Consulting the Children: Interviews with Children Using Residential Respite Care Services

Abstract

The Children Act, 1989, requires that services for children are provided in partnership with parents and that the wishes and feelings of the child and his/her parents are ascertained and given due consideration (sect . 22) . As part of a research project assessing the quality of services to children with disabilities under the Children Act, the authors carried out evaluations of six residential respite care services. The services were used mainly by children with learning difficulties, some of whom had little or no speech. Staff at the schools attended by the children were asked to interview them, so that their views could be included in the evaluation reports . Interview schedules and aids to communication were devised to try and enable all the children to express their views . This article describes the initial schedules and the changes made in the light of experience during the research . The authors then summarise the children's responses and consider how the process of consultation could be improved in future .

Where are the Children? Children’s Role in Measuring and Monitoring Their Well-Being

“…Similarly other researchers have recommended that using other people (then the researchers themselves) who are familiar to the children will benefit the research and its methodological strength (Minkes et al, 1994;Hill, 1997).…”

Adolescents With Asperger Syndrome and Perceptions of Friendship

“…This approach enabled the adolescents to describe their own experiences in an open way. Researchers such as Minkes, Robinson, and Weston (1994) and Morris (1998) have discussed the importance of empowering individuals with disabilities by seeking their views. The goal of this type of research is not to explain but to understand the meanings the adolescents have constructed from their own experiences (McPhail, 1995).…”

Disabled Peoples Evaluation on Childhood Respite Care Experience

“…Table 3: Process of disabled children becoming independent from parents. children, making it a positive experience for them [8]. The results of this study and the views such as Minkes' suggest the usefulness of respite care towards acquiring social abilities.…”