Editorial

Citation

Nicholl, D.M. (2013), "Editorial", Social Care and Neurodisability, Vol. 4 No. 3/4. https://doi.org/10.1108/SCN-09-2013-0035

Editorial

Article Type: Editorial From: Social Care and Neurodisability, Volume 4, Issue 3/4

Welcome to issue 4.3/4 of Social Care and Neurodisibility. This is a combined issue containing wide ranging papers, both in terms of the populations on which the papers focus, for example a range of different ages and disorders, and on the matters addressed – some clinical, others more research focused.

The first paper by Damith Woods considers the issue of paediatric brain injury and how families can be helped to manage challenging behaviour, gives an up to date literature review and considers the implications of a family centred approach to managing challenging behaviour in children. This paper quite nicely advents the special edition focusing on children planned for next year.

The second paper by Jan Wright considers the attitudes of those with Huntington's disease and their carers to being participants in research. The issues addressed therein and the recommendations arising out of the research highlight a number of matters related to good research practice not only in the recruitment of research participants with Huntington's Disease but across other populations of people with neurological disorders.

The third paper by Penelope McNulty deals with the application of a relatively modern phenomenon, namely the Wii, to the older problem of physical therapy and recovery in individuals who have suffered a stroke. This paper highlights the application of a main stream based technology and interactive software within a clinical setting, and makes a contribution the recent surge in interest in the use of such technology with people with neurological disorders.

The next paper by Jill Manthorpe considers critically the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and the under researched matter of its impact on the practice of Social Work, including the issues of training and workload.

The final paper by Emily Rosario not only gives an international feel to this issue but also deals with the often neglected matter of the potential impact of brain injuries on hypothalamic and pituitary functioning. It was a difficult decision as to whether to include this paper in Social Care and Neurodisibility because aspects of it are fairly specialised and, perhaps, its applications may not be immediately obvious to all the practitioners who read this publication. However, because the paper deals with neuroendocrine dysfunction and its implications for functional outcomes in some depth but in an accessible manner, and because it is something that practitioners would do well to know about and may very well be under reported and diagnosed, for those reasons this paper has been included to inform and raise awareness.

As usual Keith Jenkins gives us some interesting views and highlights up and coming events in “Forum”.

Finally, Rachel Rayner gives an account of attending a “Writing for Publication” workshop which was run by two Social Work colleagues and me. This workshop took place earlier this year at the BASW offices in Birmingham and was targeted at Social Workers, encouraging them to write for publication. We received very favourable feedback about the day. If you or your organisation would like to have me or others along to discuss writing for publication this is something I would consider doing on behalf of Social Care and Neurodisability.

I hope you find reading this issue as interesting and enjoyable as I have editing it.

Declan Mc Nicholl