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Statutory regional spatial strategies were abolished in England, United Kingdom in 2010. There are, however, increasing calls in favour of a re-introduction of statutory comprehensive spatial strategies at the regional level to enhance integrated economic growth and address exacerbating spatial inequalities. Through a survey and in-depth interviews conducted with experts and policymakers of the North-West region of England, this paper explores whether the introduction of such statutory strategies could find justificative grounds through policy integration of transportation, housing, and employment policies. We conclude with a set of mechanisms that could foster this re-introduction serving regional geographies beyond the North-West. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contribution of this paper is to analyse statistical data to assess whether homelessness among people who have recently been granted refugee status in England is concentrated amongst particular groups of these refugees. The methodology was quantitative analysis using logistic regression of the Home Office's Survey of New Refugees (SNR), which they carried out in 2005-7. We tested the relative role played by pre-migration demographic factors, post-migration life experience factors, and government immigration policy in accounting for patterns found, and drew on literature to interpret the meaning of our statistical results. Our analysis clearly suggests that refugee and asylum policy contribute to homelessness among newly-recognised refugees. This interpretation is supported by the qualitative evidence from services providing assistance to refugees, and evidence put to the All Party Parliamentary Group on Refugees (2017). Action to address the housing problems of refugees moving on from accommodation provided for asylum seekers should be considered a high policy priority, albeit that associations between homelessness, household size, and age also present intervention opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses specifically on the incorporation of ethnic minority children within the education systems of England, France and Germany. The trends in policy development after World War II in these countries are examined through the prism of three ideal-typical incorporation strategies – integration, assimilation and separation. This is done to test the theories of universalism, parallel development and particularism, which anticipate different trajectories with regard to these strategies. The paper finds evidence for convergence towards integration with regard to provisions for extra support in the host country’s language. This supports the theory of universalism. However, no evidence of convergence towards integration is found in four other policy areas. For instance, country-specific trends emerge on minority religious education and enrolment into mainstream schools, which is consistent with the particularist perspective. As there is little evidence of the three countries drawing closer in terms of all three adopting a strategy of incorporation promoted by transnational agencies, the expectation that national states can borrow in a straightforward fashion from internationally advocated models of ethnic minority incorporation appears unfounded. The paper further finds that local practices are sometimes significantly at odds with national educational policy, suggesting that future research should be directed more at the local level to determine the policies affecting ethnic minority children. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper critically analyses discourses of educational inclusion in England through the lens of Derridean deconstruction. Linking Derrida’s thesis on writing and speech to presence and absence, the paper contends that inclusion acts as a suppléance to previous policies of integration. The paper suggests that, for many teachers, inclusion is grounded upon the forced absence of children rather than upon any notions of equality or justice. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Purpose - This paper seeks to report key findings of a study, whose purpose was to: understand what helps or hinders the commissioning and provision of integrated services for people with long-term neurological conditions (LTNCs); identify models of best practice from the perspectives of people with LTNCs and the professionals who work with them; and develop a benchmarking system to assess the extent to which these models are available in England.Design/methodology/approach - The research had three main components: a rapid systematic literature review of evidence; in-depth case studies of six neurology "service systems"; and a survey of all English PCTs to audit progress towards implementation of the National Service Framework (NSF) for LTNCs.Findings - A number of elements that contribute to the experience of continuity and three service models that incorporate these elements were identified: community interdisciplinary neurological rehabilitation teams; nurse specialists and proactive, holistic day opportunities services. The survey results reinforced many of the case study findings, particularly around the varying levels of service available depending on diagnosis and location, and problems of access even where high-quality services existed. The paper concludes that the systematic approach to delivering treatment and care for people with LTNCs envisaged in the NSF has not yet been achieved.Originality/value - This study uses a mix of methods to assess progress towards national service improvement, based on evidence from people with LTNCs and those who work with them. As such, it provides a comprehensive benchmark at a critical point in the implementation of the NSF for LTNCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The achievement of integration and a reduction in the social exclusion of ethnic minority communities in England are policy matters of major concern. This paper argues that policy-makers and service providers pursuing these aims need to understand the language support needs of minority ethnic groups at a fine level of detail: groupings such as 'Black' or even 'Black African' are of limited utility. Although much ethnicity research has tended to view Black Africans as a homogenous group, appreciation of their diverse language use is important because people from different parts of sub-Saharan Africa face different language barriers on arrival in the UK. This paper examines evidence available from large-scale survey data on the association between language and indicators often used to assess integration and social exclusion. The paper provides empirical statistical evidence on Black Africans living in England and languages in the form of tables and maps using data-sets not previously analysed for this purpose. These are (1) the Labour Force Survey (LFS); and (2) the National Pupil Database (NPD). The results show that Black Africans speak a very wide range of languages at home. Somalis are by far the least integrated and most socially excluded of the major language groups, followed by Ghanaians. Zimbabweans and Nigerians, on the other hand, face only slight language barriers. The paper concludes with some implications of the findings for policy-makers and service providers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper conducts a form of racial archaeology in relation to the areas of Brixton and Brick Lane in London. Both inner-city areas are strongly associated with meanings related to race and difference. This paper examines some of the dominant ways though which Brixton and Brick Lane became represented in key policy texts. It investigates how these representations changed through time and identifies three different moments that have dominated the evolution of multiculturalism in local political discourse: a moment of racial pathology, where race is viewed as a problem of space or in space; a moment of reflection, where race is perceived through the lens of cultural difference; and a moment of celebration, where cultural difference is represented as an asset to be capitalised upon by acts of local regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Jewish population living in Britain has commonly been depicted as a 'model of integration'. This paper explores the social and spatial transitions made by the Jewish community over the course of more than a century of settlement and adaptation, with particular reference to Leeds. Using an historical perspective, the paper traces the changing 'place' of Jews in wider society in terms of their socio-economic status and how they construct themselves as a religious and ethnic minority in Britain. Drawing on a mixed methods approach, the paper reveals how Leeds Jews' understandings of community, identity, integration and citizenship have evolved over time. The research uncovers diverse and complex interpretations of Jewishness and integration, which unsettle the idealised notions of community, the straightforward trajectory of adaptation, and unproblematic conceptions of identity embedded in the Jewish model of integration. The paper reflects on the implications of the Jewish experience for current debates and discourses on 'race', difference and social integration in twenty-first-century Britain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Positioning itself with regards to debates on the role of regionalization in the industrial revolution and on consumer and retailing revolutions, this paper uses the records of John Shaw, hardware factor of Wolverhampton, to examine how commercial travel created real spatial interactions across the industrializing economy of northern England in the period 1810–15. The paper argues that by integrating production and consumption, commercial travel played a vital part in advancing and reconciling the concurrent but apparently conflicting processes of economic regionalization and economic integration that characterized the period. Empirically, the paper contributes original data indicating concrete patterns of interaction across the space economy of early nineteenth century northern England in terms of both ‘routes’ and the intensity of interactions. The empirical material also allows for discussion of customer identities, the structure of geographically dispersed commodity chains and regional variations, if any, the nature of customer relationships. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The paper outlines the findings from a literature review of the English government's response to the issue of training pre-service teachers in the delivery of effective special educational needs support. The review's findings detail that although educational practice in mainstream classrooms has changed considerably since the 1970s the training of pre-service teachers with regards to special educational needs has seemingly changed very little. The paper argues that the government needs to re-think radically its policy of inclusion to ensure that a coherent plan is formulated which enables higher education institutions' initial teacher training programmes to train students who are competent and confident in their abilities to work with children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Policies in long term conditions care continue to develop rapidly in England. Currently there is a focus on the integration of services and enabling patient and carer choice. Integration of care across disciplines and services is complex and community nursing services are commonly central to reorganization processes in long term condition care. This paper presents the findings of a mapping of the evidence on integration in long term condition services. Literature on horizontal integration including integrated teams will first be discussed, followed by an exploration of the evidence on vertical integration exemplified by integrated care pathways and disease management programmes. As a relatively recent service innovation, the mapping found a lack of evidence of the effectiveness of integration in long term conditions. Furthermore, the paper highlights the potential tension between vertical integration structures such as care pathways and the patient choice and empowerment agenda in long term conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper builds upon major ongoing work into the experiences of new migrants seeking to construct new lives in the UK (Aldridge and Waddington 2002; Goodson and Phillimore 2005; Goodson et al. 2005; Phillimore et a!. 2003; 2004; Phillimore and Goodson 2002; Robinson et a!. 2003; Zetter et a!. 2003) and focuses upon the experiences of refugees who have arrived in Birmingham since the early 1990s. The paper outlines the indicators of integration proposed by Ager and Strang (2004) for the United Kingdom's Home Office. It then uses data from household surveys, in-depth interviews and focus groups conducted in the West Midlands to explore how useful indicators might be in evaluating progress towards integration within new migrant communities. The paper specifically examines the efficacy of functional indicators, which in Ager and Strang's (2004) framework are represented as 'means and markers' and include employment, housing, education and health. It aims to consider the usefulness of these functional indicators as a measure of integration and the ways in which the indicators might be shaped to help policy makers work towards promoting integration in a multi-cultural global city such as Birmingham. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In light of the demands of the revised National Curriculum for Physical Education in England (DfEE/QCA, 1999) and the Special Educational Needs and Disability Discrimination Act (DfES, 2001a), this paper presents some preliminary observations on how PE teachers endeavour to include pupils with special educational needs (SEN) in secondary school physical education (PE). Findings from a small-scale study revealed that whilst teachers expressed a commitment to providing pupils with SEN with `equal opportunities'--to participate in the same learning contexts as their `more-able' peers--in practice, this was not always the case. The paper concludes by suggesting that the apparent tendency of teachers to prioritise `traditional' team games within PE serves to exclude, rather than facilitate the full inclusion of many pupils with SEN. Moreover, it appears that these pupils are in effect being integrated into, rather than included in, PE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The overcoming of professional boundaries to collaboration in patient care has become one of the goals of mental health service policy in England over the past 25 years, predominantly through the creation of community mental health teams. However, research has shown that these boundaries have been slow to come down, and some commentators have pointed to the benefits of appropriate boundaries. This paper introduces a theoretical framework, which seeks to categorise boundary activity in organisations and then examines the boundary activity of professional groups and community teams during the integration of mental health and social care service provision in one locality in the southwest of England. The paper identifies the ways in which this integration impacted on boundary activity and draws out the messages for mental health policy and practice that emerge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- The purpose of this paper is to explore change within the commissioning of third sector mental health services in England. Design/methodology/approach -- A case study methodology based on survey and interview data of a sample of third sector organisations and commissioners within an English conurbation. Findings -- Normative commissioning models based on sequential cycles were not fully implemented with the main focus being on the procurement and contracting elements. There were examples of commissioning being an enabler of service improvement but overall it seems to have been limited in its ability to bring about whole system change. Barriers included commissioners' capacity and competence, ineffectual systems within their organisations, and fragmentation in commissioning processes between user groups, organisations and sectors. Research limitations/implications -- The case study conurbation may not represent practice in all urban areas of England and there may be particular issues of difference within rural localities. The view of private and public sector providers and those working in Commissioning Support Units were not sought. Practical implications -- To lead whole system change the commissioning function needs to be adequately resourced and skilled with better integration across public sector functions and organisations. Greater emphasis needs to be placed on implementing the full commissioning cycle, including the engagement of relevant stakeholders throughout the process and the practical application of outcomes. Originality/value -- This research adds to the limited body of empirical work regarding commissioning in mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discussions about belonging, national identity and social cohesion are part of a broader debate that emerges from a number of concerns, mainly to do with identity and specifically with ethnic or religious identities versus the perceived homogeneous national identity. One major concern in immigration countries is that many immigrants and ethnic minorities are not integrating into the destination or receiving societies. This perceived lack of integration creates fears about whether newcomers are developing a shared sense of belonging to the national identity. Without this commitment it is feared that social cohesion and indeed the very basis of liberal democracy is under threat. In this paper, I question whether this fear is valid by exploring the relationship between the individual and society through the notion of ‘sense of belonging’ – to a community, to a polity and to the nation. What does this mean in terms of national identity and social cohesion? In other words, do we have to have a shared sense of belonging to the nation to be responsible citizens? First, I will briefly explore some of the theoretical debates about belonging to the nation. Second, by analysing immigrant narratives on citizenship, belonging and community in London, I examine the multifaceted modes of belonging and whether migrants and ethnic minorities, who do not have a sense of belonging to the nation or who have a sense of belonging to more than one symbolic or material locality, can still have a sense of belonging and commitment to the common good which in turn contributes to societal cohesion. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The losses associated with exile often leave refugees with limited resources to face the challenge of adjusting to a new society. To enhance the successful integration of refugees, it is important to assist them in their efforts in rebuilding and extending their support systems. By matching refugees with volunteers, Befriending Programs aim at creating a supportive environment. Based on information provided by twenty-five organizations that offer befriending programs in Australia, Canada, England, and the United States, this paper explores obstacles they face in the recruitment and retention of befrienders as well as their strategies in overcoming challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been an ongoing national debate over the causes and consequences of the evolution of patterns of residence of ethnic minority populations in British cities. This has gained particular prominence since the publication of the Cantle Report, which highlighted ethnic segregation as one of the causes underlying the racialised disturbances in certain northern cities in 2001. In this paper, the geographies of ethnic populations are identified in Leeds, a northern city affected by minor disturbances within its multi-ethnic inner-city. A newly developed set of ‘community areas’ is used to examine the extent to which specific ethnic minority groups are spatially concentrated within the city. The analysis focuses upon Leeds’ South Asian population, highlighting the spatial diversity of sub-groups within it and contrasting their geographies with those of other ethnic groups. Change between 1991 and 2001 is examined in inner Leeds at ward level, where geographical boundaries have remained consistent; evidence is found for deconcentration. Thereafter, each of the main forces responsible for shaping the patterns of ethnic settlement is considered in more detail, drawing on data from a survey of South Asian households in the city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

England and Northern Ireland provide examples of different degrees of integration of health and social care within broadly similar administrative and funding frameworks. This paper examines whether integrated structures appear to impact upon the operation of care management, a key approach to providing coordinated care for vulnerable older people. There appeared to be more evidence of integrated practice between health and social care in Northern Ireland than England, although some key features, such as intensive care management, were no more evident. It is concluded that further investigation is required as to the extent to which integrated structures have impacted upon patterns of professional working and underlying beliefs about roles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Encouraging pupils to develop a sense of European identity is one of the implicit aims of the ‘European Schools’. This paper reports on a small case study that was carried out in 2004 that investigated how the European School at Culham attempts to develop in its pupils a sense of European identity. In particular, the study looked at the secondary school’s organizational features, its curriculum, extra-curricular activities and teachers’ conceptions of European identity. The research findings reveal that above all else, pupils’ sense of European identity is encouraged indirectly through the many opportunities the school provides for these children from diverse European backgrounds to integrate and interact with one another. Teachers at the school believe that it is through such interactions, which take place both in the classroom and through extra-curricular activities, that pupils learn about each others’ cultures and languages and develop a feeling of being European. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of health care policy on the development of integrated mental health services in England. Data sources: Drawing largely from a narrative review of the literature on adult mental health services published between January 1997 and February 2003 undertaken by the authors, we discuss three case studies of integrated care within primary care, secondary care and across the primary/secondary interface for people with serious mental illness. Conclusion: We suggest that while the central thrust of a raft of recent Government policies in England has been towards integration of different parts of the health care system, policy waterfalls and implementation failures, the adoption of ideas before they have been thoroughly tried and tested, a lack of clarity over roles and responsibilities and poor communication have led to an integration rhetoric/reality gap in practice. This has particular implications for people with serious mental health problems. Discussion: We conclude with suggestions for strategies that may facilitate more integrated working. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In England, 70% of people who were homeless on admission to hospital were discharged back to the street without having their care and support needs addressed (Department of Health, 2013). Furthermore they experienced high hospital readmission rates and often resorted to inappropriate use of the Emergency Department. Following these data, Government funding was provided to enable hospitals to work with local partners to develop specialist integrated homeless hospital discharge schemes, including intermediate or stepup/step-down care. In this paper we report preliminary findings from a realist evaluation which explored the effectiveness of the different schemes established. Schemes took many different formats, and tended to be either uniprofessional, comprising housing workers, or multi-professional, comprising: GPs; occupational therapists; nurses; social workers; housing workers; and peer navigators. Methods: The study was carried out in England between September 2015 and February 2018. It was funded by the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR). It employs a realist evaluation methodology, comparing sites with specialist integrated care (n=4) to those with standard care (n=2). Realist evaluation is designed to explore the relationship between the local context, the mechanisms and resources deployed and the outcomes. The overall aim is to generate hypotheses about 'what works for whom, in what circumstances and why'. Across the six study sites in-depth observational fieldwork was undertaken. This encompassed interviews with 60 practitioners and stakeholders, and 60 people who were homeless on admission to hospital. People who were homeless were interviewed shortly after discharge and again three months later. An economic evaluation and 'data linkage' (across a total of 20 sites) were also undertaken to interrogate the emerging realist hypotheses. Preliminary Results: Our emerging hypothesis is that there is no 'magic bullet' or single most effective solution. Findings so far indicate that improving hospital discharge arrangements for people who are homeless requires action on many different fronts to weave together a range of potentially effective mechanisms and resources. To illustrate this, we will present examples of different local configurations evolving over time, in rural and urban contexts, mapping the advantages and disadvantages of each. We will pinpoint a number of key attributes of effective systems (e.g. clear protocols for the discharge of people who are homeless, discharge co-ordination and intermediate care) and the factors that may explain why these are necessary and workable in some but not all locations. Throughout, we will tease out the concept of 'specialist integrated care' and whether this is indicative of improved quality or further fragmentation. Limitations and future research: The limitations of the research are that it is focused on England. We hope that during the conference we can engage with international colleagues with a view to scoping ideas for future comparative research in the field of integrated care transitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]