Clinicians' views on parental involvement in the treatment of adolescent anorexia nervosa.

A questionnaire and in-depth interviews with 20 allied health clinicians generated data on key aspects of family-based treatment for adolescent anorexia nervosa that enhance recovery, processes that engage parents in treatment, and how and why clinicians modify or adapt the manualized Maudsley Family Based Treatment model. Findings indicate that clinicians support key principles in the Maudsley model, but that the approach is not implemented in the full, manualized form. Rather, aspects are integrated with clinicians' own clinical judgements based on assessment of the needs and capacities of families, cultural appropriateness, impact on family dynamics, and gains during early treatment.

Discoveries on a data-mining expedition: single session social work in hospitals.

Data-mining is a method for practice-based research that draws on existing organizational data to inform practice issues and build social work knowledge. This article reports on how a study investigating social work practice questions about the nature and extent of single session work in hospitals was enhanced by accessing the extensive hospital patient data system. Useful descriptive statistics on the level, purpose, location, and activities of single session social work in nine hospitals in a region of Australia were generated from the patient data. The researchers also report on the importance of a consultative and collaborative process for effective data-mining outcomes.

International policy perspectives on independence in old age.

The promotion of independence in old age has become a common principle in aging policies internationally. The term independence, however, has a variety of meanings that are shaped by social/political/economic contexts and the values and attitudes toward older people. Interpretations of independence affect the ways in which policies are translated into strategies and services. The promotion of independence features prominently in the aging policies of the United Nations and the World Health Organization but does not fit well with the cultural values and social contexts of some countries. A comparison of aging policies in four countries-Australia, Denmark, India, and United Kingdom-found that the principle of promoting independence is not universally adopted. The author proposes that the profile and meaning of independence in policy is shaped by values surrounding individual, family, and social responsibilities. Consideration is given to the limitations and culturally bound nature of independence as a policy principle.

Single contacts with hospital social workers: the clients' experiences.

Decreasing lengths of stay in acute hospitals result in social workers often being unable to engage in planned interventions with clients over a number of sessions. Single session work is a reality for much social work practice. This article reports on a qualitative study of clients' experiences of a single contact with a social worker in a hospital setting. Building on prior research on hospital social workers' experiences of single session work, the study found that rapport building, empathy, non-judgmentalism, practical assistance, and advocacy are important features of the social work role in the intense and time limited context of single session hospital social work.

"Everybody puts a lot into it!" Single session contacts in hospital social work.

For the most part, social casework literature is based on the assumption that social workers have on-going contacts with clients over a period of time. However, the experience of social workers in a number of fields of practice suggests that it is common for social workers to see clients only once. This paper reports on a qualitative study of hospital social workers' experiences of single session contacts with clients. Analysis of the data from focus groups with hospital social workers indicated that they do not always give single session work the significance it deserves, although a high level of skill is seen to be required to do such brief work well. A number of distinctive characteristics of single session work were identified including setting clear goals and parameters, establishing rapport quickly and adhering to the social work principle of self determination at the same time as working quite directively. The implications of these findings for future research are discussed.