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Dr. Valerie Richardson. School of Applied Social Science University College Dublin Belfield, Dublin 4 Ireland valerie.richardson@ucd.ie. Children’s views on personal and social issues. Support services within and outside school. Outline of Presentation. Background to the study
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Dr. Valerie Richardson School of Applied Social Science University College Dublin Belfield, Dublin 4 Ireland valerie.richardson@ucd.ie
Children’s views on personal and social issues Support services within and outside school
Outline of Presentation • Background to the study • Aims and objectives • Ethical issues • Methodology • Findings • Conclusions
Neighbourhood of School • 50% families on State Benefits • 27% parents no formal educational qualifications • 10% + unemployment rate • 33% lone parent households • 57% in social housing • 25% houses inadequate heating
AT RISK CARE PROGRAMME Emotional/Behavioural Difficulties and Special Educational Needs Home School Liaison Officer Art Therapist SCHOOL CARE TEAM Special Educational Needs Teacher Personal tutor School Chaplain Career Guidance Counsellor (teacher) Statutory Child WelfareServices Educational Welfare Officer School Psychological Services
Request for the research : aims and objectives • Statutory Child Welfare System • Child Care Act 1991 • Children Act 2001 • Educational (Welfare) Act 2000 • Social Work in Schools • School in which study undertaken • 499 pupils aged 12 – 18 years • Mixed gender and multi-cultural
Ethical Issues • Key principles • Involvementof the children in the research: children’s voices • Consent and choice • Possible harm or distress • Privacy and confidentiality
Consents Required • School Principal • Board of Governors of School • Teachers • Parents: opt in/opt out • Pupils
Methodology • Scoping exercise with teachers • Information on 499 students • Semi-structured questionnaire • Junior Cohort: 31 boys and 31 girls average age 14 years • Senior Cohort: 17 boys and 33 girls • literacy problems
FAMLY ISSUES • 17% Experienced family breakdown • 8% dysfunctional • 8% alcohol abuse in family • 2% drug misuse within family • 6% families with serious physical or mental illness • 9 children in foster care • 4 children acting as carers
Conclusions • Students avoided care team within the school • Students preferred to talk to non-professionals outside the school • Lack of clear communication of role and purpose • Lack of trust – teacher/counsellor role incompatible? • Attitudes to Authority • Outcome: recommendation for a school counsellor • Importance of listening to children • Need to progress with Focus Groups : listen to children