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Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) are abusive legal actions or threats brought by powerful parties to suppress criticism. This article is the first to interrogate the efficacy of the policy and legislative responses to SLAPPs in Europe and in England and Wales. It is also the first to provide extensive analysis of how SLAPPs have, to date, been treated by domestic courts, and how judges have applied the Civil Procedure Rules to the phenomenon. In assessing the existing early disposal mechanisms that have hitherto been deployed in these cases, and the early disposal mechanism prescribed in the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 anti-SLAPP provisions, it argues that they are flawed, and in the case of ECCTA, a false dawn for tackling SLAPPs. Furthermore, and significantly, it advances an alternative model for a novel dedicated SLAPP early disposal mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a detailed overview of how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the income of charitable organisations – an under-researched theme within social policy, which thus far has largely focused on the impact of the pandemic on individuals' and households' wellbeing. It analyses a unique longitudinal dataset that follows through time c.90,000 charities in England and Wales. The results, for the first time, illustrate the scale of the pandemic's financial impact on the charitable sector: the median charity experienced a 13% real decline in annual income, while a charity at the 25th percentile of the annual relative growth distribution experienced an income decline of 43%. Importantly these annual declines are much more sizeable than those associated with the Great Recession and subsequent period of public spending austerity. Smaller charities, particularly those with an income under £100k, have been most significantly affected. The declines have been pervasive, extending across most fields of charitable activity, though certain charitable fields have seen particularly acute declines. While there has rightly been considerable emphasis on the important role of voluntary action in responding to the pandemic, this new empirical evidence helps to communicate the extent of the recent challenges faced by the charitable sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the significant influence of localism on policy discourses in the UK in recent decades, there has been limited evidence of any fundamental changes in state-civil society relationships. The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 created a new context for cross-sectoral collaboration, as the local Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) and local communities moved to the forefront of the crisis response. This paper draws upon 49 semi-structured interviews with local authorities (LAs) and VCS organisations across England, Scotland and Wales, to explore how the pandemic has reshaped LA-VCS collaboration. Examining the evolution of a range of local collaborative frameworks during the Covid-19 crisis, the article examines what enabled these collaborations to develop, how they operated and what insights can be derived regarding both the conditions for collaboration to flourish and the capacity to sustain this going forward. The findings offer insights into what more progressive forms of collaboration might look like during the transition from crisis and into recovery. It contributes to broader debates about whether the models deployed during Covid-19 represent a pathway to more consensus-based collaboration after a decade of antagonism between civil society and the state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2023, suicide rates in England & Wales reached their highest levels since 1999. Despite changes in legal definitions and registration methods impacting trends, this increase reflects growing individual suffering. International comparisons suggest that while the UK saw a 12 % rise in suicide rates between 1999 and 2020, many other European countries experienced significant declines. We used publicly available data from the Office for National Statistics on suicide rates from 1981 to 2023, by sex and geographical region in England & Wales. We conducted descriptive and statistical analyses with the Joinpoint regression programme to identify significant discontinuities in trends in suicide rates. In 1981, London had the highest suicide rates, but by 2023, it reported the lowest for both sexes, with declines of 51 % for men and 69 % for women. In contrast, the North East and North West now have much higher rates, particularly in men. Several regions have seen little improvement. There are substantial regional differences in suicide trends in England. These are consistent with known social and economic changes and point to a need for whole of government responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Whether emotional problems during childhood and adolescence are longitudinally associated with adult alcohol use behaviors is unclear. This study examined associations between developmental trajectories of emotional problems and early adult alcohol use behaviors, while considering co‐occurring conduct problems, developmental change/timing, sex differences, and potential confounds. Methods: Participants were from the Twins Early Development Study (analytic N = 19,908 individuals). Emotional and conduct problems were measured by parent reports at child ages 4, 7, and 9 years and via self‐reports at ages 9, 11, and 16 years on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Alcohol use behaviors (alcohol consumption and alcohol‐related problems) were self‐reported by the twins on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test at age 22 years. Piecewise latent growth curve models described nonlinear developmental trajectories of emotional and conduct problems from ages 4 to 16. At age 22, alcohol use was regressed on emotional and conduct problems' intercepts and slopes from piecewise latent growth curve model and sex differences in regression coefficients were tested. Using twin modeling, Cholesky decompositions and direct path models were compared to test whether significant phenotypic associations were best explained by direct phenotypic influences or correlated genetic and environmental influences. Results: Emotional problems had different associations with alcohol‐related problems versus alcohol consumption. After accounting for direct influences from conduct problems, emotional problems were not associated with alcohol‐related problems, while emotional problems at age 9 were negatively associated with alcohol consumption in males. Conclusions: Overall, findings did not support emotional problems as prospective risk factors for severe alcohol use above and beyond risks associated with conduct problems. Sex‐ and age‐specific links between emotional problems and alcohol consumption in early adulthood may be worthy of further exploration, particularly as twin analyses improved our confidence that such links may be underpinned by causal mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research suggests that whilst not more likely to offend, autistic people are overrepresented within the Criminal Justice System. To date, prevalence estimates are available only for male autistic offenders. Thus, this research aimed to provide the prison-reported rate of autistic female prisoners currently residing in the female prison estate in England. All 12 of the female prisons in England were contacted to request the following information: (1) the total number of autistic females; and (2) the total female prison population. Findings show an English female prison-reported rate of autism of 4.78% indicating that autism is approximately 13.7 times higher in female prisons compared to the general population. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first research article to focus exclusively on female autistic offenders. Further research is needed to understand the risk factors for offending, offender characteristics, offence types/patterns and autistic experience of the Criminal Justice System for female autistic offenders. What is already known about the topic? Autistic people are reported to offend at lower or comparable rates to non-autistic people. However, autism is overrepresented within male prisons due to a number of suggested reasons including an increased chance of being caught and a lack of autistic sensitive interventions which lead to longer stays in prison. To the authors' knowledge, no papers currently exist focussing on autistic females in prison. What does this paper add? To the authors' knowledge, this is the first piece of research to solely include autistic females in prison settings. This research provides an estimate of how many autistic people are in female prisons. All 12 female prisons in England were contacted. Data provided indicate a prison-reported female autism rate of 4.78%. This prison-reported female autism rate is 13.7 times higher than the prevalence of autistic females in the general population. Implications for practice research or policy? Autism is overrepresented in female prisons; however, to the authors' knowledge no current research exists on this group to understand their needs or experience. Autistic females often have differing requirements to males and the lack of research highlights the need for future research to investigate areas such as factors which increase the risk of offending, offences typically committed and the female autistic experience of the Criminal Justice System. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Against a backdrop of an increasingly younger terrorist cohort within His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service, this study aims to explore the relationship between age and various Extremism Risk Guidance 22+ (ERG22+) assessment outcomes. Design/methodology/approach: A database of 490 individuals was developed by coding content of ERG22+ reports from 2010 to 2021, equating to nearly all cases in England and Wales across this time period. Socio-demographic information, offending histories, online activities and risk factors were coded for all individuals. This study focuses on 465 individuals convicted of terrorist/terrorist-related offending, with statistical analyses used to compare three age groups: "20 and under" (61 cases), 21–25 (133 cases) and "26 and over" (271 cases). Findings: Significant associations were found between presence of certain behaviours/characteristics and age groups. For those aged 20 and under, a heightened propensity for excitement, comradeship and adventure, along with greater susceptibility to influence and need for status were generally key to offending pathways, with a diminished likelihood of a prior criminal history. Of the three ERG22+ dimensions, findings indicate a weak but significant negative correlation between age and engagement levels. Practical implications: Recommendations include ensuring extremism risk assessments reflect age-specific behaviours and tendencies, that interventions are tailored to address common age-related vulnerabilities, and the need for age-specific policies to support and manage children and young adults within the counter-terrorism space. Originality/value: These novel findings point towards notable developmental milestones in adolescence, affecting behavioural tendencies and risk. This underscores the importance of age as a determinant when interpreting extremism risk assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Research indicates the challenges indeterminate sentenced prisoners (ISPs) face within open prison may have a potentially devastating impact on rehabilitation and prison sentence progression. The authors conducted a study in an English open prison to explore whether the closed prison environment within England and Wales is sufficiently preparing ISPs for the transition to open conditions. There is currently a gap in existing research concerning this issue, which this paper aims to narrow for the purpose of informing good practice and improving sentence progression and rehabilitation outcomes within His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service. Design/methodology/approach: Qualitative and exploratory. Reflexive thematic analysis was conducted to identify themes (Braun and Clarke, 2019). Findings: Findings indicated the need for policy in closed prisons to better prepare ISPs for open prison and the need for policy in open prisons to better support ISPs during the liminal phase. Practical implications: Findings aimed to inform consideration for improvements to enhance preparation for, and transition to, open conditions. A 17-month follow-up after dissemination of the research found evidence for the practical application of the findings at a local level within HMPPS and potential for wider applications linking to strategy and ISP initiatives. Originality/value: If applied more widely across HMPPS in both closed and open prisons, the research findings have the potential to improve sentence progression and rehabilitation outcomes for ISPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This paper identifies differences in all-cancer incidence and mortality between Pakistani-born (PB), Bangladeshi-born (BB), their descendants, and the White British (WB) in England and Wales. Pakistanis and Bangladeshis are the most marginalised and disadvantaged groups in England and Wales yet, are found to have low cancer mortality and low all-cause mortality. Previous studies though have not looked at generational differences, applied individual-level data nor separated Pakistanis and Bangladeshis from each other and other Asian groups. Methods: We use the Office for National Statistics Longitudinal Study of England and Wales which is a 1% representative sample of the population. We apply event history analysis on a study period from 1971 to 2016, following individuals from age 20 until a first cancer incidence, censoring at emigration or death. We observe 10,885,500 person-years and 71,926 cancer incidences for WB; 125,700 person-years and 295 events for PB; 53,900 person-years and 113 events for BB and 26,900 person-years and 24 events for descendants. Following incidence, we study a maximum of ten years until a death from cancer, or censoring. In this second analysis on mortality our sample has 329,700 person-years and 31,689 cancer deaths for WB; 1,200 person-years and 104 events for PB; 400 person-years and 50 events for BB and 100 person-years and 10 events for descendants. Results: Results from the fully adjusted models show that the risk of cancer incidence is lower for PB, BB and descendants compared to the WB native group. Estimated hazard ratio (HR) equals 0.42 for PB (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.38–0.47), for BB HR is 0.38 (CI: 0.32–0.46) and, for descendants HR is 0.36 (CI: 0.24–0.54). Results for cancer mortality after incidence show HR for PB is 0.93 (CI: 0.76–1.12), for BB it is 0.95 (CI: 0.72–1.25) and for descendants HR equals 1.62 (CI: 0.87–3.02 - significant at 90%). Conclusions: Using high quality representative data, we show that lower incidence of cancer and not better survival is the driver of the low cancer mortality previously found. This advantage persists across immigrant generations, but all-cancer mortality following incidence may be elevated for descendants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through a focus on the work of the additional learning needs co‐ordinator (ALNCo) and their collaboration with others, this article examines the policy–practice intersection, specifically focusing on inclusive education and practices to support additional learning needs in primary schools in Wales in response to recent educational reform. Our study gathered data from three focus groups of ALNCos across south Wales, with three participants in each group. Our findings explore ALNCos' sense of connectedness within the system and the conditions that supported the development of certain educational practices, some of which align with the new policy agenda and others which have their roots in the previous system of supporting children with special educational needs. Four key themes are presented: compliance with mandated practice, non‐compliance and resistance to reform, the importance of accountability within local systems, and challenges of the ALNCo role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Professional advisory groups, with patient and public involvement (PPI) representatives, can be used for co-production within research projects. This paper aims to document the benefits and challenges of undertaking stakeholder and participant engagement for an implementation research project within NHS (National Health Service) Wales. A patient focused research project, initiated by clinicians, on the use of patient empowerment tools within standard patient care, used a professional advisory group to identify appropriate tools to use within the research proposal. The professional advisory group was made up of therapists, NHS stakeholders, academics and PPI representatives. A hybrid-meeting style was employed to optimise participation for all members of the group. Benefits of the professional advisory group included increased engagement and ownership of the study due to co-creation, and obtaining important contextual information and lived experience. However, challenges included keeping the discussion on topic due to pre-conceived agendas, pleasing everyone in the room due to varied backgrounds, and technological issues. Future professional advisory groups should consider how to facilitate the full involvement of PPI representatives within the discussion and having a variety of resources to present the topic of discussion. Furthermore, clearly communicating what the purpose and direction of the research project is and how it fits into the wider system, should be carefully considered. Overall, it was recognised that the professional advisory group was of significant value to shape the research proposal. Due to the situational challenges faced by healthcare professional within the NHS and preconceived ideas for solutions, it is hoped that by involving stakeholders early in the process there will be greater acceptance and usability of the research findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Children with established kidney failure may have additional medical conditions influencing kidney care and outcomes. This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the prevalence of co-existing diseases captured in the electronic hospital record compared to UK Renal Registry (UKRR) data and differences in coding. Methods: The study population comprised children aged < 18 years receiving kidney replacement therapy (KRT) in England and Wales on 31/12/2016. Comorbidity data at KRT start was examined in the hospital record and compared to UKRR data. Agreement was assessed by the kappa statistic. Associations between patient and clinical factors and likelihood of coding were examined using multivariable logistic regression. Results: A total of 869 children (62.5% male) had data linkage for inclusion. UKRR records generally reported a higher prevalence of co-existing disease than electronic health records; congenital, non-kidney disease was most commonly reported across both datasets. The highest sensitivity in the hospital record was seen for congenital heart disease (odds ratio (OR) 0.65, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.51, 0.78) and malignancy (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.41, 0.85). At best, moderate agreement (kappa ≥ 0.41) was seen between the datasets. Factors associated with higher odds of coding in hospital records included age, while kidney disease and a higher number of comorbidities were associated with lower odds of coding. Conclusions: Health records generally under-reported co-existing disease compared to registry data with fair-moderate agreement between datasets. Electronic health records offer a non-selective overview of co-existing disease facilitating audit and research, but registry processes are still required to capture paediatric-specific variables pertinent to kidney disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wales has been committed to receiving asylum seekers and resettling refugees in towns and cities, and these numbers are increasing on a yearly basis. However, many people seeking asylum feel disempowered by the disabling policies of the Home Office, leading to social and economic hardship for this population. This qualitative study aimed to capture the voices of this under-served group through in-depth, semi structured interviews to gain contextual understanding of the social and psychological challenges experienced by people seeking asylum in Wales. The findings suggest that many asylum seekers and refugees relied on their social support networks to compensate for the limited welfare offered to them by the asylum system. Changes to the asylum process and policies are needed for Wales to achieve its goal of ensuring that people seeking asylum are supported to rebuild their lives and make a full contribution to the Welsh society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we explore the properties of peanut-shaped single-walled carbon nanotubes (PSNTs), which are formed by introducing successive axial Stone-Wales (SW) defects into zigzag carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Employing first-principles calculations, we investigate the energetics of these defects and their effect on the structural, elastic, and electronic properties of the zigzag (10,0) CNT. Additionally, we examine the role of tensile and compressive axial strain in modifying the properties of these PSNTs. The results show significant reductions in band gaps, with distinct behaviors observed under different strain conditions. Notably, PSNTs exhibit strain-dependent electronic properties, including metal–semiconductor transformations and distinctive persistent metallic or semiconducting behavior under specific strain conditions. Furthermore, we find that the trend in variation in the band gap with strain is significantly influenced by changes in bond lengths, which vary depending on the type and magnitude of the applied strain. These findings provide insights into the tunability of CNT electronic properties through defect engineering and strain application, offering potential pathways for designing advanced nanoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children and young people (CYP) who experience domestic abuse are at greater risk of negative outcomes in adult life. In Wales, an emphasis is placed on a multiagency response to domestic abuse, and there is growing interest in the role of schools in prevention and intervention. A mixed-methods design was adopted to explore the views of professionals on the current response to domestic abuse. Questionnaires were completed by 36 schools in Wales, and a series of focus groups was held with CYP workers from specialist domestic abuse settings and from school and social work staff. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and reflexive thematic analysis. Four overarching themes were developed. Findings illustrate that, whilst there are a variety of interventions and support available for CYP who have experienced domestic abuse, an effective response is impacted by the systems in place to respond to it. It is argued that current practice needs to be more radical if meaningful change is to take place for CYP and their families. Implications for practice are discussed, including the role of the educational psychologist (EP). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Almost 2 million people in the UK live with sight loss, and this number is predicted to double by 2050. There is increasing recognition of the need to provide counselling services to people living with sight loss. Aim: The aim of this research was to assess whether there is an unmet need for counselling services for people living with sight loss in North Wales and to estimate the social value and budget impact of the potential roll‐out of counselling services to this population. Method: Between December 2020 and May 2021, a telephone survey was completed by 192 people living with sight loss in North Wales, UK. The survey instrument was a 19‐item questionnaire, which included the Short Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Well‐being Scale (SWEMWBS). Using data from the SWEMWBS and published statistics, a social return on investment (SROI) and budget impact analysis were conducted. Results: Most respondents (84%, n = 161) had never been offered counselling in relation to sight loss. Thirty‐nine per cent (n = 74) stated that they would use a new counselling service if it were available. Fifty‐one per cent (n = 97) indicated that counselling could be especially beneficial for people who have recently been registered or diagnosed with sight loss (the timely window). Of those who completed the SWEMWBS, approximately 25% reported low mental well‐being or probable depression. Social return on investment analysis estimated that providing counselling services for people with sight loss in North Wales could generate a social value of £3.42 for every £1 invested. Conclusion: Timely counselling may improve an individual's ability to cope with sight loss and improve their quality of life over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review summarises the current research on Welsh speakers' experiences accessing mental health support. Identified themes include identity, the therapeutic relationship, lack of resources and lack of awareness of Welsh culture and language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the first time, this paper takes a dynamic approach to studying formal school exclusions and their association with educational outcomes. In particular, we study every instance of school exclusions over a key part of a pupil's education lifecourse between Year 6 (end of primary school) to Year 11 (end of secondary school). Using a single population cohort of all pupils in maintained schools in Wales, we show that the frequency of formal school exclusions varies over pupils' lifecourse and identify five main exclusion trajectories, reflecting these variations over time, as follows: no exclusions, low level exclusions, early rise in exclusions, high-level Year 11 exclusions and late rise in exclusions. These general trajectories may suggest differences in the underlying reason for school exclusions that are not necessarily evident in pupils' official records or as reported by individual schools. We also show the differential impact of these exclusion trajectories on later educational outcomes. Highlighting these different trajectories may be useful to policymakers and practitioners when developing national and local guidance around school exclusions. They may also reflect unknown biases in the likelihood that a pupil gets excluded from school, often a major area of concern in debates around inclusive education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To understand the perceived helpfulness and acceptability of a bespoke psychological therapy service for registered nurses. The service provided a free and confidential specialist mental health service to all healthcare professionals, including nurses and nursing students. Design: An exploratory study using a descriptive qualitative approach. Methods: A purposive sample of 20 registered nurses accessing a bespoke psychological therapy service in Wales participated in audio‐recorded semi‐structured interviews in January 2022. Transcribed data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Four interrelated themes were identified from the data analysis: COVID [SARS‐CoV‐2] changed things; You're a nurse, you're human; I've got 'me' back; and pretty close to miracle workers. Conclusion: Participants attempted to live up to an idealized image of a nurse, generating self‐stigmatizing beliefs that negatively affected their mental health. The psychological therapy service enabled participants to put their roles into perspective, that is, separate themselves from their role, be vulnerable, and develop confidence and adaptive coping strategies. Participants valued the minimal barriers and ease of access to support. Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care: The complex relationship between nurse identity and the challenges of the workplace needs to be central to nurse education. Nurses can benefit from rapid access to a timely, confidential, and independent self‐referring psychological therapy service. Impact: This qualitative study explored the helpfulness and accessibility of psychological support for nurses. The main themes were that COVID changed things; You're a nurse, you're human; I've got 'me' back; and pretty close to miracle workers. The findings will impact how nurses are supported in the United Kingdom and worldwide. Reporting Method: This report adheres to the standards for reporting qualitative research (SRQR). Patient or Public Contribution: No patient or public contribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2021 Census of England and Wales was one of the first in the world to ascertain the gender identity of an entire population. This article argues that its results are implausible with regard to geography, language, education, ethnicity, and religion. The results contradict data on referrals to gender clinics and signatures on a pro-transgender petition. The results are also internally inconsistent when the various categories of gender identity are correlated across localities, and when compared with sexual orientation. The spurious results were produced by a flawed question, which originated with a transgender campaigning organization. The question evidently confused a substantial number of respondents who erroneously declared their gender identity to differ from their natal sex. Confusion is manifested in the overrepresentation of people lacking English proficiency in the most suspect gender categories. These findings demonstrate how a faulty question can distort our apprehension of the social world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Population‐based studies have observed sex biases in the diagnosis and treatment of attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Females are less likely to be diagnosed or prescribed ADHD medication. This study uses national healthcare records, to investigate sex differences in diagnosis and clinical care in young people with ADHD, particularly regarding recognition and treatment of other mental health conditions. Methods: The cohort included individuals diagnosed with ADHD, born between 1989 and 2013 and living in Wales between 2000 and 2019. Routine primary and secondary healthcare record data were used to derive diagnoses of ADHD and other neurodevelopmental and mental health conditions, as well as ADHD and antidepressant medications. Demographic variables included ethnicity, socioeconomic deprivation and contact with social services. Results: There were 16,458 individuals diagnosed with ADHD (20.3% females, ages 3–30 years), with a male‐to‐female ratio of 3.9:1. Higher ratios (4.8:1) were seen in individuals diagnosed younger (<12 years), with the lowest ratio (1.9:1) in those diagnosed as adults (>18). Males were younger at first recorded ADHD diagnosis (mean = 10.9 vs. 12.6 years), more likely to be prescribed ADHD medication and younger at diagnosis of co‐occurring neurodevelopmental conditions. In contrast, females were more likely to receive a diagnosis of anxiety, depression or another mental health condition and to be prescribed antidepressant medications, prior to ADHD diagnosis. These sex differences were largely stable across demographic groups. Conclusions: This study adds to the evidence base that females with ADHD are experiencing later recognition and treatment of ADHD. The results indicate that this may be partly because of diagnostic overshadowing from other mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression, or initial misdiagnosis. Further research and dissemination of findings to the public are needed to improve awareness, timely diagnosis and treatment of ADHD in females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Applications for detention under civil sections of the England and Wales Mental Health Act 1983 require at least one recommendation from a registered medical practitioner who is approved under section 12 of the Act. The Mental Health Act 2007 introduced multi-professional approved clinicians who may act as a patient's responsible clinician with responsibilities that include renewal of detention for treatment. Approved clinicians who are medical practitioners are automatically approved for section 12 purposes, whereas other approved clinicians are not. It is argued in this paper that this inconsistency is illogical, has implications for patient care and needs to be remedied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents a comparative mixed methods study of the accessibility and usability for disabled people of four video conferencing tools, Zoom, MS Teams, Google Meet and Skype. Useable responses were obtained from 81 disabled people with diverse characteristics, mainly in the UK, though some groups had low representation. None of the tools was considered fully accessible and useable. Zoom was both the most commonly used and the most frequently preferred (56.1%) tool, with MS Teams second in usage and a trailing second in preferences (15.9%). It was considered to have better captioning, but otherwise to generally be a poor second to Zoom. Skype was the most commonly used before lockdown, but was considered dated and its limited use was mainly social, whereas the other tools were also used in work and education. The results were used to draw up separate lists of recommendations for developers and meeting organisers and hosts, as the study also identified actions for organisers and hosts to improve meeting accessibility. Developer recommendations include several easy to set customisation and user friendly interface features, involving disabled people and specific accessibility features, including compatibility with assistive technology, keyboard shortcuts for all functions and automatically-on high quality captions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seventeen percent of people living in the UK are migrants. In high-income countries, migrants have been shown to have better all-cause mortality but worse mortality for some specific causes such as infectious diseases. This observational study aims to quantify the extent to which mortality from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) differed between migrants and non-migrants for the population of England and Wales, 2020-2021. We use Official National Statistics data to compare mortality from COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021 by country/region of birth, expressed as the standardized mortality ratio with those born in England and Wales as the reference population. Migrants from 17 of 19 countries/regions examined had higher mortality from COVID-19 than non-migrants. The highest mortality was those born in Bangladesh (females SMR = 3.39, 95% CIs 3.09–3.71; males 4.41, 95% CIs 4.09–4.75); Pakistan (females 2.73, 95% CIs 2.59–2.89; males 3.02, 95% CIs 2.89–3.14); and the Caribbean (females 2.03, 95% CIs 1.87–2.20; males 2.48, 95% CIs 2.37–2.60). Migrants born in Antarctica and Oceania (females 0.54, 95% CI 0.42–0.40; males 0.71, 95% CI 0.51–0.88), and North and Central America (females 0.95, 95% CI 0.80–1.11; males 0.85, 95% CI 0.72–0.99) had lower mortality than non-migrants. Most migrant populations had higher mortality from COVID-19 than non-migrants in England and Wales. Policy-makers must work to integrate migration status into routine data collection to inform future research and understand the causes of the inequalities seen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In England and Wales, Approved Mental Health Professionals (AMHPs) have the ultimate responsibility, based on doctors' medical recommendations, for deciding to detain a person, without consent, under the Mental Health Act (1983). The work can be traumatic, yet its emotional impacts are often unacknowledged. Consistent themes include erratic levels of supervision and an overdependence on peer support, despite the longstanding recruitment and retention difficulties arising from high levels of stress and burnout. This article draws on findings from two research projects with AMHP services: one a national study using questionnaires and focus groups, and the other a doctoral research study using ethnography. Findings suggest that a lack of peer support, teamwork and debrief opportunities, exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic, intensified stress and burnout ('buckling under') as well as undermining socialising opportunities for trainees. AMHPs used metaphoric language to articulate their difficult experiences. Workplace environments including hot-desking and lone working may undermine casework discussions, social relations, informal peer support and supervision. Overall, AMHPs perceive their teammates as an essential source of support (a 'safety net') without which there are negative implications for practice. Ultimately, stress is exacerbated when there is no space to reflect and no team to do this with. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: A study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of an experimental procedure for inducing adaptive motivation, including its differential efficacy for light/moderate and heavy drinkers. Method: Participants were university-student drinkers (N = 79, males = 26.1%, mean age = 19.86 years) who were randomly assigned to a control or an experimental group. The experimental group underwent an experimental induction involving Concept Identification Cards for enhancing adaptive motivation, whereas the control group received an inert induction. At baseline, all participants completed a demographics questionnaire and the Alcohol Use Questionnaire. To evaluate the effectiveness of the induction, at both baseline and post-induction, participants completed the General Self-Efficacy Scale and the Task-Specific Personal Concern Inventory (TSPCI). Results: At baseline, there were no differences between the two groups on Self-Efficacy or Task-Specific Adaptive Motivation. At the posttest, participants in the experimental group correctly answered more of the Concept Identification Cards than the control group (p <.001). At the posttest, only the experimental group showed improvements in self-efficacy (p <.025) and task-specific adaptive motivation (p <.025). Conclusions: This study demonstrates that adaptive motivational structure can be experimentally induced, and the induction is as effective with Heavy Drinkers as with Light/Moderate Drinkers. Suggestions for future research using the induction of adaptive motivation with heavy drinkers is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The range of digital sources available to historians has expanded at an enormous rate over the last fifty years; this has enabled all kinds of innovative scholarship to flourish. However, this process has also shaped recent historical work in ways that have not been fully discussed or documented. This article considers how we might reconcile the digitisation of archival sources with their materiality, with a particular focus on the probate records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury (PCC). The article first considers the variety of digital sources available to historians of the United Kingdom, highlighting the particular influence of genealogical companies in shaping what material is available, how it has been digitised and how those sources are accessed. Secondly, we examine the PCC wills' digitisation, what was gained and what was lost in that process, notably important material aspects of the wills. This article does not seek to champion archival research in opposition to digitally based scholarship; instead, we remind historians of the many ways in which the creation of sources shape their potential use, and call on historians to push for improvements in the United Kingdom's digital infrastructure to avoid these problems in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Demands for independence have increased across Europe in the last decade, but there are limits to our understanding of what makes secessionist parties more ambiguous or assertive on independence. This article's original contribution to the literature on regionalist parties in Western Europe is in addressing gaps in understanding of secessionist party strategy. Consequently, its original theoretical contribution is to enrich analysis of secessionist party strategic calculations. It achieves this by advancing analysis of key factors influencing pro-independence parties' emphasis on their secession claims by modifying a framework of internal and external factors developed by Elias and Mees (2017). It deepens assessment of state-wide impacts on the salience of pro-independence demands, including incumbent central government parties and secessionist parties in other parts of the state. Empirically, the article evaluates the framework's strengths by examining the case of Plaid Cymru, Wales 2003–2021 drawing on a new dataset and qualitative research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People on probation face particular health inequalities and are categorised as an 'inclusion health' population group within public health policy in Wales. The health of this group is thought to be worse than the general population and a factor in whether people reoffend. This article is based on mixed-methods exploratory research which included a survey covering 34 community-based services who work with people on probation across Wales. Survey respondents indicated service availability and waiting lists, and mistrust of professionals are key barriers to accessing healthcare. The most identified health needs were mental health and substance misuse related. There is an opportunity to increase the focus on healthcare for people on probation through inclusion health approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Against the backdrop of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Welsh and Basque Governments in 2018, this article introduces a multiscalar and transdisciplinary social sciences action research framework that emerged from a workshop held in May 2023. The workshop engaged stakeholders from both sides and is part of the broader ongoing project. This project seeks to address the main research question, 'How do small nations cooperate?' through the exploration of transregional cooperation and mutual learning between Wales and the Basque Country. The structure of the article is as follows: First, it commences with an introduction defining 'small nations', presenting the main research question, articulating two related aims, outlining three primary methodological goals and providing a broad context for these two small nations within the framework of their MoU. Second, following a brief description of each small nation, the article concurrently develops the action research methodological framework while analysing findings stemming from workshop discussions between stakeholders of Wales and the Basque Country. They addressed three intertwined territorial scale challenges: Macro, examined through devolution and fiscal federalism perspectives; Meso, explored through social innovations in urban spaces in Cardiff (SPARK) and Bilbao (ASFabrik); and Micro, investigated through grassroots innovations. Finally, the article concludes with an action research and policy agenda. It suggests one operational research question per territorial scale as the conclusion of this article, offering a response to the main research question. The conclusion acknowledges limitations and outlines future research and policy pathways for this ongoing project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children's chances of contact with the child welfare system at different stages vary significantly by their ethnicity. This study goes beyond recent UK studies on the scale of ethnic differences in children in care or on protection plans by improving data completeness through data linkage, considering the ethnic patterns in the wider population of children in need or receiving care and support, and reporting trends over time. We contribute to the literature on ethnic disproportionality in the child welfare system by reporting the patterns in Wales from 2011 to 2020. The trend of ethnic disproportionality was distinct from the changes in the absolute number of children in the child social welfare system by ethnicity. Over the ten-year period, Mixed-heritage children were the most overrepresented and Asian children the most underrepresented, with fluctuations in the level of overrepresentation between 1.1 and 1.5 and underrepresentation between 0.5 and 0.7. The level of representation for Black children fluctuated considerably between 0.8 and 1.2 over the years. The overall level of ethnic disproportionality in Wales increased from 2011 to 2016 and then decreased from 2017 to 2020. Ethnic disproportionality appeared more pronounced amongst girls and in age groups zero to four and sixteen to seventeen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The restraint of patients is one of the important aspects of the regime in psychiatric hospitals. It has been an issue in hospitals over the years because it interferes with the personal freedom of patients. Most recently it was one of the matters raised in X NHS Foundation Trust v RH [2024] EWCOP 150. This paper aims to add to the awareness of it by looking at what it means, the forms it may take and the justifications for it. It is concluded that restraint of patients is controversial but reasonable and necessary at times in the interests of the patient's own health/safety or that of others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigated how schools and staff in Wales were able to respond to the needs of refugee learners and their families during COVID-19 school lockdowns. Interviews were conducted with a purposive sample (n = 12) of educators working with refugee learners in primary and secondary schools across Wales, including headteachers, class teachers, English as an Additional Language (EAL) specialists, and bilingual teaching assistants. The findings suggest that most refugee learners were able to take advantage of alternative teaching arrangements for vulnerable learners during these periods and were supported to develop digital skills and use online resources. Refugee families were, however, at increased risk of social isolation, and often had fewer resources to facilitate home schooling. Staff requested specific training and improved communication links to more fully understand the cultural backgrounds and additional needs of refugee learners. Schools also need a coherent strategy and budget allocation to provide adequate support for on-going language learning and acquisition of basic skills, which might include the development of alternative curricula and qualifications for refugee learners, where appropriate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Existing estimates of palliative care need in the UK were produced before the COVID-19 pandemic. We sought to produce updated, population-level estimates of palliative care need for each of the four UK nations and explore how these changed during the pandemic. Methods: We conducted a descriptive analysis of routine data. We used a well-established, diagnosis-based methodology which produced minimal estimates of palliative care need based on underlying causes of death; intermediate estimates based on underlying and contributory causes of death; and maximal estimates based on excluding unexpected causes of death. Additional estimates incorporated deaths involving COVID-19. All methods were applied to official mortality statistics from England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland for the years 2017 to 2021. Results: From 2017 to 2019 for the UK in total, palliative care need was estimated at ~ 74% (minimal), ~ 90% (intermediate) and ~ 96% (maximal) of total deaths, which was broadly consistent with previous studies. Results were similar across all nations. In the pandemic years, 2020-21, the minimal estimates remained stable in terms of the number of people in need but dropped significantly in terms of the proportion of deaths associated with palliative care need (to ~ 66%) due to the overall increase in mortality and large number of deaths from COVID-19. The intermediate (~ 90%) and maximal (~ 96%) estimates showed an increase in the number of people in need but remained stable in proportion of deaths. When deaths involving COVID-19 were treated as deaths associated with palliative need, the minimal estimates increased to ~ 77% and intermediate estimates increased to ~ 92%. Conclusions: In each of the UK's nations, most people who die will have palliative care needs. Excluding deaths from COVID-19 in population-level estimates of palliative care need risks under-estimating true levels of need. Future studies which estimate population-level palliative care need should consider factoring in deaths from COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the intricate layers of identity in Hay-on-Wye, a Welsh border town that symbolizes both cultural distinctiveness and national ambiguity. Through ethnographic research, it explores how residents negotiate Welsh, English, and British identities within a landscape shaped by Hay's unique history, geography, and civic mythology. Known for its self-proclaimed “independence” as the “Kingdom of Hay” and for its internationally renowned literary festival, the town has a rich narrative of local pride. The study foregrounds the role of sport, specifically Hay St. Mary's Football Club, in reflecting and mediating local identity within the context of devolved Wales. Figures like Richard Booth, the town's self-styled “King,” have further shaped Hay's identity, blending notions of community, nationalism, and myth. By investigating how local identities intersect with national frameworks, this research highlights the fluid, multi-layered nature of identity in border regions and contributes to broader discussions on nationalism and regional belonging within the UK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chingford Stables in Dunedin, New Zealand was constructed in 1880 and is the only remaining building of the former Chingford Estate. In 2020 Chingford Stables was re-roofed because of decay of the roof slate. The question arose as to whether the pre-2020 slate had been obtained from a local North Otago quarry, which was active when the stables were built, or from Wales like many nineteenth-century New Zealand roofs of the time. Rb and Sr isotopic analysis of a Chingford slate sample was used to answer this question. On an 87Rb/86Sr vs. 87Sr/86Sr diagram, the Chingford slate clearly lies on 430–400 Ma Welsh slate isochron lines and is distinctly more radiogenic (older) than 250–170 Ma Otago Schist isochrons. The Chingford Stables roof slate did therefore not have a local provenance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nurse staffing levels are increasingly challenged while pressures on healthcare systems are rising. There is a clear need to optimise efficiency in healthcare delivery in order to deliver safe, effective and quality health care. Aim: To understand how nurses working shifts spend their time and explore opportunities to improve efficiency in care delivery. Method: A time-motion study was conducted on three acute care wards in a district general hospital in West Wales; 13 nurses were observed over 14 shifts, each activity undertaken was recorded in real time. Findings: In all, 109 hours were observed. Approximately half of nurses' time is spent delivering direct patient care, with medications administration taking the majority of time. Conclusion: A number of recommendations are made involving processes and workforce modelling with the aim of improving efficiency and safety. Further research would be required to assess the impact of their introduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nearly forty years ago, Stenhouse argued that the function of the curriculum was to stimulate teachers' everyday reflection about and learning from practice. This suggestion, alongside his support for teachers as researchers, aligns with the Welsh Government's commitment to build an evidence‐informed profession as part of ongoing major education system‐level reforms, including the implementation of the new Curriculum for Wales from September 2022. University initial teacher education (ITE) partnerships are playing an important role in building collaborative research capacity. This paper describes a case study of one such partnership which aims to promote research‐informed, reflective practice among its postgraduate primary student teachers. We use one of Stenhouse's principles of empirical study to frame our discussion of how student teachers' reflective practice is supported through brief conversations with their teacher educators (mentors) during lessons. Using a mixed methods approach, the findings show that student teachers value in‐the‐moment feedback. The intervention also helps them to question aspects of teaching and learning, although such reflection is at a technical level. Our study is useful for teacher educators who are interested in supporting reflective practice through coaching and mentoring. It also cautions school leaders and policymakers implementing major curriculum reforms not to lose sight of Stenhouse's view that 'it is teachers who, in the end, will change the world of the school by understanding it'. The paper concludes by discussing the research implications in shaping emerging practice and policy in the context of ongoing system‐level reform and curriculum implementation in Wales, with potential applicability and portability to other contexts and jurisdictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the years leading up to the centenary of the last invasion of the British mainland, several historical novels in Welsh and English chronicled the events of the French landing near Fishguard in 1797. These fictional explorations throw Welsh national identity into relief at a time when Britain consolidated its domestic and overseas territories against its main rival, France. While ostensibly set in the historical past, the novels under observation share significant traits with the popular genre of the invasion novel that came to the fore in the second half of the nineteenth century as the British Empire neared its largest extent. Published during a time of cultural and political revivals in late-Victorian Wales, these historical invasion novels offer a different, literary way to examine past discourses around Welsh nationhood and national territory as well as coloniality and sovereignty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subsequent to the introduction of compulsory relationships and health education in primary schools and relationships and sex education and health education (RSHE) in secondary schools in England from 2020, this paper examines the attitudes of parents towards school- and home-based RSHE. Using data from a survey of parents (n = 849) of children at 37 independent schools in England and Wales, we analysed parental attitudes towards school-parent communication about RSHE, the teaching of RSHE in school, and their own communication with their children about relationships and sex at home, exploring perceived barriers and use of resources. We found significant parental support for school-based RSHE, alongside some concerns, as well as uncertainty and embarrassment as barriers to parent-child communication about relationships and sex at home, indicating the need for schools to strengthen school-parent partnership in this area, and to encourage parents to talk to their children at home in tandem with what is being taught in school. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article uses digitised apprenticeship bindings from the Records of London's Livery Companies Online (ROLLCO) to investigate the migration patterns of those moving from Wales to enrol in 10 of the London guilds in the period 1600–1800. Engaging with existing historiography on metropolitan apprenticeship and migration from the English regions to London, this article outlines the sorts of people who travelled from Wales to join the livery companies as well as analysing their motives in terms of push and pull factors. It also compares Welsh migration with the smaller numbers of Irish and Scots who enrolled. Evidence from ROLLCO demonstrates that Welsh migrants moved to London in significant numbers during the early seventeenth century using similar migration routes to many of their English counterparts, but that livery companies did little to integrate Ireland and Scotland into a wider British economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the factors contributing to drug‐related deaths in English and Welsh prisons between 2015 and 2020. Based on content analysis of all Prison and Probation Ombudsman 'other non‐natural' fatal incident investigation reports, descriptive statistics were generated. Qualitative analysis explored the circumstances surrounding deaths and key risk factors. Most deaths were of men, whose mean age was 39 years. Drug toxicity was the main factor in causing death, exacerbated by underlying physical health conditions and risk‐taking behaviours. A variety of substances were involved. New psychoactive substances became more important over time. A high proportion had recorded histories of substance use and mental illness. During this period, the prison system was under considerable stress creating dangerous environments for drug‐related harm. This study highlights the process of complex interaction between substances used, individual characteristics, situational features and the wider environment in explaining drug‐related deaths in prisons. Implications for policy and practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To increase organ donation rates, many countries have switched from an opt-in ('explicit consent') default for organ donation to an opt-out ('presumed consent') default. This study sought to determine the extent to which this change in default has led to an increase in the number of deceased individuals who become organ donors. Longitudinal retrospective analysis. We conducted a retrospective analysis of within-country longitudinal data to assess the effect of changing the organ donation default policy from opt-in to opt-out. Our analysis focused on the longitudinal deceased donor rates in five countries (Argentina, Chile, Sweden, Uruguay, Wales) that had adopted this change. Using a Bayesian aggregated binomial regression model, we estimated the odds of organ donation within each country over time, as well as the effect of the policy switch. Switching from an opt-in to an opt-out default did not result in an increase in donation rates when averaged across countries. Moreover, the opt-out default did not lead to even a gradual increase in donations: there was no discernible difference in the linear rate of change of donations after the change in default. Finally, the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a reduction in the odds of donation across all five countries. Our longitudinal analysis suggests that changing to an opt-out default does not increase organ donation rates. Unless flanked by investments in healthcare, public awareness campaigns, and efforts to address the concerns of the deceased's relatives, a shift to an opt-out default is unlikely to increase organ donations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study's aim was to explore the prevalence of precarious employment (PE) in Wales prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and examine associations with PE domains across socio-demographics and self-reported health. A cross-sectional design was used to explore the prevalence of PE in Wales prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, in February 2020. Data were collected from a national household survey carried out in May/June 2020, with a sample of 1032 residents in Wales. PE was determined using the Employment Precariousness Scale. Associations between experiencing PE and socio-demographic/health characteristics were examined using Chi-squared tests and logistic regression models (multinomial and binary). Overall, before the pandemic, one in four respondents (26.5%) was in PE, with the most prevalent domains, wages, and disempowerment being experienced by at least 50% of respondents. Worse perceived treatment at work was twice as likely in those reporting pre-existing conditions (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 2.45 95% confidence interval [CI]: [1.33–4.49]), poorer general health (aOR: 2.33 95% CI: [1.22–4.47]), or low mental wellbeing (aOR: 2.81 95% CI: [1.34–5.88]). Those with high wage precariousness were three times more likely to report low mental wellbeing (aOR 3.12 95% CI [1.54–6.32]). The creation and provision of secure, adequately paid job opportunities has the potential to reduce the prevalence of PE in Wales. Targeting such employment opportunities to those people currently unwell would have better population health gains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding more about the discharge of care orders is vital—whether a care order remains in place has significant implications for children and their families and for local authorities. While there has been comprehensive research about the process and outcomes of care proceedings, much less is known about the discharge of care orders—particularly how, why and when care orders are ended and the differences between applications that are granted and those that are not. The present study combined data from an anonymized administrative data on discharge applications, a detailed analysis of children's e‐records and qualitative interviews with family justice professionals to create the first detailed profile of discharge applications across England and Wales. This paper reports, for the first time, the number of discharge applications and outcomes across England and Wales, highlighting regional as well as between‐country variation. Drawing on data from children's e‐records and interviews with professionals, highlighting how and why local authorities are more likely to submit discharge applications, and to have applications granted, than parents. Recommendations are made for how to adapt professional practice and policy around discharge applications to better meet the needs of children and families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a case study narrative of one woman. Drawing on her storied recollections, from infancy into childhood through young motherhood into adulthood, we trace the interlocking relationship between policies and practices intended to offer welfare support facilitating her criminalization. A collaborative approach to producing knowledge, representing 8 years of narrative, dialogue and reflection surfaces a looming panopticon. The gendered power of the state to intervene across the life course is revealed, as is the failed and harmful nature of this panopticon. Three distinct themes emerge from the analysis: the power to define and the fixing nature of gendered policy and practice narratives; the gendered control strategies that reproduce harms in women's lives; and the lifelong nature of the panopticon for some girls and women. Cutting across these experiences are processes of silencing and ultimately resistance, strategies for surviving the enduring forms of institutional surveillance and intervention. The paper closes with clear implications for the hegemonic trio of social science research and social work and criminal justice policy and practice. We must confront and dismantle our complicity in the silent silencing and gendered harms of the panopticon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]