Health and disability
Barnardo's is committed to promoting the emotional, physical and mental health of children, young people and their families. We actively campaign on disability issues affecting children and families, and use our reports as a means of giving them a voice to affect change in policy and service provision. Our published work in this area is grouped under the following headings:
- Children affected by disability or health problems
- Parents affected by disability or health problems
- Child health and well being
Children affected by disability or health problems
From hospital to home: guidance on discharge management and community support for children using long-term ventilation
Guidance to assist multi-agency commissioners, managers and practitioners to improve practice. Looks at complex cases and includes an exemplar containing a care pathway on the discharge and ongoing care management of a child requiring long term ventilation. Follows on from Barnardo’s “Breathing Space” report.
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Are you listening? What disabled children and young people in Wales think about the services they use
The report of a consultation with disabled children and young people, commissioned by the Welsh Assembly Government and carried out by Barnardo’s and NCH Cymru. Containing young people’s views on services and recommendations for change, this report informed the Children First objectives, the National Service Framework for children and wider policy developments.
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Big lottery fund home care for children with life threatening/limiting conditions in Northumberland and Tyne and Wear
An account of the initial stages of the development of these services for children, up to September 2005.
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Breathing space: community support for children on long term ventilation
Report looking at the experiences of children who need long term ventilation – including children staying in hospital for prolonged periods because of lack of co-ordinated care in the community. Looks at the care packages currently available to families and what we can learn from families’ experiences to improve quality of life.
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Cognitive behaviour therapy for behavioural problems and conduct disorder in pre-adolescence
Examining the role of cognitive behaviour therapies for pre-adolescent children.
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Don't push me around! Disabled children's experiences of wheelchair services in the UK
A joint Barnardo’s and Whizz-Kids report highlighting concerns about the current state of wheelchair provision for children in the UK.
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I want to play too: developing inclusive play strategies for disabled children and young people
This booklet presents practical ideas from initiatives developed by Barnardo’s North West.
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Let’s play together
Looks at ninety five Better Play Programme funded projects and their experience of developing inclusive play strategies that stress the importance of including all children, disabled and non-disabled.
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A review of key worker schemes for children with disabilities and development of information for parents, children and professionals
Identifies the main issues arising from the literature around the key worker’s role, family needs and managing the key worker system. Commissioned by the Welsh Office for Research and Development.
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Still missing out? Ending poverty and social exclusion: messages to government from families with disabled children
Many of Britain’s disabled children and young people, and their families, still live in poverty and are socially excluded from their communities. Read about the issues facing them and Barnardo’s messages to government. Based on case studies of seventeen families, which are available in full as a companion volume.
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Parents affected by disability or health problems
Improving opportunities and outcomes for parents with mental health needs and their children
This report, produced by Barnardo’s Policy and Research Unit and DMSS Research and Consultancy, analyses the work of the Action 16 outcomes partnership 2005 – 2008, which aimed to find ways of improving opportunities and outcomes for parents with mental health needs and their children.
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For children's sake - anti-stigma pack
A set of postcards and posters featuring hard-hitting messages about the effect on children of stigma towards mental illness. In the words of children and young people who care for parents with mental health problems, these materials powerfully illustrate the need for support for their families, not scorn. The pack, useful for display, training and education, contains ten postcards with three as feature posters.
Keeping the family in mind - resource pack
Back by popular demand with updated and new contents, the 2nd edition of this resource pack is aimed at anyone who works with parents with mental health difficulties, their children and their families. Designed to raise awareness of the issues that families face. All the resources have been written and produced with the participation of children and young people.
To order a pack please call 0151 708 7323
or email louise.wardale@barnardos.org.uk
Parents in Hospital: How mental health services can best promote family contact when a parent is in hospital July 2007
A stay in hospital can represent a significant crisis, not just in terms of a parent's individual mental health but of family life overall, and may have long term repercussions beyond the period of hospitalisation itself. The findings of this report suggest that this can be re-framed as an opportunity for services to provide more holistic care. To get a copy of this report email barbara.robinson@barnardos.org.uk
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Building a better future: Disabled parents and their children
Disabled parents’ restricted access to employment, housing, transport, health care and educations can result in the social exclusion of their children. This discussion document explores issues such as how we can support children without undermining parents and how we can reduce the need for children to care for disabled relatives.
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Keeping the family in mind
Based on Barnardo’s work in 12 specialist young carer projects across the UK, this report explores the lives and needs of children and young people caring for parents with mental health problems. Case study materials support an agenda for providing improved services.
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What works for parents with learning disabilities?
Despite changes in public attitudes, prejudices still exist about parents with learning disabilities. This review of their circumstances, needs and the most effective types of support is a valuable contribution to the knowledge base of health and social care workers.
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Child health and well being
Family Minded: supporting children in families affected by mental illness - June 2008
What is it like to be a child with a parent who is mentally ill - and how does Barnardo's make a difference? This report looks at the issues involved and recommends changes to the help families are given.
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About self-harm
This concise booklet explains why young people self-harm, dispels some common myths and provides information about accessing help and support. Perfect for people aged 13 and over who self-harm themselves, or for their family and friends who want to know how to support them. About self-harm is the result of a collaborative project by Barnardo’s and Mind.
Preview the booklet here(PDF) Buy the booklet from Mind
A health needs assessment of black and minority ethnic children's needs
A Barnardo’s and University of Leeds study identifying health needs and providing an evidence base for future service development.
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Burger boy, sporty girl; what children say about school meals
Lifting the lid on a nation of children who accept junk food as the staple school diet, and the media and peer influences at play on them. The report consist of two linked studies: the first includes interviews with 174 children and young people; the second was conducted by a Food Commission nutritionist and forms an assessment of the nutritional value of school meals. Children’s views are central in this report, which supports the case for poor diet contributing to alarming childhood obesity rates.
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Child health: What works and what counts?
Outlines broad patterns in healthcare and illustrates why efforts to reduce inequalities should focus on implementing interventions for which there is good evidence of effectiveness.
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Child Rights and Resilience Conference Notes - Geneva 2005
In June 2005 the International Catholic Child Bureau hosted an international consultation on Child Rights and Resilience in Geneva.
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Financial benefits and child health
Does money make a difference in reducing inequalities in child health? What is more effective – additional cash, improved services or a combination of the two? This report presents a systematic review of studies. Produced by City University with support from Barnardo’s.
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Index of wellbeing for children in Scotland report - July 2007
Barnardo’s Scotland has produced an Index of Well-being for Children in Scotland. The index ranks outcomes for children in Scotland on a range of measures and compares Scotland with other OECD countries’
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Interchange 78 - Transitions in the lives of children and young people: resilience factors
A report describing effective strategies in health, education and social work for helping children to cope with periods of transition and change by promoting resilience. Draws on extensive reviews of international literature on promoting resilience.
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Mental health of looked after children and young people in public care
Most children in care have had to cope with difficult experiences and circumstances early in life. This can impact on every sphere of a child’s life including forming relationships, self esteem and achievement. This study reviews provision of specialist mental health services available to looked after children in England and other European countries.
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Promoting children's emotional health - a research review
Examines the impact of emotional ill-health upon children and young people. The review looks at potential risk and protection factors and interventions promoting resilience.
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Raising awareness and promoting positive mental health and well-being among young people - The role of peer support
The report presents the findings of a research study which explored young people's views and experiences of peer support and considered whether peer support approaches have a role to play in terms of promoting positive mental health and well-being in schools.
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What works in reducing inequalities in child health?
This publication highlights links between poor health and low incomes. It considers the areas in which progress has been made and where there is still some way to go.
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