Experiences of support for people who access voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations for self-harm: a qualitative study with stakeholder feedback.

BACKGROUND: Prevalence of self-harm In England is rising, however contact with statutory services remains relatively low. There is growing recognition of the potential role voluntary, community and social enterprise sector (VCSE) organisations have in the provision of self-harm support. We aimed to explore individuals' experiences of using these services and the barriers and facilitators to accessing support. METHODS: Qualitative, online interviews with 23 adults (18+) who have accessed support from VCSE organisations for self-harm in the Yorkshire and the Humber region were undertaken. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was undertaken using NVivo software. RESULTS: Participants described how a lack of service flexibility and the perception that their individual needs were not being heard often made them less likely to engage with both statutory and VCSE organisations. The complexity of care pathways made it difficult for them to access appropriate support when required, as did a lack of awareness of the types of support available. Participants described how engagement was improved by services that fostered a sense of community. The delivery of peer support played a key role in creating this sense of belonging. Education and workplace settings were also viewed as key sources of support for individuals, with a lack of mental health literacy acting as a barrier to access in these environments. CONCLUSIONS: VCSE organisations can play a crucial role in the provision of support for self-harm, however, pathways into these services remain complex and links between statutory and non-statutory services need to be strengthened. The provision of peer support is viewed as a crucial component of effective support in VCSE organisations. Further supervision and training should be offered to those providing peer support to ensure that their own mental health is protected.

Examining the Role of Third Sector Organization Volunteers in Facilitating Hospital-to-Home Transitions for Older Adults - a Collective Case Study.

Introduction: With increasing attention to models of transitional support delivered through multisectoral approaches, third-sector organizations (TSOs) have supported community reintegration and independent living post-hospitalization. This study aimed to identify the core elements of these types of programs, the facilitators, and barriers to service implementation and to understand the perspectives of providers and recipients of their experiences with the programs. Methods and Analysis: A collective case study collected data from two UK-based 'Home from Hospital' programs. An inductive thematic analysis generated rich descriptions of each program, and analytical activities generated insights across the cases. Results: Programs provided a range of personalized support for older adults and addressed many post-discharge needs, including well-being assessments, support for instrumental activities of daily living, psychosocial support, and other individualized services directed by the needs and preferences of the service user. Results suggest that these programs can act as a 'safety net' and promote independent living. Skilled volunteers can positively impact older adults' experience returning home. Conclusions: When the programs under study are considered in tandem with existing evidence, it facilitates a discussion of how TSO services could be made available more widely to support older adults in their transition experiences.

Investigating the acceptability of a culturally adapted acceptance and commitment therapy group for UK Vietnamese communities: A practice-based feasibility study.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an empirically supported psychotherapy that offers promise for the mental health of minoritised ethnic populations. Given the diversity of those presenting to inner-city services and barriers to accessing appropriate mental healthcare, we sought to develop a culturally syntonic ACT intervention for UK Vietnamese refugee communities in a practice-based partnership project between a National Health Service and local third-sector service in East London. The aim was to explore the feasibility, acceptability and impact of the adapted intervention to inform culturally inclusive clinical practice and future research. We outline key aspects of Vietnamese belief systems and culture, and consider how these might influence the optimisation of group-based ACT. We then present a mixed-method evaluation of the seven-session adapted ACT group for 11 participants (9 male and 5 female, aged between 44 and 73 years). Individual-level change analyses indicated clinically significant improvements in psychological flexibility for the minority of participants and a mixed pattern for impact on well-being. A thematic analysis and descriptive approach examined acceptability, feasibility and narratives of impact. Participants reported positive feedback on group experience, relevance and usefulness, and emergent themes indicate that the group facilitated key acceptance, commitment and behaviour-change processes, promoted social connections and increased engagement in meaningful life activities in relation to new perspectives and values-based action. Limitations are outlined, but overall, findings suggest preliminary support for the potential beneficial effect of the adapted ACT group as a feasible, culturally acceptable therapeutic approach for UK Vietnamese communities that is worthy of further investigation.

Getting the pieces to fit: NHS and third sector collaboration to enhance crisis mental health service provision for young people.

BACKGROUND: The increase in demand for young people's mental health services has been met by a growth of co-located mental health service provision in the NHS and third sector. This research explores the benefits and challenges of the NHS collaborating with a charity to provide a step-down crisis mental health service for young people in Greater Manchester, and suggests how the collaboration between the NHS and third sector may be improved for future projects. METHODS: Working from a critical realist paradigm, this qualitative case study utilised thematic analysis of 9 in-depth interviews with operational stakeholders from 3 operational layers, to explore insiders' perspectives of the benefits and challenges of collaboration between the NHS and third sector in the context of the 'Safe Zones' initiative. RESULTS: Themes relating to perceived benefits of collaboration were: doing things differently, flexibility, a hybrid approach, shared expertise, and shared learning. These were counterbalanced by perceived challenges: getting the pieces to fit, obtaining a shared vision, geography, lack of referrals, and timing. The importance of effective communication (e.g. of shared vision, standard operating procedures, key performance indicators) was noted as central to addressing challenges and reaping benefits. CONCLUSIONS: NHS and third sector collaboration can yield a range of benefits, some of which can mitigate against the perceived inflexibility and restrictive nature of usual mental health service provision, thereby providing a vehicle for innovation in step-down crisis care for young people.

Creation of Work Integration Social Enterprises (WISEs) by Social Action Organizations: Proposal of a Model for Decision-Making.

Successive crisis in Europe have contributed to rethink welfare state and the entrepreneurial role of Third Sector organizations in the provision of community services that progressively have created social enterprises. Its creation is the result of a decision-making process that is collective, not individual, and of a strategic nature, in which the organization's culture plays a relevant role. This work aims to describe and analyze the entrepreneurial process, and the key elements that determines the decision of creating a work insertion social enterprise by its promotor entity. As a result, this article proposes an explicative model of social enterprises creation and makes an empirical validation, using Delphi Method in Spanish work insertion social enterprises case.

Las sucesivas crisis en Europa han contribuido a una puesta en cuestión del estado de bienestar y, con ello, al rol emprendedor o productivo de las organizaciones del Tercer Sector en la provisión de servicios a la comunidad, en la medida en que éstas han creado empresas sociales progresivamente. Su creación es el resultado de un proceso de toma de decisión que es colectivo, no individual, y de naturaleza estratégica, en el que la cultura de la organización juega un rol relevante. Este trabajo trata de describir y analizar el proceso emprendedor y los elementos clave que determinan la decisión de crear una empresa de inserción social, por parte de su entidad promotora. Como resultado, este artículo propone un modelo explicativo de la creación de empresas sociales y realiza una validación empírica con las empresas de inserción españolas, utilizando el método Delphi.

Sobre a autonomia e a ginástica: a práxis na implementação da ginástica para todos em organizações não governamentais / About autonomy and gymnastics: the praxis in implementing gymnastics for all (GPT) in non- governmental organizations / Sobre autonomía y gimnasia: la praxis en la implementación de la gimnasia para todos en organizaciones no gubernamentales

A Ginástica para Todos (GPT) tem se desenvolvido gradativamente em diferentes contextos sociais, mas ainda pouco em Organizações não Governamentais (ONGs). Esta pesquisa apresenta uma proposta de implementação da GPT neste setor, numa perspectiva dialógica, crítica e emancipatória. Trata-se de uma pesquisa documental e de campo, com abordagem qualitativa, organizada em três fases, em duas ONGs e com cinco educadores(as). Identificou-se que: os processos dialógico e de empoderamento dos(as) educadores(as) (por meio da práxis), nas quatro fases do processo, foram muito significativos; o curso de capacitação teve impacto na formação dos(as) educadores(as); a tutoria foi de muita relevância para o desenvolvimento das aulas e da coreografia; a apresentação no festival coroou o processo de implementação, constituindo-se uma realidade e uma meta alcançada para todos(as) os(as) envolvidos(as), inspirando autonomia para trajetórias futuras.

Gymnastics for All (GPT) has been gradually developing in different social contexts, but little has happened in Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). The research presents a proposal for implementing GPT in this sector, from a dialogical, critical, and emancipatory perspective. This documentary and field research, with a qualitative approach, was organized in three phases, in two NGOs and with five educators. It was identified that the dialogical process and empowerment of educators (through practice), in the four phases of the process, were very significant; the training course had an impact on the qualification of educators; tutoring was very important for the development of classes and choreography. The presentation at the festival proclaimed the implementation process, constituting as a reality and an objective achieved for everyone involved, inspiring autonomy for future trajectories.

La Gimnasia para Todos (GPT) lentamente viene desarrollándose en diferentes contextos sociales, pero aun parece que es muy poco en las ONGs. Esta investigación presenta una propuesta de implementación de la GTP en este sector, desde una perspectiva dialógica, critica y emancipatoria. Esta es una investigación documental y de campo, con un enfoque cualitativo, hecha en tres fases, en dos ONGs y con cinco educadores(as). Fue verificado que: los procesos dialógico y de empoderamiento de los educadores(as) (por medio de praxis), en las cuatro fases del proceso, fueron muy significativos; el curso de capacitación tuvo impacto en la formación de los educadores(as); La tutoría fue de mucha relevancia para el desarrollo de las clases y de la coreografía; la presentación en el festival coronó el proceso de implementación (finalizó con mucho éxito el proceso de implementación), constituyéndose cómo una realidad y una meta alcanzada por todos(as) los(as) involucrados(as), inspirándo autonomía para futuras trayectorias.

Terceirização no âmbito da saúde pública: reflexões e parâmetros / Outsourcing in the field of public health: reflections and parameters

A saúde é direito fundamental, pressuposto da dignidade da pessoa humana, e possui papel de destaque na complexa realidade social que integramos, a ponto de o Estado (gênero) assumir a obrigação constitucional de garanti-la a todos. Nesse contexto e para a máxima efetividade do direito à saúde, possibilitou-se à iniciativa privada participar de forma complementar do sistema público encarregado de assegurá-lo ­ com preferência a entidades sem fins lucrativos, como é o caso do chamado terceiro setor. Contudo, em sintonia com o constitucionalmente previsto e a bem de sua eficácia jurídico-sanitária, as hipóteses de parcerias do setor público com o privado necessitam observar determinados parâmetros. Com o propósito de colaborar para o debate, após reflexão e sem qualquer pretensão de ordem ex professo, sugestões de diretrizes foram propostas neste trabalho. Para o alcance desse resultado, utilizou-se da fenomenologia ou método de Husserl, pautado por evolutivo esclarecimento de ideias e de apreensão de essências.

Health is a fundamental right, presupposition of the dignity of the human person, and has a prominent role in the complex social reality that we integrate, to the point that the State (gender) assumes the constitutional obligation to guarantee it to all. In this context and to guarantee the maximum effectiveness of the right to health, the State has made possible for the private sector to participate in a complementary way in the public system in charge of ensuring health. The State has given preference for non-profit entities, as is the case of the socalled third sector. However, in line with what is constitutionally foreseen and for the good of its legal-sanitary effectiveness, the hypotheses of public-private partnerships need to observe certain parameters. Seeking to collaborate with the debate, after reflecting on it and without any pretension of an ex professo order, this article suggests some guidelines. To achieve this result, it makes use of Husserl's phenomenology or method, guided by an evolutionary clarification of ideas and apprehension of essences.

Co-creation of new knowledge: Good fortune or good management?

BACKGROUND: Potential solutions to bridging the research practice gap include collaborative frameworks and models. Yet there is little evidence demonstrating their application in practice. In addressing this knowledge gap, this in-depth case study explored how the co-creation of new knowledge framework and its four collaborative processes (co-ideation, co-design, co-implementation, and co-evaluation) are utilised to support people who had attempted suicide through an Australian psychoeducational program known as Eclipse. METHODS: Using a case study design and a thematic analysis methodology, multiple sources of qualitative data (collaborative group discussion, personal communications) were analysed inductively and deductively to examine the implementation of co-creation and explore the perspectives of researchers and stakeholders about co-creation and collaborative relationships. RESULTS: Three broad themes were identified: (1) understanding the language and practice of co-creation, (2) perception of trust formation, and (3) the value of co-creation opportunities. Ultimately, implementing co-creation with or between researchers, industry and people with lived experience requires trust, reciprocity, good fortune, and good management. While implementing co-creation, the co-creation framework was revised to include additional elements identified as missing from the initially proposed framework. CONCLUSION: Co-creation of new knowledge poses many challenges to researchers and stakeholders, particularly regarding its "messiness" and non-linear approach to implementation and evaluation. However, as this case study demonstrates, it has the potential to become an alternative framework of best practice for public health interventions in third sector organisations, most notably as it eliminates the often-lengthy gap reported between research evidence and translation into practice. The research highlights the need for co-creation to further study its effectiveness in integrating research and service delivery to generate new knowledge. This may lead to a cultural and behavioural change in the service provider's approach to research, offering better outcomes for providers, clients, policymakers, universities, and funders.

Organisations and researchers need to collaborate to produce new knowledge of health interventions. The literature identifies that there is a substantial evidence gap between producing knowledge and improving health outcomes. Here we reflect, via a case study methodology, on ways to co-create new knowledge by following a four-step collaborative process. The case study reviews the evaluation of an Australian-based psychoeducational program for people who attempt suicide by analysing multiple qualitative data sources to explore the perspectives of researchers and stakeholders. We discovered the need for a shared language of co-creation that focuses on experiences of collaboration while seeking out new value-creation opportunities and dismantling barriers. We learnt that implementing co-creation requires trust and good fortune within collaborative relationships alongside good management. Using the alternative collaboration framework of best practice for public health interventions in third sector organisations may eliminate gaps between research evidence and translation into practice, assisting health providers, clients, policymakers, universities, and funders.

Motivação para o trabalho voluntário: proposição de um modelo compreensivo / Motivación para el trabajo voluntario: propuesta de un modelo integral / Motivation for Volunteer Work: Proposition of a Comprehensive Model

No Brasil, estudos sobre a motivação para o trabalho voluntário e suas nuances permanecem escassos, enquanto no exterior identificase uma dificuldade para o consenso teórico. Adicionalmente, os estudos existentes, com frequência, não ponderam sobre os diferentes tipos de trabalho voluntário, as diferenças sociodemográficas e a importância das variáveis culturais de cada país. Logo, este estudo analisou as motivações para o voluntariado de 150 trabalhadores brasileiros, de diferentes organizações e com variadas características demográficas, objetivando propor um modelo compreensivo que refletisse tanto as peculiaridades da realidade nacional, quanto as recomendações da literatura internacional. Os dados foram analisados qualitativamente, através do softwareiramuteq, que apresentou 5 possíveis classes lexicais ou tipos de motivação para o trabalho voluntário: religiosa, fraternal, altruísta, transformadora e pessoal. Dessa forma, esperase gerar subsídios para o aumento da compreensão sobre o trabalho voluntário no Brasil, contribuindo para o aprimoramento de políticas de atração, manutenção e avaliação de sua qualidade.

En Brasil los estudios sobre la motivación para el trabajo voluntario y sus matices siguen siendo escasos, mientras que en el extranjero se identifica una dificultad para el consenso teórico. Además, los estudios existentes a menudo no consideran los diferentes tipos de trabajo voluntario, las diferencias sociodemográficas y la importancia de las variables culturales en cada país. De ese modo, este estudio analizó las motivaciones para el voluntariado de 150 trabajadores brasileños, de diferentes organizaciones y con características demográficas variadas, con el objetivo de proponer un modelo integrado que reflejara tanto las peculiaridades de la realidad nacional como las recomendaciones de la literatura internacional. Los datos se analizaron cualitativamente a través del software iramuteq, que pre-sentó cinco posibles clases léxicas o tipos de motivación para el trabajo voluntario: religioso, fraterno, altruista, transformador y personal. Por lo tanto, se espera ayudar a aumentar la comprensión del trabajo voluntario en Brasil, contribuyendo a la mejora de las políticas para atraer y mantener personas, y evaluar la calidad de los programas .

In Brazil, studies on the motivation for voluntary work and its nuances remain scarce. Abroad, there are difficulties for a theoretical consensus. In addition, existing studies often do not consider the different types of volunteer work, the sociodemographic differences, and the importance of cultural variables in each coun-try. Therefore, this study analyzed the motivations for volunteering of 150 Brazilian workers from different organizations and diverse demographic characteris-tics, aiming to propose a comprehensive model that reflected both the national reality's peculiarities and the recommendations from the international literature. The data were analyzed qualitatively using the iramuteqsoftware, which presented five possible lexical classes or types of motivation for voluntary work: religious, fraternal, altruistic, transformative, and personal. Thus, it is expected to help increase the understanding of volun-teer work in Brazil, contributing to the improvement of policies aimed at attracting and maintaining volunteers, and evaluate the quality of the programs.

Using co-production to implement patient reported outcome measures in third sector organisations: a mixed methods study.

BACKGROUND: Third sector organisations such as charities and community groups are using Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) at an aggregated service level to demonstrate their impact to commissioners to generate or retain funding. Despite this motivation, organisations can struggle with implementing PROMs. Previous studies have identified facilitators including organisations using an appropriate measure, co-producing the PROMs process with staff, and investing resources to support the use of measures. However, to date no studies have applied this learning to third sector organisations to evaluate whether taking an evidence-informed implementation approach improves the use of PROMs. METHODS: A Community-Based Participatory Research approach was used which involved university-based researchers supporting two third sector organisations to implement PROMs. The researchers provided evidence-informed advice and training. The organisations were responsible for implementing PROMs. The researchers evaluated implementation through a mixed methods approach including five key informant interviews, four evaluation groups and analysis of collected PROMs data (n = 313). RESULTS: Both third sector organisations faced considerable constraints in incorporating known facilitators and addressing barriers. The organisations involved staff in choosing an acceptable measure. However, competing priorities including external pressures to use specific PROMs, busy workloads and staff opinions created challenges to using measures. Investment of time and energy into developing an outcomes-based organisational culture was key to enable the prioritisation of PROMs. For example, discussing PROMs in supervision so that they were viewed as part of people's job roles. Organisations found that implementation took several years and was disrupted by other pressures. CONCLUSIONS: Whilst organisations were motivated to implement PROMs to obtain or retain funding, they faced considerable practical and ideological challenges. Consequently, some stakeholders felt that alternative methods to measuring impact could potentially be more feasible than PROMs.

Engaging people with lived experience on advisory councils of a national not-for-profit: an integrated knowledge translation case study of Heart & Stroke Mission Critical Area Councils.

BACKGROUND: In 2018, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada transformed its approach to organizational strategic planning and priority-setting. The goal was to generate impact from bench to bedside to community, to improve the health of Canadians. It engaged researchers, clinician scientists, health systems leaders, and community members including people with lived experience (PWLE) on six Mission Critical Area (MCA) councils, each of which was co-chaired by a researcher or clinician scientist and a person with lived experience. Together, council members were tasked with providing advice to Heart & Stroke about the most relevant and impactful priorities of our time. The aim of this research was to explore the value of the MCA councils to Heart & Stroke, and to council members themselves. The research questions focused on understanding the process of managing and participating on the councils, the challenges and outcomes. METHODS:  Using an integrated knowledge translation approach, we conducted a case study with developmental evaluation over a 2-year time period (2018-2020). We collected qualitative data from various sources (Heart & Stroke team responsible for managing the councils, council co-chairs, council members, and key informants). We collected documents and analysed them for contextual background. RESULTS:  Participants noted that the MCA councils continuously evolved over the 2 years in various ways: from an uncertain direction to a concrete one, better integrating the voice of PWLE, and increased cohesiveness within and across MCA councils. This evolution was achieved in parallel with successes and challenges at three levels: the MCA councils and its members, Heart & Stroke, and Canadians. The MCA councils were disbanded in 2020, yet learnings, developments, initiatives and established partnerships remain as their legacy. CONCLUSIONS:  Heart & Stroke's intended objectives for the MCA councils, to promote engagement and dialogue among community members including PWLE, clinician scientists, and researchers, and to provide advice into Heart & Stroke's strategic renewal process, were achieved. This collaborative structure and process for PWLE engagement within a community of multidisciplinary clinician scientists and researchers is possible yet requires flexibility, commitment to stakeholder relationship management, and considerable resources. These findings may be helpful for other not-for-profit and funding organizations interested in engaging the public and other stakeholders into their organizational activities.

Salud mental y prisión, difícil encaje / Mental health and prison, a difficult fit

Hace trece años se publicaron los datos preliminares del estudio PreCa, en el que se ponía de manifiesto la alta prevalencia de personas con enfermedad mental en las cárceles españolas. Desde la Dirección General de Instituciones Penitenciarias, con la colaboración de las Entidades del Tercer Sector de Acción Social, se pusieron en marcha programas específicos para la atención de este colectivo. Sin embargo, según datos ofrecidos por la dirección de las prisiones, el problema parece persistir, ofreciendo los autores diversas sugerencias que podrían orientar nuevas acciones. (AU)

Thirteen years ago preliminary data from the PreCa study, which showed the high prevalence of people with mental illness in Spanish prisons, were published. From the General Directorate of Penitentiary Institutions, with the collaboration of the Entities of the Third Sector of Social Action, specific programs were launched to care for this group. However, as, according to data provided by the prison administration, the problem seems to persist, several suggestions that could guide new actions are offered by the authors. (AU)

Exploring Italian healthcare facilities response to COVID-19 pandemic: Lessons learned from the Italian Response to COVID-19 initiative.

The COVID-19 pandemic exerted an extraordinary pressure on the Italian healthcare system (Sistema Sanitario Nazionale, SSN), determining an unprecedented health crisis. In this context, a multidisciplinary non-governmental initiative called Italian Response to COVID-19 (IRC-19) was implemented from June 2020 to August 2021 to support the Italian health system through multiple activities aimed to mitigate the effects of the pandemic. The objective of this study was to shed light on the role of NGOs in supporting the SSN during the first pandemic wave by specifically exploring: (1) the main challenges experienced by Italian hospitals and out-of-hospital care facilities and (2) the nature and extent of the IRC-19 interventions specifically implemented to support healthcare facilities, to find out if and how such interventions met healthcare facilities' perceived needs at the beginning of the pandemic. We conducted a cross-sectional study using an interviewer administered 32-item questionnaire among 14 Italian healthcare facilities involved in the IRC-19 initiative. Health facilities' main challenges concerned three main areas: healthcare workers, patients, and facilities' structural changes. The IRC-19 initiative contributed to support both hospital and out-of-hospital healthcare facilities by implementing interventions for staff and patients' safety and flow management and interventions focused on the humanization of care. The support from the third sector emerged as an added value that strengthened the Italian response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is in line with the Health-Emergency and Disaster Risk Management (H-EDRM) precepts, that call for a multisectoral and multidisciplinary collaboration for an effective disaster management.

Supporting Vulnerable Populations During the Pandemic: Stakeholders' Experiences and Perceptions of Social Prescribing in Scotland During Covid-19.

Social prescribing schemes refer people toward personalized health/wellbeing interventions in local communities. Since schemes hold different representations of social prescribing, responses to the pandemic crisis will vary. Intersectionality states that social divisions build on one another, sustaining unequal health outcomes. We conducted and inductively analysed interviews with twenty-three professional and volunteer stakeholders across three social prescribing schemes in urban and rural Scotland at the start and end of year one of the pandemic. Concerns included identifying and digitally supporting disadvantaged and vulnerable individuals and reduced capacity statutory and third-sector services, obliging link workers to assume new practical and psychological responsibilities. Social prescribing services in Scotland, we argue, represent a collage of practices superimposed on a struggling healthcare system. Those in need of such services are unlikely to break through disadvantage whilst situated within a social texture wherein inequalities of education, health and environmental arrangements broadly intersect with one another.

Illustrating the Value of Critical Methodologies Through Third-sector Gender Studies: A Case for Pluralism.

To encourage methodological pluralism in the field, this paper examines an illustrative sample of articles that apply critical approaches to third-sector studies focused on gender. Specifically, the paper analyzes three articles that were previously identified as among the most critical work on gender in the field between 1970 and 2009 to illustrate how critical research is produced and the value it brings to third-sector studies. We find this work: uncovers hidden assumptions and/or uncomfortable erasures that mask gender-based inequities and injustices; resists hegemonic scientific norms in doing and writing research; and rejects 'woman' as a uniform object of theorizing. We discuss against what methodological standards such work should be evaluated and suggest a wider understanding of these 'alternative' standards, which might derive significant benefits for the field through increased critical scholarship and the unique features it brings.

Marginal Players? The Third Sector and Employability Services for Migrants, Refugees and Asylum Seekers in the UK.

Literature in the field of employability and the third sector has focused upon the impact of marketisation on third sector providers, elaborating how commissioning processes have led to a contraction of (smaller) third sector organisations (TSOs) and an expansion of larger private sector bodies. Extant research does not however explore the role of third sector organisations in the employability of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers. Therefore, our paper explores this gap by adopting a qualitative approach via a total of 36 interviews involving migrants, refugees, asylum seekers and managers of third sector organisations, alongside a categorisation of TSOs. Our findings reveal that TSOs are the primary (and for asylum seekers perhaps the only) providers of integration support services and training or education services. We found that only a limited number of organisations provide formal employability services or skills development services which seem to be only residual in terms of the range of activities that TSOs can organise. Thus, perhaps the main function that TSOs perform that enables integration into the UK labour market is providing a safe and trusted environment that people can use to increase their confidence, improve their well-being, broaden their social circle, learn the language or increase their work experience.

Avoiding Intimacy-An Ethnographic Study of Beneficent Boundaries in Virtual Voluntary Social Work.

Within the rich literature on volunteering, the topic of volunteer-user interaction and the mechanisms causing or mitigating inequality in this interaction remain understudied. Moreover, knowledge on how digitalization affects voluntary interaction is scarce. Based on a qualitative study of a Danish organization that offers virtual voluntary tutoring, this paper shows how technological and formal aspects of the organizational context may mitigate the risk of volunteers engaging in paternalistic, intimacy-seeking behaviour. First, reliance on information and communications technology (ICT) and managerial logics sustains a bounded form of interaction in which solving a problem is the focal point, while access to personal background information is limited. Second, the organizational design suspends sociability as a criterion for differential treatment of users. Third, anonymous mediated interaction enables temporal and audio-visual asymmetry, allowing users to perform 'digitally sustained impression management'.

The role of social prescribers in wales: a consensus methods study.

AIMS: Social prescribing continues to grow and change across healthcare services in Wales; however, research of the day-to-day performance of social prescribers is limited. This study aimed to explore which roles are perceived to be the most important and frequently used by social prescribers in Wales and compare these results to reports in studies of services in other countries in order to support future role development and potential standardisation. METHODS: This study used the Group Concept Mapping via the Concept Systems Global Max™ software to collect and analyse all data from both participants and literature. RESULTS: There was a total of 101 statements generated (119 participants, 84 literature) ranging from generic interpersonal skills to specialised training (cognitive behavioural therapy). These statements were then sorted by conceptual similarity into seven clusters (Providing a Specialist Service, Working in a person-centred way, Skills, Connecting Clients with Community, Collaborative Working, Evaluating and postprogramme duties, and Networking/Community). Statements were rated based on their perceived importance and frequency, with the 'Skills' cluster having the highest overall average and 'Providing a Specialist Service' having the lowest. CONCLUSIONS: Reports indicate that in general there is variation in the roles performed by individual participants in Wales; however, greater variation was observed between participants and literature suggesting geographical divergence in practice. In the top 12 highest rated statements for both frequency and importance, individualistic traits such as empathy and 'being a listener' are favoured over specialised methods such as cognitive behavioural therapy and behaviour change taxonomy. Results suggest that local need plays a part in the choices and performance of social prescribers and as such should be considered in future standardisation.

Investigación cualitativa sobre el impacto del confinamiento estricto en las entidades del tercer sector españolas relacionadas con las enfermedades raras / Qualitative research about the impact of strict enclosure in entities of the Spanish third sector related to rare diseases

Resumen A raíz de la pandemia producida por el impacto del nuevo coronavirus, se adoptaron medidas de confinamiento estricto en España desde el 15 de marzo de 2020. Las medidas afectaron, entre otros sistemas, a la actividad y gestión de las entidades del tercer sector dedicadas a la atención a las personas con enfermedades raras. En este estudio se trató de conocer este impacto, mediante el uso de metodología cualitativa y el software MAXQDA a partir de una muestra de 81 entidades participantes en el estudio. Del análisis de la información obtenida se pudo extraer que el confinamiento no ha supuesto un impacto homogéneo en la gestión de las entidades. Destaca la reducción de sus actividades de visibilidad con el consiguiente impacto social y psicoafectivo. Ello pone de manifiesto una debilidad estructural previa que con esta situación se ha visto agravada. Este estudio también profundiza en los ajustes que estas entidades han realizado para poder seguir prestando sus servicios de apoyo, así como el impacto que ha tenido en sus escasas plantillas y equipos directivos.

Abstract As a result of the pandemic caused by the impact of the SAR-Cov-2 orthocoranavirus, strict containment measures were adopted in Spain from March 15, 2020. These measures affected, among other systems, the activity and management of third sector entities dedicated to the care of people with rare diseases. In this study we tried to know this impact, using qualitative methodology and MAXQDA software from a sample of 81 entities participating in the study. From the analysis of the information obtained, it was possible to draw the conclusion that confinement has not had a homogeneous impact on the management of the organizations. The reduction of their visibility activities stands out, with the consequent social and psycho-affective impact. This highlights a previous structural weakness that has been aggravated by this situation. The study also delves into the adjustments that these entities have made in order to be able to continue providing their support services, as well as the impact this has had on their scarce staff and management teams.