Monday, January 27, 2020

The Principles Of Personalisation Processes

The Principles Of Personalisation Processes Personalisation is considered as a process that involves the usage of technology to accommodate the differences between the individuals. It is becoming an increasingly popular area within health and education sectors (Department of Health, 2008). When discussed in terms of Health care, Personalisation involves thinking in relation to care and support services in a completely different way, building care provisions around the person in a way as an individual with preferences, strengths and aspirations and combining them towards the center of the process of recognizing their needs and making choices about their living (Department of Health, 2008). It demands a significant transformation of social care so that all the processes, systems, staff and services are combined to put the people first. In addition, personalisation is indicated as offering people with much more choice and control over their lives within all social care settings. However, it is much of a wider concept than simply providing personal budgets to the people who are eligible for council funding. It also involves ensuring access to the universally determined services (transport, leisure, education, housing, health) and employment opportunities regardless of their age and disability characteristics (Department of Health, 2008). In a very short span of time, the personalisation concept has occupied its central place within the field of social work and adult care discourses in United Kingdom (Department of Health, 2008). A study involving a consultation process was carried out by Department of Health (2006), it was observed that people showed much interest in accessing personalised approach and they demanded for its need and they expected it to be made available to them easily and quickly. In order to make better provisions relative to personalisation, various people who participated in this consultation process questioned their need about the availability of social care providers and their services (Department of Health, 2006). But in order to make it possible, the health care sector needs a clear vision with a direction to make personalisation a strategic shift towards the initial prevention and interventions of dreadful diseases (Department of Health, 2008). However, this seems to be a challenging agenda that cannot be possible by social work alone and it requires effective working away from the boundaries pertaining to social care like housing, benefits, leisure, health and transport. On the othe r hand, demographic variations show a significant impact upon the number of people who care and support the family members and this in turn influence the available care provisions (Department of Health, 2010). Although personalisation is the corner stone of public service modernisation, in terms of social care it can be meant that everyone who is receiving care (regardless of their need level, statutory services) should possess an equal choice and control over the way through which the support is delivered. Social care providers (involved in carrying out social work) will be potentially able to direct the use of resources, building on the technological support, family and the wider community in order to enable them in enjoying their role as citizens in their communities (Department of Health, 2008). The document released by the Department of Health in 2010 on Putting People First offers a clear insight regarding personalisation along with the potential ways of its development when investments were made within the following aspects of support (in relation to the individual carers): Universal Services: support that can be made available to everyone in the community in addition to transport, leisure, education, information and advice (Department of Health 2010). Early interventions and preventions: helping people to live independently as long as possible and designing future cost efficiency systems. Choice and control: helping people in understanding about the way of spending in relation to care and support and thus allowing them to choose in accordance to their needs. Social capital: creating supportive communities that enable in determining the value of each and every contribution made by the citizens (Department of Health 2010). Personalisation by Effective Participation Personalisation through effective participation helps us in creating a better connection between the individuals and the group in a way by allowing users a direct, informed and creative rewriting in the script through which the service used can be designed, planned and evaluated (Houston 2010). This approach involves the following steps: Expanded Choice: enables users in providing a greater choice over the various ways of mix through which the needs might be met and to combine the possible solutions around the user instead of limiting the provisions in relation to any institution in question like hospital, social service department to which the user seems to be much closer (Leadbeater, 2004; Lymbery 2010). Intimate consultation: Here professionals work in an intimate relationship with the clients to help in opening up their needs, aspirations and preferences through an extended dialogue system (Houston 2010). Enhanced voice: This is very difficult to follow through a white paper agenda and it involves the use of expanded choice in opening up the users voice. Making comparisons through the various possible alternatives can help in articulating the preferences. Provision of Partnership: Generally, it can be possible to combine the solutions which are personalised to the individual if the services work in partnership. In instance, any organization a secondary school can form a gateway for the learning services provided not only by the school but also to various other companies, colleges and distance learning programs (Houston 2010). Advocacy: In this section, the professionals act as advocates to the users and help them to move their way through the system. This process can enable the clients in attaining a continual relationship with the professionals (Houston 2010). Co-Production: Professionals who were found to be involved in shaping the service were expected to be more active and responsible in offering their help in relation to the service delivery. However, Personalisation aids in involving service users, creating more efficient, and responsible package of care services. Funding: Within this, authorities need to follow the options or the choices made by the users and in certain cases-offering direct payments to the physically disabled people to assemble and obtain their own care packages. Funds should be left with the users for purchasing any good or commodity and this should be done with the advice of the professionals (Houston 2010). Role of Personalisation When considering the role of personalisation as an organizing principle with relation to the public service reforms, certain comparative studies need to be definitely performed with a broader emphasis on contracted services. Nevertheless, other public services do exist where in which personalisation fail in making a sensible approach (Duffy 2005). This can be exemplified by: Someone who is entering in to an accident or emergency service department do not need a dialogue but instead he needs a quick and competent action (Leadbeater, 2004; Lymbery 2010). Although in a public sector, defense is another area where in which personalisation principles cannot be applied and the people play a pivotal role in fighting against terrorism. Thus it can be understood that, personalisation can be used only in certain public services which can be of face-face (like education, social services and non-emergency health care departments), those depending to establish a long term relationships (disease management) and the services involving a direct engagement between users and professionals through which the users can play a significant role in shaping the service (Leadbeater, 2004; Lymbery 2010). Personalization- A Reality in 21st century Making personalisation, a reality for the 21st century definitely requires huge cultural and transactional transformations within all the parts of the system (not only in social care but also in public sector, whole local government). Over the past ten years, direct payment option helped some people by providing an ability to design the services they need, but the potential impact was found to be very less. But in the recent years, figures indicated that about 54,000 people out of a million received help through direct payment (Department of Health 2010). Since personalisation describes the change within the whole system it needs the presence of strong leadership to communicate and convey its potential vision and values. To achieve a significant shift towards its cultural side and to construct a delivery model (Department of Health 2008), it demands all the stake holders to work in partnership with others. Nevertheless, in future social care system allows individuals in undertaking their own choices with an appropriate support at the level they needed. It should be understood that personalisation need to be delivered in a cost effective manner. In addition, it must be recognized that personalisation with its early intervention and efficiency are not contrary and need to be strongly aligned in future to obtain better results (Department of Health 2010). Personalisation in relation to the Mental Health Residential Care Homes Personalisation in relation to the mental health can be defined as understanding and meeting the needs of the individuals in various ways that can seem to work best for them (Carr, 2009). Principles of personalisation can be applied in early interventions, prevention and other self directed approaches where in which the users are involved in maintaining and managing their own social support services (Lymbery 2004). However, it accommodates mental health promotion and its maintenance with a wider choice and control and thereby contributing to the improvement in well-being and quality of life. The above mentioned principles pertaining to personalisation can be applied in Mental Health Residencies to direct payments and other internal budgets (Mc Donald, Postle, Dawson, 2008). Direct payments: are in general, cash payments that are paid to the individual during which they can design and control the tailored support in order to meet the social care needs. Funding for this direct payments arrive from the respective local authorities (Fernandez et al., 2007). Though these were available from 1996, they are now-a-days considered to be as the only option for the people who are provided with the personal budget. Statistics indicate that direct payments users were found to be increased at a steady rate ranging from 50 in 2001 to 3373 in 2008 (Care Service improvement partnership, 2008). From the year of 2007 and 2008, the percentage of people using this option in order to meet their mental needs increased by 62% which was found to be one of the largest among all the care groups (Carmichael, Brown 2002; Ridley, Jones 2002; Spandler, 2004; Spandler, Vick 2004; Cestari et al, 2006; Taylor, 2008). But, when compared with the other impairment groups, the percentage of direct payment users in mental health is relatively low as a result of poor level of mental capacity, lack of awareness and non proactive attitude of managers towards the implementation of direct payment. This has been evidently noticed in my placement setting. Research studies indicate that, when offered with sufficient support people with the mental health condition will start to use direct payment option effectively and imaginatively (Carmichael, Brown 2002; Ridley, Jones 2002; Spandler, 2004; Spandler, Vick 2004; Cestari et al, 2006; Taylor, 2008). In a National Pilot Study of direct payments in mental health (2001 to 2003), around more than half of the people used a personal assistant in obtaining social, personal and mental support and they assisted the impaired ones in carrying out their daily activities and helping them in accessing community and leisure facilities (Spander, Vick 2004; 2006). Many barriers do exist for these direct payments in all the impairment groups and out of which many of them also apply within the mental field. They include lack of awareness, risk aversion and protectionism (Pearson, 2004; Fernandez et al, 2007; Hasler, Stewart 2004; Spandler, Vick 2005), potential difficulties in undertaking decisions pertaining to social care needs and other eligibility issues for the people whose condition changes within less time (Carmichael, Brown 2002; Ridley, Jones 2002; Spandler, 2004; Spandler, Vick 2004; Cestari et al, 2006; Taylor, 2008). Personal Budgets: The cornerstone of the Governments approach in creating transformations within social care especially mental health residential home care and relative support through personalisation is the allocation of Personal Budget (PB). My placement setting is a mental health residential home accommodating people with enduring mental health problems. I think individuals should be supported and assessed in conjunction with other agencies in order to meet users own needs, and by doing so a care provider can ultimately determine whether they are eligible for providing any social care funding. If individuals were found to be eligible, care providers can explain the amount of money they expected to receive in order to meet the needs (Department of Health 2006; Duffy, 2007). Individual Budgets: On the other hand, individual budgets are quite similar to the Personal Budgets and these incorporate various other funding schemes along with social care funding (Glendinning et al., 2008). The funding schemes include: access to work, supporting people, living independently, disabled facilities and grants as well as integrated community equipment services. A National Pilot Study on Individual Budgets took place in the year of 2007- 2008, it was observed that around 14% of the people were found to be with mental health condition (Glendinning et al., 2008). The pilot study concluded that people who receive individual budgets experienced much higher levels of independence and were more likely to commission their valuable support from the main stream community services instead of specialist ones (Bamber, Flanagan 2008). This application offered a better mental health support need along with the flexibility in comparison to other conventional services or direct paymen ts (Glendining et al., 2008; Manthrope et al., 2008). Many barriers were observed with Personal and Individual budgets in relation to the mental health field. The difference between the funding in relation to health and social care can also form a major barrier to the developing individual budgets in mental health (Glendinning et al., 2008). In addition, the following points need to be implemented within Residential care Homes in offering a personalised approach: Person and relationship centered care and support at the heart of the service offered. As the care home setting is considered to be as a community, the residents or the staff actively searches the various available opportunities to develop an effective relationship (Carey 2003; Bradley 2005). The managers working in care homes need to be sure that the existing services respond to the needs and should look for the opportunities to diversify the offered services. Staff should ensure that people has a live and breathe culture which is actively involved in promoting personalised services in a way by offering maximum choice and control for the people who are living in care homes (Cestari et al., 2006). Residents need to possess the accessibility to all the information and advices as they need to make certain informed decisions including those pertaining to advocacy matters (Cestari et al., 2006).Team work and effective communication is needed with the people in care homes. Staff development programs and the quality assurance systems must be introduced as they are considered to be crucial in offering a positive outcome. Care home managers should be nicely placed in order to understand the potential needs of the local communities. Effective leadership work should be carried out in a collaborative manner with the people who are using these services along with their families and carers involved in design and delivery of services (Spandler 2004). Assessing self directed approaches along with allocation of budgets (Cestari et al., 2006). If a disabled person lacks capacity in choosing a direct payment or any other option, the local authorities must help them in undertaking a best interested solution and decisions (Ridley, Jones 2002). Conclusion The applications of principles of personalisation with the mental care residential homes share a lot of core values (Carmichael, Brown 2002; Ridley, Jones 2002; Spandler, 2004; Spandler, Vick 2004; Cestari et al, 2006; Taylor, 2008) The Mental Capacity Act (MCA) laid down in 2005 supports the practices and principles of personalisation by empowering many people in undertaking their own decisions. It also helps the mentally disabled people in taking their own decisions as much as possible (Spandler, Vick 2004). But in principle, this may not seem to be possible as the people lack mental ability and the individuals need play a very big role in decision making processes that can only directly detect them. The first research study underpinning this approach was carried out by Norah Fry Research Centre at the Bristol University in 2008-2009 (Philips, Waterson 2002). The study suggested that people experiencing mental health problems and distress need to possess a better choice and control over their care (Carey 2003; Bradley 2005). The Personalisation Agenda in United Kingdom has more to offer in the field of mental health as it challenges the way through which health condition is perceived (Payne 2000). To implement the principles, the country need to support a social model in understanding the mental health condition and must recognize the important social factors that play a key role in contributing to that condition (Beresford, Wallcraft, 1997; Brewis, 2007). Thus effective and proactive leadership from the managers in senior position along with the direct payment support agencies could help in creating awareness within the general public and thereby aid in developing expertise (Newbigging, Lowe 2005). Therefore, in the context of mental health, it can be understood that a move towards the direction of personalisation indicates a move towards a feeling of independent living philosophy (Vick, Spandler 2006). Various projects need to be developed to support that move and various practical tools must be designed to effectively meet the challenges associated to the mental health field. In particular we need to aim in developing strategies that encourage champions amongst various other service users, forums for discussions and networking in a way that progress can be made in overcoming the challenges to personalisation in mental health field. In addition issues of negligence pertaining to poverty and inequality, its weak conception regarding i ndividuals utilizing social care work services, its view on welfare dependency and its potential for promotion as an alternative of challenging the depersonalisation in relation to social work, need to be tackled effectively in order to meet its future aims and objectives.

Sunday, January 19, 2020

Extraterrestrials Essay -- Aliens Science Essays

Extraterrestrials Can the Earth be the only place in the Universe that harbors life? Most astronomers don't believe this is true. Certain statistics in the Universe provide evidence that living beings may be common place through out the universe, on planets of other stars besides the sun. In this paper I plan to discuss the various viewpoints of those that believe that extraterrestrials exist and have even been visiting Earth, and the viewpoints of skpetics that believe that aliens don't exist and have not been visiting Earth. To get into the topic we must first start at the base of the subject. First the question must be dealt with of life being only indigenous to planet Earth. One of the most basic materials that are essential to form life are basic carbon compounds. These carbon compounds are very abundant throughout the Universe. Carbon compounds exist not only on planets but on comets and free floating asteroids and gas clouds in space. Although, even with the abundance of all these compunds in the Universe the chances of these compounds forming into living beings aren't so great, however it is true that the odds of carbon forming into life sustaining compounds is greatly increased with an increase in time. The Universe works on a basis backward to the human way of thinking. The Universe becomes more orderly with time while we would tend to think that time breaks down structures. This means to us that the chances of life evolving on any part of the Universe increases as time moves forward . Another factor that is necessary for life evolving is a Star's size. Our Sun is a very ordinary star in terms of it size and temperature. Statistics show that there are billions of stars like the sun in our galaxy alone. ( Henbest & Couper, 1989, paragraph 5 ) Life evolving in one of these star systems may have developed in the same way humans have. Philosophers have argued for centures about how to define life. " If we study living things on the Earth, we find that there are some very basic characteristics that will guide us when we consider life elsewhere in the Universe." ( Henbest & Couper, 1989, paragraph 7 ) Life on Earth shows immense diversity. From organisms such as sea slugs to the human being. All life on Earth are made up of the same basic units, cells. Each cell is built up from chains of carbon, the most importan... ... existance of extraterrestrials. It remains a mystery to many though whether they exist on Earth or even at all. To say that extraterrestrials don't exist throughout the Universe is not a valid belief. There are simply too many ways or forms of which to find life throughout the Universe, intelligent or not. The odds of life on an intelligent or non intelligent scale in our own Milky way are pretty good on their own. To my belief, the Universe is teaming with life, I cannot say for sure whether we have been visited by any but this is all plausible. I remain captivated at the thought of an advanced civilization aiding mankind in advancement of our species. I hope one day we as a race will become one advanced enough morally socially and politically that war of any kind is non-existant and we will live in a world in which we get along with one another regardless of petty differences. To an advanced civilization, we must all seem just the same to each other , they would probably have compassion to the human ways and this is why they may have taken on the responsibility of helping us advance as a civilization so that we may create a bond with beings of another origin. Extraterrestrials Essay -- Aliens Science Essays Extraterrestrials Can the Earth be the only place in the Universe that harbors life? Most astronomers don't believe this is true. Certain statistics in the Universe provide evidence that living beings may be common place through out the universe, on planets of other stars besides the sun. In this paper I plan to discuss the various viewpoints of those that believe that extraterrestrials exist and have even been visiting Earth, and the viewpoints of skpetics that believe that aliens don't exist and have not been visiting Earth. To get into the topic we must first start at the base of the subject. First the question must be dealt with of life being only indigenous to planet Earth. One of the most basic materials that are essential to form life are basic carbon compounds. These carbon compounds are very abundant throughout the Universe. Carbon compounds exist not only on planets but on comets and free floating asteroids and gas clouds in space. Although, even with the abundance of all these compunds in the Universe the chances of these compounds forming into living beings aren't so great, however it is true that the odds of carbon forming into life sustaining compounds is greatly increased with an increase in time. The Universe works on a basis backward to the human way of thinking. The Universe becomes more orderly with time while we would tend to think that time breaks down structures. This means to us that the chances of life evolving on any part of the Universe increases as time moves forward . Another factor that is necessary for life evolving is a Star's size. Our Sun is a very ordinary star in terms of it size and temperature. Statistics show that there are billions of stars like the sun in our galaxy alone. ( Henbest & Couper, 1989, paragraph 5 ) Life evolving in one of these star systems may have developed in the same way humans have. Philosophers have argued for centures about how to define life. " If we study living things on the Earth, we find that there are some very basic characteristics that will guide us when we consider life elsewhere in the Universe." ( Henbest & Couper, 1989, paragraph 7 ) Life on Earth shows immense diversity. From organisms such as sea slugs to the human being. All life on Earth are made up of the same basic units, cells. Each cell is built up from chains of carbon, the most importan... ... existance of extraterrestrials. It remains a mystery to many though whether they exist on Earth or even at all. To say that extraterrestrials don't exist throughout the Universe is not a valid belief. There are simply too many ways or forms of which to find life throughout the Universe, intelligent or not. The odds of life on an intelligent or non intelligent scale in our own Milky way are pretty good on their own. To my belief, the Universe is teaming with life, I cannot say for sure whether we have been visited by any but this is all plausible. I remain captivated at the thought of an advanced civilization aiding mankind in advancement of our species. I hope one day we as a race will become one advanced enough morally socially and politically that war of any kind is non-existant and we will live in a world in which we get along with one another regardless of petty differences. To an advanced civilization, we must all seem just the same to each other , they would probably have compassion to the human ways and this is why they may have taken on the responsibility of helping us advance as a civilization so that we may create a bond with beings of another origin.

Saturday, January 11, 2020

Central Evaluation Unit Essay

The XIII Directorate of the European Union has a Central Evaluation Unit (CEU) which is tasked with evaluation of applications for grants from academics under its â€Å"cooperation and foundations† scheme. This scheme distributed relatively small grants to fund cooperative research between universities in the EU. All applications were sent to the CEU’s processing unit (CEUPU) by university liaison officers (ULOs) who are based in around 150 universities. The process flow of the CEUPU can be shown in the following page. As can be seen, the turnaround time can be shortened even more if the checkers will have direct access to the ULOs and coordination done directly. This can be achieved by use of email with the secretaries just copy-furnished. Also, the document tracking can be automated so that everyone knows where the documents are at any given time, using the identifier code that has been established for each application. In all, the application will be handled by the following people: 1. The ULOs who receive it and send to CEU. 2. Receipt clerk that checks that forms are complete. 3. Coding staff – set up a unique identifier for the application, encodes the data in the system. 4. Senior secretary that assigns the application to the next available checker. 5. Checker assesses the application. Half of the time, there is a need for additional information or data, and this must be conveyed to the secretary. 6. Secretary sends a query to the ULO 7. ULO secures the info from the applicant and sends back to secretary 8. Secretary sends to checker assigned 9. Checker decides 10. Auditor composes and sends acceptance/rejection letter. The problem of the CEUPU process is that there are too many steps and people involved in the process. First, the process can be automated and the application documents scanned. Then, the file can be sent electronically to the checkers so that they can be evaluated. Direct communication by the checkers to the ULO can be made for any inquiries/ additional data needed. Auditors prepare the acceptance or rejection documents ULOs receive application for grants Additional info and requirements sent back Request letter sent File sent to secretary who then makes a request for the collection of any information missing or additional information required Yes NO Checker evaluates the application Decision is made by the checkers to accept or reject Additional information needed? Senior secretary of the checkers assigns file to the next available checker 8 receipts clerks check each application for completeness of all necessary forms Applications arrive from 150 ULOs, placed in the â€Å"in-tray† NO YES Pro forma front sheet attached to documents 2 clerks place identifier on the form and encode it into the information system COMPLETE?

Friday, January 3, 2020

The Transcending Characteristics of a Mythical Hero Essay

The Transcending Characteristics of a Mythical Hero nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Although separated by the wide gulf of time and culture, myths involving supernatural characters and gods exist in almost every society throughout the world. While this commonality may not be spectacular by itself, a detailed comparative study of the myths reveals a more striking similarity. Even in cultures as different and antagonistic as those of the Ancient Greeks and the Sumerians, predecessors of the Persians, there exists a startling parallelism in imagery and themes of the myths of the respective peoples. The epics of Heracles and Gilgamesh are an exceptionally good example of these similarities. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;One cannot know with†¦show more content†¦Suffice to say that Heracles won immortality by the grace of the gods and the memory of the men, Greeks and Romans that worshipped him as a god and admired him as an exemplary man. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Gilgamesh, the legendary king of Uruk who reportedly lived in 2700 B.C., is as revered and representative of the Sumerian culture as Heracles is of Greek, and thus his myth begs to be compared to that of the latter. Gilgamesh, two-thirds god and one-third human, the wisest and strongest super-human that ever existed is credited with building the Sumerian city-state of Uruk, and of ruling the people of the city harshly. In response to the prayers of the oppressed people, the sky-god Anu sent a beastly antagonist to challenge Gilgamesh, the half-animal Enkidu. Yet he is stripped of his wildness by the harlot Shamhat and shown the light of civilization by a group of shepherds. He eventually travels to Uruk and confronts Gilgamesh over latter’s practice of having sexual intercourse with every new bride in the cite, following the divine plan. Yet instead of becoming bitter enemies, Enkidu and Gilgamesh befriend each other for life. Growing lazy in the city, Gilgamesh convinces Enkidu to travel with him to the Cedar Forest in Iraq and vanquish the guardian monster. Shamash, Gilgamesh’s divine progenitor sends him prophetic dreams and promises to protect his life. While the exact details of the journey to the Forest are lost in theShow MoreRelatedOld Testament Survey9880 Words   |  40 Pagesfrom one to enhance the understanding of another . Chapter 2: The Bible and Myth A Problem Of Definition Oswalt outlines the basis for the reality of the Bible. Does the Old Testament have their origins in truth or is the literature influenced by mythical thought of the ANE? This argument evolved over time with new evidence and new assumptions by biblical scholars. The main basis for truth is that the Bible is unique from all other cultures of the ANE in that it uses the human-historical experienceRead MoreKhasak14018 Words   |  57 Pagesnovel. It deals mainly with Freudian theories which explore the dark vaults of the psyche of the characters in the novel. The third chapter, titled Ancient Moulds, studies Mythological or Archetypal criticism and analyses the novel for recurring mythical and archetypal patterns. The concluding chapter studies how psychoanalytic theory and mythological studies can account for the universal appeal of the work and also suggests areas for further research. Posted by Preethu at 02:05 No comments: Introduction Read Moresecond sex Essay13771 Words   |  56 Pagesthe expression of a duality ? that of the Self and the Other. This 2 The Kinsey Report [Alfred C. Kinsey and others: Sexual Behaviour in the Human Male (W.B. Saunders Co., 1948)] is no exception, for it is limited to describing the sexual characteristics of American men, which is quite a different matter. 3 E. Levinas expresses this idea most explicitly in his essay Temps et IAutre. Is there not a case in which otherness, alterity [altà ©rità ©], unquestionably marks the nature of a being, as