against the Ten Essential Capabilities of the mental health workforce. The process of constructive alignment (Biggs, 1999) that involves matching teaching and assessment methods to intended learning objectives was used alongside evidence from the research literature on systems working and interprofessional education to inform the design of the modular curriculum in more detail.The second paper will provide an in‐depth evaluation of the module as it was delivered using a framework derived from the academic literature (See Bailey & Littlechild, 2001 and Barr et al, 1999a; 1999b). Included in the evaluation will be a discussion of how the context of workforce change in primary care mental health influenced the training inputs together with a reflection on the training methodologies employed to promote collaborative practice. Different levels of evaluating the training will be discussed including the impact of the module on practice outcomes such as attitudes of the workers and changes in their practice. The lessons learned from the evaluation will be discussed in relation to the models of best practice emerging from the IPE literature and the challenges of implementing a new workforce strategy in primary care mental health.
Outcomes associated with skill mix interventions in acute mental health wards: a synthesis of evidence
Authors: Munro Sara , Baker John
Published: August 2011

The costs associated with staffing acute mental health wards is the largest expenditure in the inpatient budget. Exploring skill mix and its impact on outcomes, particularly service user outcomes should be of interest to all stakeholders involved in the commissioning, delivery and receipt of acute mental health care. This paper describes the findings of a literature and practice review of initiatives undertaken to improve staffing and skill mix, and their impact on service user outcomes. The practice review was necessary due to the paucity of published research in this area. Both research and practice initiatives do not appear to be driven by service user need. This results in a restricted and service driven range of outcome measures being used. The paper concludes by proposing recommendations for future workforce development in acute mental health settings.
A move towards a culture of involvement: involving service users and carers in the selection of future clinical psychologists
Authors: Vandrevala Tushna , Hayward Mark , Willis Jane , John Mary
Published: August 2011

National policies suggest that service users and carers should be involved in health care planning and delivery. Initiatives to involve service users and carers within the education of mental health professionals have been reported. However, there has been no initiative to involve such individuals in the selection of clinical psychologists. This study examines the experiences of service users, carers and members of the Doctorate of Clinical Psychology programme in the implementation of a new interview task for the selection of trainee clinical psychologists at the University of Surrey. This new initiative involves service users, carers and staff members working collaboratively to assess candidates in a discussion based task. The study employed two focus groups, one pre‐selection and one post‐selection, and used interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to evaluate participants' expectations and experiences of the task. The findings suggest that there was genuine collaboration between service users, carers and programme team members that was deeply engrained in the programme ethos and was a step forward in normalising and empowering service users and their carers. Interviewers felt that this task helped select a different calibre of applicants who had an awareness of the perspective of service users and carers and were able to communicate effectively. Interviewers viewed applicants who were able to disclose and take ownership of their views favourably. The introduction of a successful new interview task at Surrey has set a marker for future collaboration with service users and carers in selection, which will have implications for other doctorate programmes in clinical psychology and the broader health care training community.
New Ways of Working in CAMHS
Authors: Morris Tim , Nixon Barry
Published: August 2011

The National Workforce Programme (DoH, 2004a), supported by the National Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service Workforce sub‐group, commissioned a project to look at New Ways of Working (NWW) in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS). This article provides an overview of the NWW CAMHS project using two of the 10 early implementer sites as examples. General lessons from the project are explored.
The use of self ‐ facilitating intraprofessional development in the educational process: part one
Authors: Evans Debbie
Published: August 2011

This two part article is an account of research that examined the choices that student nurses made, from an intrapersonal perspective, when they experienced difficulty putting theory into practice. The research employed four major data collection tools, these being student diaries, interview schedules, the Personal Orientation Inventory. All of these tools were designed to either allow the student to explore their subjective experience of the theory practice gap in more depth, or to make a statement regarding the individuals level of intrapersonal functioning.Phase one of the research found that those students who had difficulty expressing their anger, fear or sadness had greater difficulty putting theory into practice. This finding was substantiated as the students who had functional scores in relation to feeling reactivity, spontaneity, acceptance of aggression and self‐regard, appeared more able to put theory into practice.In phase two of the research, nine students involved themselves in a peer support group, the purpose of which was to allow the students to explore their intrapersonal choices and work through their dissonant clinical experiences. All of them reported that this forum was a useful tool for the development of the individual nurse and their ability to underpin their everyday practice with theory.The second part of the article to be published in issue 3,3 will focus upon the integrated model for nurse education from a behaviour change perspective and the implications this has for educationalists.
Accredited training in psychosocial interventions for psychosis: a national survey
Authors: Mairs Hilary , Arkle Nick
Published: August 2011

The widespread provision of evidence‐based psychosocial interventions (PSI) for people who experience psychosis and their families requires that the mental health workforce has access to educational and training programmes in these treatment approaches. Such training has been available in England since 1992 when the first PSI programmes were established at The Institute of Psychiatry, London and The University of Manchester. While training is now more widely available (Brooker, 2002), little is known about the extent and distribution of training across England, or of the detail of individual programmes. To remedy this, the NIMHE National PSI Implementation Workgroup conducted a survey of university accredited PSI education/training in January 2006.Twenty‐six courses were represented in the returns from the eight regions served by CSIP regional development centres. This paper presents the findings of this survey and discusses the current provision of PSI training in England in 2006.
An evaluation of an innovative project designed to enhance child and adolescent mental health provision
Authors: Walker Steven
Published: August 2011

This paper describes and discusses the evaluation of an innovative child and adolescent mental health project located in a large county in eastern England. The project was one of eight located in the voluntary sector and supported by the Mental Health Foundation as part of a national initiative aimed at responding in new, accessible ways to young people requiring help for emotional and mental health problems. Traditional specialist CAMH services are overwhelmed by demand while also failing to engage many young people. This study provides evidence of how new services can develop to meet the needs of troubled young people in appropriate and acceptable ways.
Questions of inclusion and exclusion. Are there ways of achieving ‘real participation’ of users from refugee and asylum seeking groups in service development at an institutional and treatment level?
Authors: Palmer David , Maffia Cath
Published: August 2011

Refugees are among the most socially excluded and marginalised groups in the UK. This paper examines ways in which the refugee service user's voice can be heard and the power imbalance between service provider and service user addressed. Lessons learned from addressing the needs of refugees can be extrapolated for other disadvantaged groups.
The use of self ‐ facilitating intraprofessional development in the educational process: part two
Authors: Evans Debbie
Published: August 2011

This second part of a two‐part article is an account of research that examined the choices that student nurses made, from an intrapersonal perspective, when they experienced difficulty putting theory into practice. Part one focused upon the result of a two phase research study. Phase one of the research found that those students who had difficulty expressing their anger, fear or sadness had greater difficulty putting theory into practice. This finding was substantiated as the students who had functional scores in relation to feeling reactivity, spontaneity, acceptance of aggression and self‐regard, appeared more able to put theory into practice. Phase two of the research supported these findings and also that a peer support group was a useful tool for the development of the individual nurse and their ability to underpin their everyday practice with theory.The second part of the article will focus upon the integrated model for nurse education from a behaviour change perspective and the implications this has for work and education of nurse educationalists.
Investing in the mental health of Fife: a sustainable model for increasing mental health workforce capacity to help children flourish
Authors: Simpson Wendy , Buchanan Graham , Monteith Graham
Published: August 2011

Playfield Institute is a unique partnership between child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) and public health. The institute model is an innovative response to the national challenge to mainstream mental health. Its focus is to build the capacity of frontline workers (otherwise known as the children's workforce eg. school nurses, social workers, teachers, foster carers etc.) to promote the mental health of children and young people. It works by providing a multi‐agency forum for sharing information and developing practical skills on how to help children flourish. It also encourages reflection on practice and undertakes research that has a direct impact on the development of training and practice. To date, the Institute has achieved the following main outcomes: the facilitation of a successful training programme, the development of a well used, effective, online resource and the co‐ordination of a range of applied research projects. This paper discusses why the Institute was set up, what it is, what it has achieved and how the model is sustainable.
Participation In Nurse Education: the Pine project
Authors: Stickley Theodore , Rush Brenda , Shaw Rebecca , Smith Angela , Collier Ronald , Cook Joan , Shaw Torsten , Gow David , Felton Anne , Roberts Sharon
Published: August 2011

Service user involvement is called for at every level of NHS delivery in the United Kingdom (UK). This article describes a model of service user participation in the development of mental health nurse curricula in a UK university. Using a research model of participatory action research, the Participation In Nurse Education (PINE) project has now become mainstream in the mental health branches at the university. Service users led the design and implementation of the teaching sessions and led the data collection and analysis. Research participants were the service user trainers and the student nurses who were involved in being taught in the early stages of the project. The benefits of the work to both trainers and students are identified as well as some of the difficulties.
The need for reappraising psychological therapies in the light of IAPT
Authors: Rogers Edwin
Published: August 2011

The government IAPT plan reveals a welcome determination to tackle the country's mental health problems in a comprehensive manner ‐ especially by using evidence‐based psychological therapies to improve quality of life and prevent mental/emotional problems worsening. Unfortunately, despite encouraging all alternative psychological therapy bodies to submit evidence, the scales are already heavily weighted in favour of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) in that it is already largely considered the only evidence‐based therapy by most NHS mental health authorities. There are also signs of an ill‐informed, media‐lead, groundswell of public opinion headed in the same direction ‐ which might well ultimately influence patient choice.While acknowledging the value of CBT, there is a strong case that alternative psychological therapies, by directly addressing the root causes of problems, can achieve far better results ‐ especially in the longer term. Unfortunately, the other disciplines frequently present as poor alternatives ‐ not least because of their disparate, sometimes archaic, foundational dogmas, and the alleged potential cost of their treatment. Fortunately, much dogma can now be updated in the light of neuroscience, and the time factors can be shortened, thus rapidly paving the way for a new, more unified, approach to mental health therapy; with potentially successful treatment across all categories of patient.
Values and behaviours: using the Ten Essential Shared Capabilities to support policy reform in mental health practice
Authors: McGonagle Ian
Published: August 2011

This paper will review aspects of current policy in mental health with specific reference to policy that has a values focus. In this context, values refers to the standards and expectations we hold and which we use to guide aspects of practice performance. Service users state that core values that support, respect choice, collaboration, and customer service are critical foundation stones of a trusting therapeutic relationship. Attending to these foundations for practice has merit in ensuring the quality of care delivery in mental health. This paper will analyse what this means for the mental health workforce in their engagement with service users and delivery of policy priorities. Finally, the paper will explore resources, such as the Ten Essential Shared Capabilities (see Appendix 1), which support engagement and ongoing promotion of person‐centred mental health care.
New Ways of Working for Psychiatrists: the achievements and the challenges
Authors: Pidd Sally
Published: August 2011

The New Ways of Working national programme was started by psychiatrists (through the Royal College of Psychiatrists) when it became apparent that the roles they were being asked to carry out were unrealistic in their demands. This had contributed to a drop in recruitment and early retirement for psychiatrists in post. The New Ways of Working programme led to a reconfiguration of mental health services in many areas and an increase in the numbers of psychiatrists as well as improved levels of job satisfaction.This paper describes some of the challenges that still need to be met if New Ways of Working is to be fully implemented.
Reflections on the impact of New Ways of Working for Applied Psychologists
Authors: Lavender Tony
Published: August 2011

This paper provides a review of the impact of three of the six work streams from the New Ways of Working for Applied Psychologists. The organisational change model of Beckhard and Harris (1989) is used to evaluate why the recommendations of the reports are being adopted at different speeds. Evidence that all are being used is presented. The paper starts with a restatement of the purpose of applied psychology that was developed during the work and is likely to stand the test of time.
A new workforce to deliver IAPT: a case study
Authors: Turpin Graham , Clarke Jeremy , Duffy Ruth , Hope Roslyn
Published: August 2011

Two years ago, we published within this journal a scoping article (Turpin et al, 2006) concerning the urgent need to review and enhance the workforce responsible for delivering psychological therapies to people seeking help for common mental health problems in primary care (London School of Economics, 2006). We estimated that the demand for such interventions, the service models that might deliver increased capacity for psychological treatments, the implications for workforce numbers and the impact that this would have on education and training. Much of the thinking that was adopted within the review was based on current development work around the mental health workforce led by the National Workforce Programme sponsored by the National Institute for Mental Health England (NIMHE) on New Ways of Working (NWW).The current paper reflects on the process and the added value that NWW has contributed to what is a radical new venture, which has been described by the lead evaluator of the pilot Improving Access for Psychological Therapies (IAPT) phase, Professor Glenys Parry, as 'the industrialisation of psychological therapies'. More specifically, it reviews the implementation of a national programme designated as IAPT, which was commissioned on the basis of the NWW work, and the evidence accrued from the IAPT national demonstration sites at Doncaster and Newham, together with the efforts of Lord Layard and the New Savoy Partnership.The first year implementation of IAPT is described, together with the lessons learned from the roll out. As the programme has developed, it has become important to ensure that clients also have a choice of evidence‐based interventions. NWW has provided a means to help practitioners come together from a range of therapeutic orientations and professions to contribute to this more diverse workforce. Finally, it is argued that NWW has been instrumental in helping managers and professions alike think more flexibly about service models and provision, and how to develop a new workforce competent to deliver such an innovative service.
New Ways of Working for nurses
Authors: Brimblecombe Neil
Published: August 2011

An enormous amount of change has occurred in the last six years for the mental health system in England and the workforce within it. We have seen the 10‐year National Service Framework for Mental Health (Department of Health, 1999) gradually make its impact felt in the form, in particular, of new community mental health teams and structures for delivering care in the community. We have also, most recently, experienced the passing of the Mental Health Act 2007 (HM Government, 2007), after many turbulent years of controversy and argument, extending to nurses and non‐medical practitioners who have been given statutory powers to act as approved mental health practitioners and approved clinicians.Alongside these important developments has been a gradual revolution in traditional ways of working, in the form of the New Ways of Working initiative. This article considers the impact of New Ways of Working on mental health nursing ‐ the single largest professional group within the mental health workforce ‐ and the continuing implications for the profession. The development of nurse prescribing is used as an illustration of the challenges and opportunities that have commonly arisen when new roles and skill sets have been introduced in mental health settings.
Essential shared capabilities for the whole of the mental health workforce: bringing the educators into the frame
Authors: Anderson Jill , Burgess Hilary
Published: August 2011

Recent drives to modernise the mental health workforce have been led (in England) by initiatives such as New Ways of Working and informed by the Ten Essential Shared Capabilities (10 ESCs) (Department of Health, 2004), reflected elsewhere in the UK. Learning materials have been developed to support these and educators encouraged to embed them within curricula. Yet, little has been said about how such principles could or should apply to the practice of mental health educators themselves. Higher education plays a crucial part in shaping tomorrow's practitioners; yet educators can receive scant mention when workforce initiatives are launched. Here, then, we consider the 10 ESCs, examining how these might be put into practice in a higher education context. The pedagogic rationale for this perspective is discussed in terms of Biggs' (2003) concept of ‘constructive alignment’, Ward's (1999) ‘matching principle’ and Eraut's (1994) analysis of ‘professional education’. Reconceptualising higher education educators as a part (albeit semi‐detached) of the mental health workforce may help us move beyond a ‘tick‐box’ approach ‐ exploring not only whether the 10 ESCs are reflected in the content of curricula, but how they are embodied within teaching teams.
Intelligent techniques for forecasting multiple time series in real‐world systems
Authors: Wagner Neal , Michalewicz Zbigniew , Schellenberg Sven , Chiriac Constantin , Mohais Arvind
Published: August 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe a real‐world system developed for a large food distribution company which requires forecasting demand for thousands of products across multiple warehouses. The number of different time series that the system must model and predict is on the order of 105. The study details the system's forecasting algorithm which efficiently handles several difficult requirements including the prediction of multiple time series, the need for a continuously self‐updating model, and the desire to automatically identify and analyze various time series characteristics such as seasonal spikes and unprecedented events.

Design/methodology/approach

The forecasting algorithm makes use of a hybrid model consisting of both statistical and heuristic techniques to fulfill these requirements and to satisfy a variety of business constraints/rules related to over‐ and under‐stocking.

Findings

The robustness of the system has been proven by its heavy and sustained use since being adopted in November 2009 by a company that serves 91 percent of the combined populations of Australia and New Zealand.

Originality/value

This paper provides a case study of a real‐world system that employs a novel hybrid model to forecast multiple time series in a non‐static environment. The value of the model lies in its ability to accurately capture and forecast a very large and constantly changing portfolio of time series efficiently and without human intervention.
A multimodel approach for a nonlinear system based on neural network validity
Authors: Ben Mohamed Raja , Ben Nasr Hichem , M'Sahli Faouzi
Published: August 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a new concept based on a neural network validity approach in the area of multimodel for complex systems.

Design/methodology/approach

The multimodel approach was recently developed in order to solve the modeling problems and the control of complex systems. The strategy of this approach coincides with the usual approach of the engineer which consists in subdividing a complex problem to a set of simple, manageable sub‐problems that can be solved separately. However, this approach still faces some problems in design, especially in determining models and in finding the appropriate method of calculating validities.

Findings

A novel approach based on neural network validity shows very remarkable performances in multimodel for complex systems.

Research limitations/implications

The validity of each model is based on the convergence of each neural network. For a fast convergence the proposed approach can be online to give a good performance in multimodel representation for system with rapid dynamics.

Practical implications

The proposed concept discussed in the paper has the potential to be applied to complex systems.

Originality/value

The suggested approach is implemented and reviewed with a complex dynamic and fast process compared to the residue approach commonly used in the calculation of validities. The results prove to be satisfactory and show a good accuracy.
Human behaviour profiling for anomaly detection
Authors: Zhu Xudong , Liu Zhi‐Jing
Published: August 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to address the problem of profiling human behaviour patterns captured in surveillance videos for the application of online normal behaviour recognition and anomaly detection.

Design/methodology/approach

A novel framework is developed for automatic behaviour profiling and online anomaly detection without any manual labeling of the training dataset.

Findings

Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of the authors' approach using noisy and sparse datasets collected from one real surveillance scenario.

Originality/value

To discover the topics, co‐clustering topic model not only captures the correlation between words, but also models the correlations between topics. The major difference between the conventional co‐clustering algorithms and the proposed CCMT is that CCMT shows a major improvement in terms of recall, i.e. interpretability.
New unbiased H infinity functional filters designs for discrete‐time linear systems
Authors: Ezzine Montassar , Darouach Mohamed , Souley Ali Harouna , Messaoud Hassani
Published: August 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose solutions for both discrete‐time and frequency‐domain designs of unbiased H∞ functional filters for discrete‐time linear systems affected by bounded norm energy disturbances.

Design/methodology/approach

The discrete‐time procedure design is based on the unbiasedness of the functional filter using a Sylvester equation; then the problem is expressed in a singular system one and is solved in terms of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). The frequency procedure design is derived from discrete‐time domain results by defining some useful matrix fraction descriptions and mainly, establishing the useful and equivalent form of the connecting relationship that parameterizes the dynamics behavior between discrete‐time and z‐domain.

Findings

The performance of the proposed approach is illustrated with the aid of a practical example. The proposed methods are easily implementable and concern a more general class of systems, as the transformation of the system in a singular one permits to treat the problem of perturbance advanced.

Originality/value

First, the order of this filter is equal to the dimension of the vector to be estimated, which is benefit in case of control purpose (reduction of time calculation comparing to the full order one). Second, all recent works on the functional filtering consider systems which permit to avoid to have advanced perturbation term in the error dynamics; the authors propose here an approach which resolves the H∞ filtering problem even when the term is present. In addition, it permit to consider more general class of discrete‐time systems. Furthermore, the LMI approaching the discrete‐time case permits to handle with more general problem (H∞, L2−H∞) than the classical Riccati one.
How will the recession affect crime rates in Greater Manchester?
Authors: Fox Chris , Albertson Kevin , Ellison Mark , Martin Tom
Published: August 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to explore what impact the recent economic recession and ongoing economic difficulties experienced in the UK might have on crime in Greater Manchester.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, we summarise existing literature on the relationship between crime trends and economic trends. Then, drawing on data on crime, the economy and other relevant socio‐demographic trends in Greater Manchester some broad conclusions are drawn about likely crime trends in Greater Manchester over the coming years.

Findings

The paper concludes that recent reductions in crime might not be sustained, with crime rates in Manchester City's most vulnerable council area levelling out or even rising. This is particularly likely of the rate of violent crime.

Research limitations/implications

This work is part of an ongoing project based at Manchester Metropolitan University to predict future crime trends in Greater Manchester.

Originality/value

This paper will be of value to police forces and local authorities, principally when conducting their strategic assessments.
The effect of study‐related burnout on student perceptions
Authors: Kuittinen Matti , Meriläinen Matti
Published: August 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the frequency of study‐related burnout (SRB) among Finnish university students. In addition, the students' perceptions concerning the teaching‐learning environment (TLE) and their personal achievement motivation (AM) were explored, and the correlation between perceived SRB and the TLE and AM components was revealed. Finally, business students and general university students were compared in terms of the aforementioned variables.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were collected in the spring of 2009 based on a nationwide survey of nine Finnish universities (n=3,031).

Findings

Data analysis revealed that 45 percent of all respondents had an increased risk of burnout; while as many as 19 percent had an obviously increased risk. Regarding the frequency of SRB, there was no statistical difference between business students and general students. Using principal component analysis (PCA), 12 internally reliable pedagogical components of the TLE related to SRB were determined. Moreover, differences in the TLE and AM perceptions of business students and general students were revealed. However, the role of personal AM – such as studying abilities, study success and appreciation of studies – appeared to have the greatest effect on students' well‐being.

Research limitations/implications

In the data analyzed, women represent 80 percent of participants, but in Finland, only 53 percent of university students are women. The number of business students (52) that participated in the study was low; thus, far‐reaching generalizations cannot be made.

Originality/value

The paper demonstrates that SRB causes drastic deterioration in students' cognitive appraisals of their AM. Perhaps, here lies the most insidious effect of SRB, because students suffering from SRB lose their self‐confidence in coping with study demands. Teachers should be able to help students seeking professional help for stress‐related problems. The rather high frequency of SRB also requires further remedies. Stress‐management techniques have proven effective in reducing stress‐related health symptoms.
Policy watch
Authors: Lawton‐Smith Simon
Published: August 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a quarterly review of recent or forthcoming policy developments in mental health and social inclusion issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The author describes and comments on the most significant recent policy developments from within the UK that impact on mental health services and people with mental health needs.

Findings

The paper finds that the NHS reforms in England could cause some problems for the implementation of the new English mental health strategy; Northern Ireland and Scotland are both in a position to develop new mental health frameworks and Wales is implementing new statutory rights for mental health service users.

Originality/value

This paper summarises some recent policy developments in mental health across the UK.
Social exclusion and mental health – how people with mental health problems are disadvantaged: an overview
Authors: Boardman Jed
Published: August 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to provide an overview of social exclusion and the way in which people with mental health problems are excluded from mainstream society in contemporary Britain.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents the main findings of the work of the Royal College of Psychiatrists Scoping Group on Social Exclusion and Mental Health.

Findings

An individual is socially excluded if he or she does not participate in key activities of the society in which he or she lives. People with mental health problems, particularly those with long‐term psychoses, are among the most excluded groups in the UK. They may be excluded from material resources (poverty), from socially valued productive activity, from social relations and neighborhoods, from civic participation and from health and health services.

Originality/value

The findings of the Scoping Group provide an up to date view of the exclusion in people with mental health problems in the UK.
Addressing the impact of social exclusion on mental health in Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller communities
Authors: Yin‐Har Lau Annie , Ridge Michael
Published: August 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to look at the impact of social exclusion on mental health in Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller (GRT) communities and make suggestions for services needed to address it. The context of significant financial cuts in public sector budgets in the UK and change in the commissioning landscape mean there are significant risks of these vulnerable communities falling even further behind.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors, both currently engaged in clinical practice, draw on mental health and social work perspectives to review key areas in which social exclusion impacts on the life chances of members of GRT communities. Some examples of good current provision are included as is a case study which illustrates the problematic social context in contemporary relations between traditional Gypsy/Travellers and the settled community, and the impact on family life.

Findings

Research findings from contemporary studies are cited, which show members of these communities suffer significant inequalities in all health and social spheres.

Research limitations/implications

The GRT communities have not been listed in census categories until this year (2011).

Social implications

The paper will hopefully contribute to raising public awareness, and support members of the community in participation in policy and decision making.

Originality/value

This paper arises out of interdisciplinary collaboration between a psychiatrist and a social worker with the support of the voluntary sector. The discussion highlights the gaps in commissioning arrangements and hitherto poor support for health and social care needs of the GRT communities.
A novel grey relational model based on grey number sequences
Authors: Xie Nai‐ming , Liu Si‐feng
Published: August 2011

Purpose

This paper aims to construct a novel grey relational model based on grey number sequences and to solve the problems which exist in traditional grey relational models, in which the uncertain information cannot be described.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the definition of traditional grey relational models, considering the limited information and knowledge, the algorithm of grey numbers was combined with the grey relational model. A general formula of grey operations and grey distance is defined. A novel grey relational model based on grey number sequences, named grey geometrical relational model, is proposed according to the definition of grey distance. Finally, several properties including parallel, multiple and order‐keeping about the proposed model are discussed.

Findings

The results show that the novel grey relational model satisfies the properties properly. It is useful to calculate the relational degree of two different grey number sequences. And the process of calculating is easier than traditional grey relational models.

Practical implications

The method exposed in the paper can be used to calculate every two sequences. The method can also be used to rank sequences of more than two.

Originality/value

The paper succeeds in constructing a novel grey relational model. The properties of novel model are studied and it is a new development in grey systems theory undoubtedly.
Study on community structure characteristics of cluster networks with calculation and adjustment of trust degree based on the grey correlation degree algorithm
Authors: Wang Wenping , Wang Jiaoli , Huang Xinhuan , Shen Qiuying
Published: August 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to attempt to calculate the trust degree between two enterprises in an industrial network using grey correlation degree algorithm for exploring characteristics of community structure and evolution rules of cluster cooperation networks in axle‐type and satellite‐type clusters.

Design/methodology/approach

Starting from analysis of trust formation mechanism of inter‐enterprise in industrial networks, adjacency of inter‐enterprise relationship, their information acquisition ability, their influence power in network and their past interaction experience are chosen as influencing factors of the trust between two enterprises. Grey correlation degree algorithm was chosen to calculate the trust degree between two enterprises in an industrial network. According to the rules of dynamic adjustment of trust degree originated from thoughts of the prisoners' dilemma model, computer simulation is applied to explore characteristics of community structure and evolution rules of cluster cooperation network in axle‐type and satellite‐type clusters.

Findings

With the dynamic adjustment of enterprises' trust degree, the network density of axle‐type and satellite‐type cluster networks was decreasing as the cluster scale was enlarging, and eventually tended to be stable; community structure was emerged in axle‐type and satellite‐type industrial clusters as the cluster scale was enlarging; community characteristics were obviously stronger in axle‐type cluster networks than in satellite‐type; communities were overlapped in axle‐type cluster networks, that is, bridge nodes emerged between communities.

Originality/value

This paper is the first to apply the grey correlation degree algorithm to calculate the trust degree between two enterprises in cluster networks for designing the rules of dynamic adjustment of trust degree.
The construction of new weakening buffer operators and their application
Authors: Luo Dang , Wang Xia
Published: August 2011

Purpose

According to the basic principle of grey system and third axiom buffer operator, aiming at the problem of disturbance, some new weakening buffer operators are established by analytical skills in the process of prediction. The problem of some contradictions between quantitative analysis and qualitative analysis existing in pretreatment for vibration data sequences is resolved effectively. An example shows that the kind of new weakening buffer operators increase the forecast precision of data forecast model remarkably. The aim of this paper is to attempt to resolve the problem of some contradictions between quantitative analysis and qualitative analysis existing in pretreatment for vibration data sequences.

Design/methodology/approach

In view of the problem of some contradictions between quantitative analysis and qualitative analysis existing in pretreatment for vibration data sequences, according to the basic principle of grey system and third axiom buffer operator, some new weakening buffer operators are established by analytical skills. As an example, the kind of new weakening buffer operators can increase the forecast precision of data forecast model remarkably.

Findings

The results show that the new weakening buffer operators can increase the forecast precision of data forecast model remarkably.

Practical implications

The new weakening buffer operators exposed in the paper can be used to resolve the problem of some contradictions between quantitative analysis and qualitative analysis existing in pretreatment for vibration data sequences and increase the forecast precision of data forecast model remarkably.

Originality/value

The paper succeeds in increasing the forecast precision of data forecast model remarkably.
A kind of universal constructor method for buffer operators
Authors: Wei Yong , Kong Xin‐hai , Hu Da‐hong
Published: August 2011

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to perfect the axiom systems of buffer operator via adding the axiom of invariable trend.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the three axioms of buffer operator, for any given data sequence of system behavior and any set of data satisfying the axiom of fixed point, it is proved that there always exists a buffer operator satisfying that the set of data is the buffer sequence of the given data sequence, and a specific constructor method of buffer operator is provided. Finally, the axiom of invariable trend is proposed to add in the axiom systems of buffer operator.

Findings

The results are convincing that although the raw sequence suffered from certain disturbance may be enlarged or reduced, the trend is in line with the original law. All predictions must be on the premise of this trend to forecast, or prediction will be considered invalid.

Practical implications

The method exposed in the paper can be used to construct a specific buffer operator between two sequences satisfying the axiom of fixed point.

Originality/value

The paper succeeds in providing a kind of universal constructor method for buffer operator, and adding the axiom of invariable trend to perfect the axiom systems of buffer operator and ensure the consistency of variation trend between the predicted values and the actual values.
Marginal structural models: much ado about (almost) nothing
Authors: Shahar Eyal , Shahar Doron J.
Published: August 2011

Marginal structural models were developed to account for a so‐called time‐dependent confounder and to estimate the presumed effect of ‘treatment regime’ (treatment over time). We present a set of causal axioms, according to which the problem of time‐dependent confounding does not exist, and ‘treatment regime’ affects nothing. Per our axiomatization, marginal structural models do not introduce a new idea of deconfounding, but simply estimate a weighted average of effects. Whenever a weighted average and the weighting scheme can both be rationalized, the models are acceptable. Whenever a weighted average does not estimate an effect (e.g. important effect modification is ignored), or the weights are senseless – the models should not be fit.
Clinical handover in acute psychiatric and community mental health settings
Authors: HUNT G. E. , MARSDEN R. , O'CONNOR N.
Published: August 2011

Accessible summary

This study collected a snapshot of current handover practice in mental health settings from doctors, nurses, community and allied health staff. The handover of care is a very important process as breakdown in communication during shift changes or when a patient is transferred from one place to another is one of the leading causes of adverse events and failure of care or services.

Structuring the content of the verbal component of handover and documenting the handover may make measurable improvements to the effectiveness of clinical handovers.

Sometimes negative statements are expressed about a patient during handover. This should be avoided as negative labelling and judgement of a patient or illness can have serious consequences for patient care, especially when this information, if passed on, could prejudice the oncoming shift.

The inclusion of prompts or simulation models to recognize and escalate patients that are deteriorating in their physical condition or mental state may improve patient outcomes by prompting action to avert adverse events.

This study collected an area‐wide snapshot of current handover practice in psychiatric settings which included acute care units and community mental health centres. The study was conducted in two stages. Firstly, a questionnaire was sent to all clinical mental health staff within an area‐wide health service regarding normal handover procedures and processes. The second part of the study used non‐participant observers to evaluate actual handovers in inpatient and community settings. Of the 1125 surveys distributed in stage one, 380 (34%) were returned completed. Of the 40 handovers observed in stage two in which 637 patients were discussed, 40% included at least one consultant psychiatrist or registrar as a participant. Almost all the handovers were completed face‐to‐face in a specific location with a set time and duration. Eighty‐six per cent of respondents reported that deteriorating patients were escalated for rapid response. The results of the survey and structured observations support the issues emerging from the literature from medical, surgical and clinical team handovers. Additionally, the issue of identifiers for deterioration of a psychiatric patient emerged as an area worthy of further investigation and incorporation into clinical handover education and training for psychiatric services.
A placebo‐controlled trial of an oral capsaicin load in patients with functional dyspepsia
Authors: Führer M. , Vogelsang H. , Hammer J.
Published: August 2011

Background  The pathophysiology of functional dyspepsia is poorly understood. Visceral hypersensitivity may play a key role. We studied a previously validated test to assess chemical hypersensitivity in functional dyspepsia by applying an oral capsaicin load.

Methods  A total of 116 outpatients with upper gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms participated in this double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial of which 73 patients received a final diagnosis of functional dyspepsia. Patients swallowed a capsule containing 0.75 mg capsaicin or placebo. A graded questionnaire evaluated the severity of nine upper GI symptoms before and after capsule ingestion and an aggregate symptom score was calculated. A final score of >9 was considered as a positive test.

Key Results  In functional dyspepsia, median perception scores were 10.8 (interquartile range: 4.5–18.8) after ingestion of capsaicin and 0.5 (0.0–2.5) after placebo (P < 0.001). Thirty‐seven functional dyspepsia patients (54%) had a positive test after capsaicin ingestion, whereas only four (11%) patients with upper GI symptoms but without functional dyspepsia were capsaicin positive [median perception score: 1.5 (0.0–5.0)]. After placebo, symptom scores were low and not significantly different among patient groups (P > 0.05). Clinical characteristics, age, and gender distribution was similar in capsaicin positive and capsaicin negative functional dyspepsia patients (P > 0.05). The value of patient blinding was good.

Conclusions & Inferences  Half of functional dyspepsia patients had chemical hypersensitivity, determined with an oral capsaicin load. Placebo response was negligible. The results of the capsaicin test were not associated with specific dyspepsia symptoms or Rome subgroups.