Northampton Electronic Collection of Theses and Research

Developing new mental health services for looked after children: a focus group study

Callaghan, J., Young, B., Richards, M. and Vostanis, P. (2003) Developing new mental health services for looked after children: a focus group study. Adoption & Fostering. 27(4), pp. 51-63. 0308-5759.

Item Type: Article
Abstract: Looked after children have extensive mental health needs that are not often met by current mental health service provision. Jane Callaghan, Bridget Young, Maxine Richards and Panos Vostanis describe the use of focus groups with various stakeholders – social services staff, foster carers and residential social workers – to inform the development of a specialist mental health team for looked after children. Thirteen focus groups were conducted, comprising 58 participants in total, and all sessions were audio-taped and transcribed. Data were analysed using the constant comparative method and this revealed several emergent themes: difficulties accessing mental health services, the importance of developing a working partnership between child and adolescent mental health services, social services and foster carers, the need for consultation, and the importance of developing a service that is appropriate to the specific needs of looked after children. The newly developed model of mental health provision for looked after children is described, and the ways in which its form was influenced by the issues identified in focus groups are highlighted.
Subjects: R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA790 Mental health services. Mental illness prevention
R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics > RJ499 Mental disorders. Child psychiatry
H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology > HV697 Protection, assistance and relief > HV701 Children
Creators: Callaghan, Jane, Young, Bridget, Richards, Maxine and Vostanis, Panos
Publisher: British Association for Adoption and Fostering
Faculties, Divisions and Institutes: University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Research Group > Social and Cultural Research in Psychology Group
University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Faculty of Health & Society > Psychology
Faculties > Faculty of Health & Society > Psychology
Research Centres > Centre for Psychology and Social Sciences
Date: 2003
Date Type: Publication
Page Range: pp. 51-63
Journal or Publication Title: Adoption & Fostering
Volume: 27
Number: 4
Language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/030857590302700408
ISSN: 0308-5759
Status: Published / Disseminated
Refereed: Yes
URI: http://nectar.northampton.ac.uk/id/eprint/3527

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