Research Brand Performance

Abstract This research paper seeks to investigate the relationship between customers’ perception of public relation and customers’ loyalty. The research will also investigate the role played by the brand image in shaping customer perception towards the organization.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Research Brand Performance specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Research Design/methodology- The research will use both primary and secondary sources of data. The primary data will be collected from a sample of customers of City Bank with the help of a questionnaire. The research will use two hypotheses. Findings- The results of the study evidently demonstrate that the sensitivity of clients towards organization’s public relation practice is an indication of their devotion. From the research, it is clear that when there is a favorable brand image among customers, public relation perception will always h ave a heavy impact on customer loyalty. Research limitations/implication- This research seeks to expound on the existing research as regards to customer loyalty. The researcher faced the problem of unwillingness since some respondents were unwilling to answer questions. Originality- The researcher was concerned with coming up with an original piece of research that could be applied in a real life scenario. Keywords- Brand image, Public relation, Customer loyalty, Customer relations, Finance industry, financial services, the United States Introduction According to Hsieh and Li (2008), there is a direct relationship between customer perception of public relation and customer loyalty. These scholars hold that when a customer has a positive perception of public relations of a firm, he or she will tend to be loyal to that firm. This loyalty will further enhance a positive perception of the public relation of the firm.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Brand image plays a moderating role in this relationship. When a firm has a strong brand image in the market, the perception of the public would always be influenced positively towards the firm, and this will increase loyalty of the customers towards the firm (Hsieh Li, 2008). The role of marketing in creating and maintaining a pool of loyal customers is becoming more prominent in the twenty fist century. Marketers are under pressure to ensure that loyalty among customers is established. Customer loyalty is always considered a central pillar in marketing activities of the organization. This is because without customer loyalty, it may not be easy to maintain a positive image of a firm in the market. When a company is able to develop, maintain, and enhance customer loyalty, it gains a competitive edge in the market hence acquiring the opportunity to increase its market share in the market. Customer loyalty can al so enhance the image of the organization through positive word of mouth, which in turn leads to increased profit margins for the company. Scholars define public relations as the management function, which aims at identifying, establishing, and enhancing mutual benefits between the firm and its public. This would determine the failure or the success of the company. Loyal customers are said to enjoy the public relations practices of the company as compared to those customers who buy and go without staying for long in their in the company. It is essential for the customers to be aware of the organization-public relation since this will promote customer loyalty in the organization, which would lead to increased number of sales (Aaker, 1997). A recent study shows that there is intense competition in the finance industry. Numerous financial institutions are in existence meaning that competition is stiff (Chaudhuri, and Holbrook, 2001). The management of Citibank should come up with strate gies that would enable it manage this competition. Developing a public relations system would help in increasing the company’s customer loyalty. This essay aims at explaining the relationship between the brand image, public relations practices, and customer loyalty with focus on offering a professional advice to Citibank on how to enhance customer loyalty.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Research Brand Performance specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Literature Review and Hypothesis The finance industry is increasingly becoming competitive. Financial firms are under pressure to deliver more quality services to their customer in order to increase satisfaction (Belk, 2008). This quality is always formed in the minds of consumers. Public relation is important in influencing customer perception as regards to a given brand (Anderson, Gerbing, 2002). The figure below shows the relationship between public relations perception of customers, customer loyalty, and brand image, which is the basis of this research. From the diagram above, public relations perception is shown to have a direct impact on customer loyalty. The brand image plays a role of moderating the operations of the public relations opinion and customer constancy. This can be illustrated with the help of the literature review below. Clark (2000) stipulated that self-congruence theory rest on the idea that consumers evaluate the products of a company in relation to their self-image. When the congruence between the two is perceived to be high, it has been revealed that it influences the attitude of customers towards the brand. It also influences the decision made by customers in purchasing the product, as well as determining the satisfaction of customers. On the other hand, when there is incongruence, consumers are likely to withdraw from purchasing the products and services of the organization simply because they will fear to be a ssociated with the negative image of the organization (Chaudhuri, Holbrook, 2001). An individual’s self-concept embraces various self-identities, which range from personal identities to social identities. In the studies that have been conducted before, it has been proved that when public relations practices is strong there is an increased demand for social identity, which in return leads to increased self-congruence (Bruning, 2002).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Public relations practices are therefore entitled to create a profile brand association whereby customers of the organization have to be perceived as generous and kind. They also seek to establish a brand personality where the brand personality is portrayed as being sincere (Brown, Dacin, 1997). From the study, it is patent that self-congruence and customer expectations are realized with the help of the top management as expressed through public relations. In this case, if the customer self-concept match with the PR actions, customers are likely to be attached to the company for a long period (Dick, Basu, 2006). These scholars observed that public perception towards public relations would always influence customer loyalty. This leads to the first hypothesis below. Customer perception towards public relations (PRP) will be positively related to customer loyalty In this hypothesis, psychologists hold the view that the memory of an individual lasts for a very long period meaning that once the information received is stored in it, the information it is likely to stay for a considerable duration. In the field of marketing, this is referred as the halo effect whereby the influence of a particular attribute is influenced by the general impression of the product as a whole on one hand while on the other hand, the evaluation of an attribute as a whole can create an effect on particular aspects of the object. This therefore proves that maintaining cognitive consistence helps in deterring cognitive differences (Dutton, Dukerich, Harquailn, 2004).This indicates that when the brand image of an organization is favorable, the customers, who in return maintain the positive beliefs, and behaviors, will perceive the public relations practices as genuine hence harmonizing the reputation of the company. However, when consumers perceive brand image in their cognitive processes as unfavorable, it becomes difficult for the PR practices to change this perception. When there is inc onsistency in the memory of customers, they would likely develop a psychological tendency of balanced differences, which creates fear on customers hence a go slow in consuming products and services of that particular company (Ekinci Riley, 2003). This would lead to the formulation of the second hypothesis, which is stated as below. The relationship between PRP and customer loyalty is moderated by brand image Research Methodology The data of the research were collected from experienced customers of Citibank in the New York branches. This essay looks into the financial firms, as they are the ones, which dictate maximum public relations practices as compared to the manufacturing industry. The research was conducted in a form of interviews where the sampled customers were asked questions related to insurance companies familiar to them (Chiou and Droge, 2006). In the research, PRP was considered an independent variable, which was measured in terms of the manner in which customers percei ve the commitment of the corporation in terms of time, resources, and efforts towards generating public relations activities. Brand image on the other hand was used as the moderating variable. In this case, the brand image was measured in terms of experiential benefits, symbolic benefits, and as functional benefits (Ellen, Mohr, Webb, 2000). During research, several factors were controlled for the results obtained to be perceived as valid. The controlled factors included sex of respondents, disposable income, altruism, and age. In the study, altruism was considered the act of utilitarianism, which aims at promoting the welfare of others. In the issue of validity and reliability, the study used various approaches in the analysis of data collected, which includes confirmatory factor analysis, exploratory and reliability analysis (Devellis, 2001). Analysis of the Results The results obtained in the research were tested through hierarchical regression. This was aimed at proving the hyp otheses that were presented in the study. In relation to the four controlled factors used in the research, it was discovered that altruistic and disposable income variables created an effect on the consumer loyalty. This indicates that commitment of an organization towards PR activities is likely to increase customer purchases, as well as refer other people to buy company products (Homburg, Giering, 2001). In the second hypothesis, PR practices are said to depend on the level of brand image. The brand image is seen as a factor that controls the connection between public relation and consumer allegiance. In the analysis, the results were split into groups of favorable and unfavorable brand image. It was revealed that a good brand image preserves customer allegiance while inauspicious brand image generates a harmful result to client fidelity (Ellen, Mohr, Webb, 2000). The management should always ensure that the brand image is improved through such avenues as advertising. Discussion of the Findings This study is dedicated to explaining the influence of PRP on customer loyalty since it has investigated how the attitudes towards a brand image affect the relationship. It has been discovered through research that when the brand image of an organization is strong, the PRP is likely to affect the customer loyalty positively. In the analysis of the results, it was also realized that when the perception of the customers is higher towards the PRP, the customer loyalty would also increase (Garbarino, Johnson, 1999). In the second hypothesis, the results indicate that brand image acceptance raises the level of customer loyalty towards a corporation. It is therefore suggested that the needs of consumers help in developing products and services of the company. It was concluded that the brand image, as well as the corporate image, could affect the attitudes and beliefs of the company either positively or negatively (Fredericks, Hurd Salter, 2001). The management of Citiba nk should come up with mechanisms that would help in improving its brand image. With an improved brand image, Citibank can increase its customer loyalty by influencing the perception of public relation towards the firm positively. Implications and Limitations The study explored the reasons as to why managers should enhance the brand in the improving the image of their organizations, which would help them to gain customer loyalty (Abdullah, Al-Nasser, Husain, 2000). The study has also expressed numerous details that affect brand image and the performance of the firm. Moreover, it analyzed the manner in which brand image influences consumer allegiance. Managers should enhance their brand images for the PR practices to achieve their intended goals (Homburg, Giering, 2001). This will have a positive ripple effect to the firm. The research had some limitations when. It was limited to customers of Citibank in its branches in New York. This is because of the limited time for conducting r esearch. The research was also limited to the financial industry. Further studies should be carried out based on this in order to prove the hypothesis further (Abdullah, Al-Nasser, Husain, 2000). Conclusion The management of Citibank has a big role to play in ensuring that they develop customer loyalty towards their brand. The management should ensure that it influences public relations perception towards their products. This would make customers develop a favorable perception towards the company brand. This would also increase customer loyalty towards the brand, a fact that will help the organization increase its market share in this industry. References Aaker, J.L. (1997). Dimensions of brand personality. Journal of Marketing Research, 34(3), 347-57. Abdullah, M., Al-Nasser, A.D., Husain, N. (2000). Evaluating functional relationship between image, customer satisfaction, and customer loyalty using general maximum. Total Quality Management, 11(4), 826-9. Anderson, J.C., Gerbing, D. W. (2002). Structural equation modeling in practice: a review and recommenced two-step approach. Psychological Bulletin, 103(3), 411-23. Belk, R. (2008). Possessions and the extended self. Journal of Consumer Research, 15(1), 139-68. Brown, T.J., Dacin, P.A. (1997). The company and the product: corporate associations and consumer product responses. Journal of Marketing, 61(1), 68-84. Bruning, S.D., (2002). Relationship building as a retention strategy: linking relationship attitudes and satisfaction evaluations to behavioral outcomes. Public Relations Review, 28(1), 39-48. Chaudhuri, A., Holbrook, M.B. (2001). The chain of effects from brand trust and brand affect to brand performance the role of brand loyalty, Journal of Marketing, 65(2), 81-93. Chiou, J.S., Droge, C. (2006). Service quality, trust, specific asset investment, and expertise: Direct and indirect effects in a satisfaction-loyalty framework. Journal of the Academy of Marketing science, 34(4), 613-27. Clark, C.E. (2000). Differences between public relations and corporate social responsibility: an analysis. Public Relations Review, 26(3), 363-80. Devellis, R.F. (2001). Scale Development: Theories and Application. Newbury Park, CA. Sage. Dick, A.S., Basu, K. (2006). Customer loyalty: toward an integrated conceptual framework. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 22(2), 99-113. Dutton, J.E., Dukerich, H.M., Harquailn, C.V. (2004). Organizational images and member identification. Administrative Science Quarterly, 39(2), 239-63. Ekinci, Y., Riley, M. (2003). An investigation of self-concept: actual and ideal self-congruence compared in the contest of service evaluation. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 10(4), 201-14. Ellen, P.S., Mohr, L.A., Webb, D.J. (2000). Charitable programs and the retailer: do they mix? Journal of Retailing, 76(3), 393-406. Fredericks, J.O., Hurd, R.R., Salter, J.M. (2001). Connecting customer loyalty to financial results. Marketing Management, 10( 1), 26-32. Garbarino, E. Johnson, M.S. (1999). The difference roles of satisfaction, trust, and commitment in customer relationships. Journal of Marketing, 63(2), 70-87. Homburg, C., Giering, A. (2001). Personal characteristics as moderators of the relationship between customer satisfaction and loyalty-an empirical analysis. Psychology Marketing, 18(1), 43-66. Hsieh, A. Li, C. (2008). The moderating effect of brand image on public relations perception and customer loyalty. Marketing Intelligence Planning, 26(1), 26-42. 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gender in lit essays

gender in lit essays Men Fix Things...Girls Have Dolls I have thought about many different ways to organize this paper and have come to the conclusion that the best way to approach the topic is on a book-by-book basis. My perceptions of the gender biases in these books vary greatly and I did not want to begin altering my views on each so that they would fit into certain contrived connections. What interests me most in these stories is how the authors utilize certain characters within their given environment. Their instincts and reactions are a wonderful window into how the authors perceive these people would interact with their surroundings and often are either rewarded or punished by the author through consequences in the plot for their responses. Through this means we can see how the authors expect their characters to behave in relation to their post in the world. We must be very careful as readers to judge these biases based only on evidence within the text and not invent them from our own psyche due to the individual world we know. In Louis Sachars award winning book Holes, we see gender biases in many characters. The first and most obvious bias in this book can be found in the way Sachars characters address Mr. Pendanski, one of the staff members at Camp Green Lake. Many of the boys refer to him sarcastically as mom, and it is not because of his loving nature. Mr. Pendanski is neurotic about things the boys consider trivial and he has a tendency to nag them. Because Mr. Pendanski is portrayed as the antithesis of Mr. Sir, who simply drips testosterone, others view him as a female for his weakness. The fact that Sachar allows his characters to equate weakness with femininity, or more accurately motherhood, shows a certain bias towards the supposed strength that innately accompanies masculinity. This attitude is only furthered by the fact that the rest of the book as almost totally ...

English Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

English - Essay Example This paper is a critical evaluation of food insecurity in Nigeria, detailing the causes, effects as well as responses being made to solve the dilemma. Food Insecurity in Nigeria Nigeria is a West African country, where food insecurity has continued to compromise the health and lives of citizens especially children, who are most vulnerable. Statistics indicate that more than 40% of children in the country are suffering from chronic malnutrition, which is a major threat to the future of this generation (Omotor 2009). This is due to the fact that malnutrition is a common recipe for poor growth and development in children, which may lead to poor academic performance and intellectual development. It is sad to note that the government of Nigeria is doing little to rescue these children. One way of doing this would be to introduce a free feeding system in government schools, whereby these children would be provided at least with a single meal containing all the basic requirements of a balan ced diet. In this context, the government should observe what countries such as Ghana are dealing with malnutrition in school going children. Apparently, Ghana has already put the system to work, with the government allocating $347.4 million to the program, which will be running for 5 years (Alderman 2009). It is said that the government of Nigeria had plans to execute a similar program but it has been observed that such a plan was never implemented hence the high rate of malnutrition in children. It may be important to note that approximately 60% of Nigeria’s population is malnourished (Omotor 2009). Rural urban migration in Nigeria is also a problem, which has contributed significantly to food insecurity in the country. This is due to the fact that it encourages the movement of young and able bodied citizens from the rural areas, leaving the weak and the vulnerable people to engage in food production. It is important to note that, in order to realize viable food production, a farmer requires putting a lot of efforts in caring for the crops thus the need for manpower to perform activities such as weeding, spraying pesticides, harvesting among others. In this context, Nigerian farmers in the rural areas are faced with scarcity of human resources, which has resulted to an increase in wages demanded by manual laborers, who take advantage of the high demand for their services. Consequently, this has made it difficult for farmers to afford the costs, especially due to the poverty factor, such that they have developed a habit of skipping these important activities (Olayemi 2003). The government has played a major role in facilitating this problem due to the fact that it has neglected the rural areas by failing to improve social amenities and infrastructure, which has continued to discourage people, especially young school leavers, from settling in these areas. Lack of decentralization of resources and Corruption in the government have been identified as majo r contributing factors, which have slowed down development such that majority of roads especially in the rural areas are in total disrepair or absent all together. With impassable roads, it becomes difficult and expensive to transport farm products form producing areas to the markets, which combined with high fuel prices results to increased food

Discounted and non-discounted cash flow techniques Essay

Discounted and non-discounted cash flow techniques - Essay Example This report aims at appraising four different projects on the basis of both discounted and non-discounted cash flow techniques. After the relevant computations, one project will be advised to be acceptedThis report also highlights the projects appraisal techniques in detail such that every technique will be discussed and its strengths and weaknesses will be elaborated. One by one every project will be considered for appraisal and its relevant computations will be provided in the appendix. The decision as to which project is to be accepted lies basically on two broader grounds namely as financial and non-financial. Here the financial grounds are discussed such that financial grounds itself can be bifurcated on two basis which are discounted cash flow techniques and non-discounted cash flow techniques. The discounted cash flow techniques have both the absolute and relative techniques. The most popular absolute technique is Net Present Value (NPV) technique which has also been used in t his current analysis. The relative discounted cash flow techniques may have various forms in which the famous ones are Internal Rate of Return (IRR) and Profitability Index (PI). On the other hand, the non-discounted cash flow techniques consist of Payback Period, Urgency and Accounting Rate of Return (ARR). Discounted Cash Flow Techniques In this particular analysis, NPV, IRR and PI are used as discounted cash flow techniques to appraise the project whereas only Payback is used as non-discounted cash flow technique as other techniques cannot be used because the non-availability of the relevant data. The following discussion contains detailed explanation of discounted cash flow techniques. Net Present Value Net Present Value technique is the most famous project appraisal technique such that it explains the benefits of the project in an absolute financial sense. This technique provides an absolute figure as how much the project would earn given in its project life. This technique wor ks on the basis of discounting such that cash out flows and flows are discounted through an appropriate discount rate which is generally the weighted average cost of capital. In the way, the present value of all cash outflows and inflows are computed and then all the present values are summed up to obtain the Net Present Value of the project. Strengths The strength of this technique is that it provides an absolute amount which reflects the overall benefits that the project can provide now. This technique is also quite simple to calculate and quite easy to understand. Weaknesses The weaknesses include that the NPV of a particular project can exactly be equal to another project but both the projects may have significant differences in the magnitude of the cash flows. Another weakness of the technique is that it is based on the future expectations such that cash flows are projected with judgment. In case if the economic and financial situation changes, then the actual results may vary significantly from the estimates NPV. Comprehensive financial knowledge is also required to compute the NPV especially in those projects where tax implications have the key impact upon the generation of cash flows. Internal Rate of Return This discounted cash flow technique is also quite popular among the financial analyst such that it works on the basis of NPV. Internal Rate of Return is that rate at which the Net Present Value of a project becomes zero. This means that if the IRR is used as a discount rate instead of WACC which can produce a nil NPV. Hence if IRR exceeds than WACC, then the project can produce positive NPV. However, if IRR remains lower than WACC then NPV would also remain in a negative zone. Strengths The biggest strength of IRR is that it is a relative measure and a comparable one. It is also easier to understand the logic that works behind it. The interpretation of IRR is quite easy and this technique is also quite consistent with the objective of maximizing th e wealth of shareholders. Weaknesses There are many drawbacks of this

Loneliness in the modern age Essay Example for Free

Loneliness in the modern age Essay Loneliness is inevitable; it is crafted out of the modern world and thus is inseparable from it. It is so pervasive that to be human is to be lonely (as cited in Rokach, 2004). Humankind is continually struggling to escape the solipsistic prison of painful alienation, the agonizing pain of loneliness, and its gnawing, saddening, and terrifying effects (as cited in Rokach). This everlasting battle drives peoples lives the fear motivates people to attend to and connect with others but in a self-protective and paradoxically self-defeating fashion (Cacioppo, Hughes, Waite, Hawkley, Thisted, 2006). Social isolation is a more tangible seclusion as opposed to the subjective experience of feeling lonely which is the longing to fit in and the resultant experience when one cannot. However, both experiences are particularly prevalent in North American culture. Individuals of the contemporary Western society are subject to comparatively high levels of loneliness and social isolation a result of increasing reliance on technology, selfish ideals, and the pressure culture places to develop relationships. This culminates in poor psychological health and quality of life, creating a cycle of further alienation. Western culture is to blame for the increasing levels of social isolation among the population. North Americans have significantly higher levels of loneliness compared to other cultures (Rokach Neto, 2005). Though humans inherently desire closeness, it is the mechanized society to which they belong that is forcing them apart by way of more leisure, either through affluence or unemployment, [living] longer, [increasing] our interaction with computerized equipment, and [continuing] to respond to various financial and corporate demands by frequent mobility (Rokach). It is the lifestyle of the modern world rather than a single source that sustains loneliness: normality is associated with such conditions as spiritual and emotional emptiness, Type A personality, and workaholism (as cited in Rokach Neto). Society is structured in such a way so that to eliminate loneliness is to eliminate all that Western culture thrives and is supported on. Without society as a supplement, people cannot survive either; and so, they are caught in the painful experience of loneliness. As Western society becomes more technologically advanced, social isolation is magnified proportionally. Increased reliance technology and the Internet has negative effects on psychological well-being, such as depression and loneliness (Junghyun, LaRose Wei, 2009). High school students with greater hours of engagement on the Internet have higher loneliness levels than the average users (Deniz, 2010). Increased internet usage is both the cause and effect of loneliness; the lonely turn to the virtual world for a sense of connection they cannot achieve in the real world. However, electronic connections cannot take the place of real relationships increased Internet use can increase social isolation as well as depression when it replaces more tangible forms of human contact. (Cacioppo Patrick, 2008, p. 260). As well, North American culture promotes traits such as individualistic success and competitiveness every man for himself. These values are the model for success and are only more pronounced in the modern era; thus, relationships on the whole have become superficial and exist primarily by necessity. Loneliness is a defining factor in the technologically-advanced and selfish Western world. Loneliness is a predominantly Western phenomenon yet the very same society illogically emphasizes the necessity of social connection. Not only does the modern age provide an environment where loneliness and social isolation thrives, it also heightens awareness of such conditions. Social connection involves feeling part of society and not alienated. Society itself encourages connectedness and meaningful relationships an ideal that the population shares. An overwhelming majority [of people rated] love, intimacy, and social affiliation above wealth or fame, even above physical health (Cacioppo Patrick, p. 5) when asked what gave them most happiness. However, loneliness is so prevalent that it is very difficult to attain these goals. As such, when harsh expectations are not met, the feeling of isolation is intensified. Loneliness in itself already causes suffering, but not meeting social requirements unduly worsens the experience. The individual greatly relies on the community for support, a sense of belonging, reciprocal sharing with others and ones sense of identity (Seepersad, Mi-Kyung Nana, 2008) thus, the perceived failure to society greatly weakens self-worth. The inherent need for closeness, amplified by the social expectation of having a romantic partner (Seepersad, Mi-Kyung Nana), prompts people to enter relationships simply to eliminate feelings of social inadequacy and emptiness. In Western countries, individuals view romantic relationships as possibly the most important and central source of love and intimacy (and thus as very needed and desired) (Seepersad, Mi-Kyung Nana). As a result, it appears, for instance, that a good number of marriages start as a panacea to loneliness (Rokach). However, expectations to have suffering eliminated by these artificial relationships are often not met hence the high divorce rate. These unfulfilled expectations resulting in a lack of real, meaningful relationships constitutes an inability to connect with others. This notion in turn is consistently associated with issues of self-esteem [and] perceptions of social competence. (Hall-Lande, Eisenberg, Christenson Neumark-Sztainer, 2007). Western cultures paradoxical expectations of close relationships in a lonely world only causes more suffering and further loneliness.

Impacts of Mothers’ Support for SEN Children

Impacts of Mothers’ Support for SEN Children CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION Becoming a mother  is a wonderful, exhilarating experience. Raising children brings new meaning to every moment of your life and depth to your experience as a human being. Equally to become parents and to nurture a newborn baby is a great responsibility. â€Å"As parents, we develop hopes and dreams about who our baby will be in the world and how we will be as parents. This process of creating an internal life for our baby and ourselves is a natural part of what all parents go through. We do not expect that our baby will be born with, or develop, a disability or special need; when that happens, much of what we imagined and planned is forever changed† (Abilitypath.org, 2015). Special Educational needs and disability is a reality but much more than it to a parent, it is a huge responsibility to parents. â€Å"†¦it is not the child’s disability that handicaps and disintegrates families; it is the way they react to it and to each other† (Dickman Gordon, 1985, p. 109). The term Special Educational Needs (SEN) has a legal definition which is set out in the Education Act 1996 and the Children and Family Act 2014. It applies to children who have learning difficulties or disabilities that make it significantly harder for them to learn or access education than most other children of their age. So Special Educational Needs could mean a child has (Find.redbridge.gov.uk, 2015): Learning difficulties- in acquiring basic skills in schools. Emotional and behavioral difficulties- making friends or relating to adults or behaving properly in school. Specific learning difficulties- with reading, writing, number work or understanding information. Sensory or physical needs- such as hearing or visual impairments, which might affect them in school. Communication problems- in expressing themselves or understanding what others are saying. Medical or health conditions- which may slow down a child’s progress and/or involves treatment that affects his or her education. Early childhood is a crucial time of development for all children, including those with special educational needs. Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) â€Å"Children with special needs may have mild learning disabilities or profound cognitive impairment; food allergies or terminal illness; developmental delays that catch up quickly or remain entrenched; occasional panic attacks or serious psychiatric problems† Terri Mauro, Our Children with Special Needs Expert retrieved from http://specialchildren.about.com/od/gettingadiagnosis/p/whatare.htm. Special Educational Needs include disabilities like Autistic Disorder, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD), Cerebral Palsy, Deafness/Hearing Loss, Down Syndrome, Epilepsy, Learning Disabilities, Intellectual Disabilities, Visual Impairments and so on. The study focus specifically on the impacts of mothers’ support on special children in the dissertation; as acknowledged by Gilliom et al. (2002), mothers tend to be responsible for the majority of childrearing in most families. According to Dudley-Marling, â€Å"Fathers were not immune to the effects of school problems, but mothers, not fathers, talked about losing sleep worrying about their child’s schooling. Mothers, not fathers, reported that worry over school troubles frequently intruded on their lives at work. It was also a mother, not a father, who told me that she worried so much about her son’s struggles in school that she was not eating† (pp. 195). Koegel et al., (1992), study found the following: among specific concerns expressed by mothers are worries about their child’s welfare in the years ahead, the child’s ability to function independently, and the community’s acceptance of their child. Disability is a part of the human condition. Responses to disability have changed since the 1970s, prompted largely by the self-organization of people with disabilities and by the growing tendency to see disability as a human rights issue. Approximately 800 million young children worldwide are affected by biological, environmental and psychosocial conditions that can limit their cognitive development. In Europe, recent estimates place the number of children with special educational needs (SEN) at 15 million. From the MAURITIUS EDUCATION STATISTICS (2014), we came to know that as in Mauritius at March 2014, there were 59 Special Education Needs schools in the Republic of Mauritius registered with the Ministry of Education and Human Resources. Twelve schools were run by Ministry, while the other 47 were run by NGOs. The number of students enrolled in the 59 special schools stood at 2,291 (of whom 63% were boys) as at March 2014 compared to 2,008 in March 2013, representing an increase of 14%. Retrieved from http://statsmauritius.govmu.org/English/StatsbySubj/Documents/ei1132/education.pdf. Early childhood is a crucial time of development for all children, including those with special educational needs. Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), World Declaration on Education for All (Jomtien, Thailand 1990) The Salamanca Statement and Framework for Action on Special Needs Education (Salamanca, Spain 1994) LITERATURE REVIEW ‘‘The mother-child relationship is considered one of the long-lasting and enduring interactions in which basic human development can effectively occur.’’ (Bronfenbrenner Ceci, 1994) ‘Parental adaptation to a child’s disability is a complex, lifelong process, both for parents as well as other family members’ (Hauser-Cram et al. 2001; Seltzer Heller, 1997). From the dawn of human history, mothers have been at the heart of human development. It is mothers who help the children in developing the first basic competencies, development of trust, identity and worth. Being our first emotional and social support mechanism, our first teacher, our first health care provider, the mothers act ‘as both the protector and nurturer’. Mothers remains and will remain the most powerful force for special needs children. It is said that that parental involvement in the form of ‘at-home good parenting’ has a significant positive effect on children’s achievement. This study will focus on whether the support of the mothers can improve and have a positive impact on the special children’s overall skills such as social skills, educational field and also personal lives. Researchers have evidence for the positive effects of parent involvement on children, families, and school when schools and parents continuously support and encourage the childrens learning and development (Eccles Harold, 1993; Illinois State Board of Education, 1993). According to Henderson and Berla (1994) (p. 160), ‘the most accurate predictor of a students achievement in school is not income or social status but the extent to which that students family is able to: 1) Create a home environment that encourages learning, 2) Express high (but not unrealistic) expectations for their childrens achievement and future careers, 3) Become involved in their childrens education at school and in the community’. Dubois et al (1994) showed that family support and the quality of parent-child relationships significantly predicted school adjustment in a sample of 159 young US adolescents (aged 10 –12) followed in a two year longitudinal study. De Garmo et al (1999) found suppo rt for the model of parental influence on to educational achievement for young children. According to De Garmo et al, (1999, p.1233), ‘Parenting practices act as mediators of educational achievement for the children.’ There are several articles and researches that testify that maternal support do have positive impacts on their children. The mother-child relationship precedes learning opportunities outside the home in facilitating development among preschool children. (Claspi et al., 2004). Authors increasingly argue that mothers can promote preschooler’s coping ability, if they are supportive and non-punitive in how they react to negative emotions (Eisenberg, Fables, Carlo Karbon, 1992). ‘Nurturing a child early in life may help him or her develop a larger hippocampus, the brain region important for learning, memory and stress responses, a new study shows.’ by Joseph Castro, Live Science Contributor (January 30, 2012). How a Mothers Love Changes a Childs Brain. Retrieved from http://www.livescience.com/18196-maternal-support-child-brain.html. We can now say with confidence that the psychosocial environment has a material impact on the way the human brain develops, said by Dr. Joan Luby, the studys lead researcher and a psychiatrist at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Mo. It puts a very strong wind behind the sail of the idea that early nurturing of children positively affects their development. ‘Parental acceptance-rejection theory (PAR Theory) is an evidence-based theory of socialization and lifespan development that attempts to predict and explain major causes, consequences, and other correlates of interpersonal—especially parental—acceptance and rejection within the United States and worldwide’ (Rohner, 1986, 2004; Rohner and Rohner, 1980). Parental acceptance- rejection is commonly represented along a continuum representing the quality of the affectional bonds between parents and their children and with the physical, verbal, and symbolic behaviors that parents use to express their feeling. According to PAR Theory the need for positive response or parental acceptance not only persists throughout childhood it exerts a predictable impact on self-concept of the individual. The theory predicts the existence of positive correlation between parental acceptance rejection and seven self-concepts of children / adults: Hostility/ Aggression, Dependency, Negative Self-Esteem, Negative Self Adequacy, Emotional Unresponsiveness, Emotional Instability and Negative Worldview (Rohner 1986; Rohner, Khaleque, Cournoyer 2003a). A vast research literature shows that the quality of parent-child relationships characterized by parental acceptance (love) and rejection (lack of love) is a major predictor of psychological functioning and development for both children and adults universally (Khaleque Rohner, 2002; Rohner, 1975, 2002; Rohner Rohner, 1980). Montes Halterman (2007) reported that despite increased stress levels and diminished quality of communication, mothers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder reported higher level of relationship closeness with their child compared with mothers in the general United States population. Ainsworth others (Ainsworth, Blehar, Waters Wall, 1978; Sroufe, 1985) have emphasized the role of maternal sensitivity and responsiveness in the development of secure infant attachment. The findings and researches mentioned above point toward one direction, that is maternal support do have an impact on children. If the studies advocates for the positive impacts of mother support, then the results should be same for the maternal support to special educational needs children. In a famous Reality TV show SATYAMEV JAYATE, one episode -‘Satyamev jayate- Persons with Disabilities- We Can Fly’ shed light on the lives on people with disabilities, their parents support and where they have reached today is all due to their parental love and support. For a normal person, parental or maternal support may not hold great importance but for special children, the support of parents means the world for them. Retrieved from http://www.satyamevjayate.in/persons-with-disabilities/personswithdisabilities.aspx. Among the several interviews conducted by Aamir Khan, many of the disabled persons dedicated the success of lives to their parents. The interviews not only portray the journey of the disabled persons but equally show that their parents support became their strength. A little disabled child, Shreya Chaturvedi of New Delhi said ‘Anyone loves me or not, but my mom loves me a lot†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ Through the interview, the child speaks about her motherâ⠂¬â„¢s unlimited efforts and attempts. And the most moving and motivational interview was of Mr. Sai Prasad Vishwanathan from Hyderabad. He is a gold medalist from Chaitanya Bharathi Institute of Technology, an M.S. in Computer Science from the University of Wisconsin, and has a business degree from Indian School of Business, Hyderabad. Throughout the interview, he talked about his parental support and its impacts on him and his future. He says ‘I do not remember my parents being upset. I do not ever recall that they were despaired. They were always telling ‘‘you must study. Because you are still very ordinary. But we are with you and together we can strive to make you an excellent because it’s the only thing that we can do for you. The rest, you must do for yourself and that they have done for me.’’ Almost all the participants in the documentary admitted that the maternal support meant a lot for them and this is what kept them going in the tou gh journey of their lives. This reality show not only portrayed the lives of disabled persons but equally showed that be it from any part of the world, India or Mauritius, parental and maternal support is the key through which special persons can shine and progress in lives just like any normal person. Dr. O. Ivar Lovaas is a world-renowned autism expert who is always trying to come up with new treatment and means to improve the lives of autistic children and their families. His Lovaas Model of Applied Behavior Analysis is based on 40 years of research and is backed by published studies showing half of children with autism who receive this intensive treatment become indistinguishable from other children on tests of cognitive and social skills by the time they completed first grade. According to 1999 report from the New York State health department ‘‘Educating Children with Autism’’ ( 2001 ), ‘parents typically are active partners in their child’s education to ensure that skills learned in the educational program transfer to the home setting and to teach their child the many behaviors that are best mastered in the home and community.’ The study of Lovaas et al., (1973), Schopler and Reichler. (1971) showed there are recognition that pare nts are partners in an educational process that requires close collaboration between home and school, which favors the fact that maternal support does indeed have a very deep and positive impact on the special child and their welfare. Ivar Lovaas equally support the fact that Parental Involvement and Home-based Treatment is better for the autistic children as it help them much more. In a study of families who had a son with autism under the age of 6 years referred to the TEACCH (Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children) program, Bristol and colleagues (1988) found that, while fathers assumed some role in children’s care, mothers carried a much greater burden. Koegel et al. (1996) reported that teaching parents how to use pivotal response training as part of their applied behavioral analysis instruction resulted in happier parent-child interactions, more interest by the parents in the interaction, less stress, and a more positive communication style. PURPOSE OF THE STUDY Disability and special needs were then, associated with shame and considered as punishment both for the disabled and special children and their families (Kofi Marfo, Sylvia Walker, and Bernard L. Charles, 1983). But it is undeniable that however the children may be, they will never be a burden on their parents as the latter love their children unconditionally. In another words, parents are the strength and prime support of the children. A family is far more than a collection of individuals starting a specific physical and psychological space. The main purpose of this study will be the impact of maternal support on special educational needs children’s welfare. There is this misconception about special educational needs children that they are useless and worthless but what they are unaware of is that with the support of parents and special educational teachers; they can perform as good as any normal children. The main focus will be on the mothers of special educational needs chi ldren as it is globally known that it the mothers who invest the most in a child’s life. As we say, education first starts at home itself. 1.3 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES The aim of this study is to investigate on how the maternal support, help and care can help special educational needs children to learn, change and adapt to the everyday tasks and activities. Objectives of the study: To understand how mothers support their special educational needs children and its impact. To investigate the positive changes and improvements brought by the mothers’ support in their children’s lives. To identify the difficult tasks that the special children were unable to perform earlier but can now handle it with the assistance and teaching of their mothers and teachers. 1.4 RATIONALE There have been literature about the Special educational needs children and also about their parents but there have been less studies being done on the impact of maternal support on the special child. This study’s aim is to shed light on the positive improvement and changes that occurs in the special children and show the importance of maternal support on Special educational needs children. In-depth interview is used in order to grasp the essence of meaning and also to allow the mothers to narrate the improvement and changes they witnessed with their special child.

Animal Farm.The role of Stalinism

The book that I decided to do was Animal Farm. I have read this book once before and it really shows the role of Stalinism. Napoleon, the head pig and the ruler of the farm is most similar to the Russian leader during the Russian Revolution, Joseph Stalin. Napoleon is similar to Stalin in the way that they share most character traits such as intelligence and leadership. Although it seemed in the book that Napoleon never displayed in interest in the strength of Animal Farm itself, instead he was worried more about the power he was able to hold over the farm.Stalin did not start off with power from the start. Joseph Stalin was first appointed to serve on the Central Committee of the Bolshevik Party. The Bolsheviks were able to seize power over Russia in 1917 and the Soviet Union came about shortly after. Through the next years Stalin was able to make his way up the party rank. He was promoted to General Secretary of the Communist Party in 1922 by the parties’ first leader, Vladi mir Lenin. Having this role allowed him to appoint people that were loyal to him and help him collect information on other members of the party.Once Lenin died in 1924, Stalin outmaneuvered his rivals with his intelligence and soon become the dictator of the Communist Party. The book Animal Farm was published during the same time that Stalin was starting to take over Russia. The farm is taken over by the overworked and mistreated animals. Once they are able to run off the farm owner the main pig, Napoleon is able to use his smarts and leadership to get the other animals to follow his command. Napoleon is best portrayed as Stalin in this book as they both were able to rise up from the bottom by using their cleverness to overcome any of the obstacles in their way.They both were great leaders and were able to get a lot of followers that had the same beliefs that they did. The author has more than one way that he uses to describe totalitarian power throughout Animal Farm. He first start s off by using Mr. Jones as an example by stating that he runs Manor Farm based on the idea that human power over the animals is the natural order of things. Once the animals heard Old Major give his speech on the chance to have a better life without any humans, the animals decide to rebel and overthrow Mr.Jones. As this revolution happens, Napoleon and the other pigs start to run the newly named, Animal Farm with the declaration that they are all fighting for animals against evil humans. The way that I understand the way totalitarian government is used is that one leader is able to do certain things that are able to persuade people to follow in their beliefs. They are able to use such things as power and smarts to get a person to do such things and anyone that does not will usually have those people killed.Also those who hold power in totalitarian regimes only care about one thing while they rule and that is maintaining power by any means possible. I feel that Orwell was able to de scribe totalitarian in several ways by using the humans as an example then using the animals. Adolf Hitler and Stalin are the two most known totalitarian leaders in Europe. Hitler was the leader of the Nazi Party and is to blame for World War II and causing the holocaust which led to the suffering of many nations. The two leaders were both very cruel and strict.The circumstances in which the two leaders were able to take power were very similar because they were able to take advantage of the situation they were in and rise to the top. The method in which they used were a little bit different, as Stalin built his way up the ladder slowly and had to remove anybody that seemed to be a threat whereas Hitler’s road to power was shorter to where he was able to become the only leader in just 19 months. Overall the roads to power for the two were different.Hitler took power by means of election where Stalin had to make his way by outmaneuvering many people. In the book the animal tha t becomes the main leader is the pig, Napoleon. I feel that even though he is modeled as Stalin his rise to power is mostly similar to that of Hitler’s. He is the smartest animal on the farm. By being the smartest he was able to use that ability to get the other animals on his side and believe whatever he said which ultimately led to the animals just accepting him as leader. What I have learned about the totalitarian style of government is that once he leader is able to get to the top he ultimately only cares about one thing and that is staying leader. Such as Stalin was able to outmaneuver people to get to the top and he made sure he appointed people that would be loyal to him from the start so they would not get in his way in the future. Bibliography â€Å"Joseph Stalin. †Ã‚  History. com. A&E  Television  Networks, n. d. Web. 10 Dec. 2012. â€Å"Animal Farm: Themes. † LitCharts. com. N. p. , n. d. Web. 8 Dec. 2012 Orwell, George. Animal Farm;. New York: H arcourt, Brace, 1954. Print

Miss Essay

1. Be able to address the range of communication requirement in own role 1.1 Review the range of groups and individuals whose communication needs must be addressed in own job role. Working within Surestart I work with many groups and individuals whose communication needs must be addressed which include 16 staff members, services users to date we have 1700 families registered with Surestart. We would have a lot of communication with Health visitors regarding referrals that they have sent in and also follow up telephone calls if there is any concerns with the family. I would also have contact with social services and be asked to attend case review meetings. I would also be expected to communicate with other agencies to refer our service users on the appropriate agencies for example other children centres, counsellors, women’s Aid and Hidden Harm Social worker, 1.2 Explain how to support effective communication within own job role Effective communication and interaction play a very important role in the work of everybody that works within Surestart. I feel that how I support effective communication is by setting a good example to staff. With communication been so important for the day to day running of the centre, each staff member would be asked to write in the diary in the main office so people can know where they are (this is for the save guarding of staff if they are out of the office, lone worker policy) There is also a white board in the main office so when staff are in programmes other staff are aware of this and that the parents/baby room are booked. I would also support communication by attending staff meeting ever second week and staff are told that they must attend once a month. There is also an open door policy as sometimes there is information that staff do not want to share in a team meeting as there maybe difficulties within the team and they would like to share information on a one to one basic. 1.3 Analyse the barriers and challenges to communication within own job role The barriers and challenges that I would face is staff working part time,  staff out doing programme and also may be difficult feeling between staff members. The other barriers and challenges that I would face is staff do not take on board what you are saying to them as they feel they are right so they do not even listen to what you are trying to explain. Some people may pick you up wrong on the information you are trying to get across. 1.4 Implement a strategy to overcome communication barriers Make sure I speak very clear, focus on what information I would like them to take on board. Supervision on a monthly basis, open door policy if anyone has a problem they can talk about it. Staff can ring and send emails at any time. The childcare supervisor meets with the childcare team every morning to make sure that all crà ¨ches have enough staff and if they have any concerns regarding the children. There is also a referral meeting once a week where we discuss the referral that health visitor/social workers have send in and also to discuss and concerns we would have regarding the parents. I also send rely slips to social worker / health visitor to let them know if a home visit has been completed or if we have been unable to contact the family. 1.5 Use different means of communication to meet different needs I am aware that each staff member has different learning styles, some staff like sharing information in a group and other staff like to share information in a one to one. It is also very important for me to take this on board as I do not want any member of the team feeling frustrated and ineffective. I want staff to be able to trust me and let them see that I value the work that they do. The different means of communication I use to meet different needs are. Emails are a very effective means of communication as each staff members gets the information at the same time and not second hand. Emails can be sent at any time and also printed out to file or record information that has been sent or received. Team meeting again are a very good as all staff are getting the same information and this is a nice way for other staff to meet and let everyone else know how things are going and if anyone is finding a family or child diffi cult then there is the support of the whole team for ideas of how to handle a situation. If anyone cannot make it then the team minutes are there to read. Telephone if I am not in the office I can still be reached on my mobile if anyone needs anything.  Health visitor/Social worker would also contact me by telephone if they needed an update on a family. Staff diary in the main office this lets staff members know who is in which room and if anyone is on leave or sick or if someone has an appointment. Sign in and out sheet beside the exit door this is for safety reasons as if there was a fire in the building then I would know who is in and out Reply slips are back to the health visitors/social worker as an update for the referral they have send in. Letters to parents this is to invite them along to programmes/events. Thought-out the year I would facilitate information mornings for breastfeeding support, weaning work shop and feeding for under 5’s this would be to share inform ation to welcome new service users to the Surestart. Face to face, my office is open to all staff at any time if they need to talk about anything. CU2941 Use and develop systems that promote communication 2. Be able to improve communication systems and practise support positive outcomes for individuals 2.1 Monitor the effectiveness of communication systems and practices. The diary in the front office if very effective for staff on home visit as we know where there are for their safety (lone worker policy). white board in the main office is very effective as this is where all staff write down their programmes so if there is any phone calls for staff the secretary knows if they are in the office or in programmes. Emails can be sent at any time and it means that the same information is been told to the staff at the same time and it is also the staffs responsible to pick up their emails. The childcare supervisor meets with the childcare staff each morning I feel that this is very effective as this is in place to make sure that all rooms are covered with their ratio, and most importantly that the needs of the children are met and if there is any problem in any of the setting it can be addressed as needed and that staff do not have to wait 2 weeks for a team meeting to discuss. One to on e communication i.e. Supervision and APR, I feel that this is very important within a setting. N-Drive – this is where documents can be saved and all staff can access it. In our office we have a policy of hot desking so documents can accessed at any computer. This is also for Surestart forms and newsletters so all staff can print them out as needed. Reply slips to health visitors/social worker/other agencies – this is where I reply to any referral letter that the project receives, I would reply to the other agencies if this family had received a home visit and services offered, if I was unable to contact the family for different reasons or if the family did not want to avail of Surestart services. Phone – if I cannot be reached at any time then a message can be left for me to return there call. 2.2 Evaluate the effectiveness of existing communication systems and practice Evaluating the effectiveness of existing communication systems and practice I am going to start with the ones I feels are the most effective. One to One Communication – I feel that this works very well within a team as some staff members do not like to speak in front of other and feel that their ideas might not be good enough. I also feel that face to face communication is very effective as some people can pick up a message wrong and take the wrong tone with an email. Supervision – this is there for staff to talk confidently with their manger I feel that this is very effective means of communication for the manger to tell how well things are going for that member of staff and for the staff member to say how they really feel about how things are going. ( I also feel that you have to have a good relationship with your staff for this to work, you have to be relaxed and friendly and staff members also have to trust you). Supervision is also very effective as this give staff clear boundaries of what is expected of them for the month a head and also make sure they are on target to achieve the targets in their APR. Team meetings – I also think this is effective as this can let everybody know how programmes are going if there is any follows to do with families in any of the programmes. If anyone is having any difficulties if any of the programmes is nice to get other ideas how to deal with it. It is also there for sharing information for the Surestart board and action for children. To let staff know what training is coming up. ARP- I have been working in a Surestart setting for the last 11 years, I feel that this is the first year I have felt that an APR has been effective like the rest of communication systems if it is not done right then it will not  be effective. APR is there to set goal and targets for the year ahead, I feel this is very important for staff as they know what is expected of them for the year ahead and then this is monitored at each supervision to make sure that staff in on track with their targets. Childcare meeting every morning – I feel that this is very effective as each member of the childcare team no where they are each day and who is covering in each setting and also if any member of the childcare team is concerned about a child this is discussed each morning. Emails- I feel has pro and con. It is very effective in a way that emails can be sent at any time and is very good for all staff to receive the information at the same time. I also feels that staff can pick the tone of emails up wrong and some information is best said face to face. Reply letter to health visitors/social workers/other agencies – I feel that this is a very effective The diary in the front office – This is effective if everyone plays there part in filling it in. If someone is on training or off on A/L and forgets to fill it in then it is very hard for other staff to know where they are. N-Drive – This is effective as all the Surestart form and standard letters are on it as well as newsletters. It is also that as this is used while hot desking it means that the documents that are placed on this drive can be accessed by the whole team so if I was saving any confidential information I would also password protect it. Phone – I do feel that this is effective as if I am not available by phone or mobile then a message can also be left. 2.3 Propose improvements to communication systems and practices to address any short comings I feel that communication can always be improved as we are only human and staff do forget to pass on messages, response to emails, and even fill in the diary in the main office. I have proposed that each desk has message pad so that all messages have to written down. I have proposed that the main diary is to be brought to the team meeting so that if anyone has any leave booked, any visits arranged or training then this can go into the diary. I would also remind everybody at team meeting about remembering to fill in the diary I have also propose that the reply slips to the health visitors/social workers be changed as I feel it could be improved. 2.4 Lead the implementation of revised communication system and practices CU 2941 Use and develop systems that promote communication 3. Be able to improve communication systems to promote partnership working 3.1 Use communication systems to promote partnership working The systems that we use to promote partnership working is:  One to one communications – I meet with the health visitor for breastfeeding once a week. Also any of the health visitors are welcome to call in at any time. Some health visitors like to bring parents that are hard to engage into the centre to meet me to show them around the building and meet the staff. I would also have contact face to face with our families on a daily basis through programmes and also registrations. Phone call – health visitors/social services and other agencies would phone for update and regarding case review meetings. Families would also phone on a daily basis if they needed help with anything or information. Post – we post letters to the agencies if we are unable to reach the families or if they no longer wish to be involved with the service. I would also post letters and newsletter to families. Emails – some agen cies like to send email as it is a faster way for them and this is ok with me as long as it is recorded. Referral reply – this is a letter drawing and signed by Surestart parents that we have permission to send it back to the health visitors to say we have been in contact and the Surestart services have been offered. Information events – this is different events for Surestart to promote their services. 3.2 Compare the effectiveness of different communications systems for partnership working I feel within waterside Surestart the systems we use are very effective. One to one communication I feel is very effective as this can reassure service users and colleagues and also outside agencies, you can focus on the goal. I can be supportive and positive to all that need it. I can also assess the services users’ needs and provide them with the support  needed and I also feel that this builds trust and relationships. Phone call – I feel that this is a very effective way of communicating as some health visitor/social worker/other agencies need an update ASAP as they may be on their way to a review meeting. All if a member of staff is not on the office this is a good way of communicating. As my role as family support worker I be in contact with families every day on the phone, may it be they have a question or I am inviting the families to programmes or arranging home visits. E mails – This is a very effective way that I communicate in Surestart, supervision notes to be sent 3 says before supervision, team meeting are to be sent and read before the meeting. Agencies are able to send emails / newsletters. Referral Response – I feel that this is a very effective way that Surestart communicate. This is send to health visitors/social workers who send in a referral this is to show the agencies that we have made contact with that family or that we have tried to contact the family and after 4 weeks we are unable to reach them. Information events – I feel that this is not really effective as we work on catchment areas and this is very hard to have an event in a general area, it has to be within the area, as we do not like to turn people away that may be interested in the service, as when agencies send in referrals they have a list of streets that is inside the catchment area and only if there is a need then they can be outside the area. 3.3 Propose to improvements to communications systems for partnership working I do believe that communication within waterside Surestart has got a lot better in the last year, I feel that this has a great deal to do with our new manager, she has gained the trust and respect of the staff and in return it is a pleasure to work with. I feel that I have a great leader to follow and learn a great deal from. The only improvement that could be made is that a leaflet could be drawn up for families that are outside the catchment area so that they leave with something rather than going away with no information (this is in the process on being done). I am also assisting the upgrade of the referral response form so that families sign this form so that we have permission to hold their information and that we are allow to send the form back to the referrer. CU2941 Use and develop systems that promote communications 4. Be able to use systems for effective information management 4.1 Explain legal and ethical tensions between maintaining confidentiality and sharing information Working with in a Surestart setting for the last 11 years, I know that confidentiality is very important. It’s important for agencies and services users to build a trusting relationship with me. I am very honest with the people I work with, when I am completing a registration form with parents I do tell them that their details will stay in a locked filing cabinet for 7 years, that there information is stored on a database password protected until there child/ren turn 4. I also let the parents know that under the data protection act they are able to see their file at any time. Parents also sign a form that we are able to share information with the health visitor and other agencies involved if we have any concerns regarding the child or parents. When I have taking programmes with parents I also start with group rules. Confidentiality always comes up, I always tell parents that what ever is discussed at the group I do not take it outside of the group, I can only speak for myself but that I would hope that everyone would stand by this too. I also always make it very clear to parents that if anything is discussed or disclosed any information regarding harm or danger or abuse to a child/ren then I will past this information on to my manger and the appropriate authorises. (Children’s order 1995, child safety is paramount) I feel that if I am honest with all the people that I work with then I do believe that you build up a trust and that by law I have to report and record all that is disclosed to me, although I did have a parent in the past that did not understand this, they felt that I was just reporting them to social services and she believed that social services where there to take her child away. This lady did not return to Surestart as what she disclosed I had to discuss with my manger. 4.2 Analyse the essential features of information sharing agreements within and between organisations Under the data protection act 1998, the purpose of the act is to protect the rights and privacy of individuals and to ensure that data about them are not processed without their knowledge and are processed with their consent whenever possible, this act covers personal data held in electronic formats, manual data and relevant filing systems. Surestart has devised a form that has recently been updated by my colleagues and myself, this form is where we get service users to sign that they agree Surestart is able to keep their details in a secure place for up to seven years, and that if we had any concerns regarding the child that we would contact the appropriate service also that if there is a social worker involved that we are able to update them on any programmes they attend for case review meetings. Health visitors would send in referral form with parent’s consent, what happens is we then phone that family and do a home visit and in that visit we fill out the Surestart forms wi th the families details on it, the consent for is then signed and sent back to the health visitor to say we have completed a visit this is what programmes they would like to attend, I would also send back a form to the heath visitor if that family did not wish to avail of Surestart services or that I could not reach them. These forms are kept with the registration and filed in a locked cabinet. When I am facilitating a programme within Surestart I always do group rules, parents can put what they like on it, confidentially always comes up, I just remind parents that what happens in the group will stay in the group with me, but I can only speak for myself and not the rest of the group and I do tell them that It would not be nice to hear anyone talking bad about another parent. I do inform the parents that if there anything disclosed within the group that has caused abuse of harm to a child them I am bound by action for children policies and procedures and under the children order act 1995 to past this information on to my manger and the appropriate services, I do tell the parents that I would discuss this with them before I reported what I have heard. 4.3 Demonstrate use of information management systems that meet legal and ethical requirement Under the data protection act 1998 Surestart need permission to hold data on the families that I work with, how this is done is that all parents have to sign the registration form and also the consent for their details to be stored according to action for children policies and procedures, which is that their details are stored for up to seven years, in a locked filing cabinet and up to four years on the Surestart database. Under the children’s order 1995 I am bound to report anything that I have heard or seen that my or has caused harm to a child. This would also be discussed with the parent/s what information I would be passing on to my manger. This also gives the parent an opportunity to explain. The information my lead to a referral been made to social services.

World War 1 Battles

World War 1 Battles The battles of the World War I were fought across the globe from the fields of Flanders and France to the Russian plains and deserts of the Middle East. Beginning in 1914, these battles devastated the landscape and elevated to prominence places that had previously been unknown. As a result, names such as Gallipoli, the Somme, Verdun, and Meuse-Argonne became eternally entwined with images of sacrifice, bloodshed, and heroism. Due to the static nature of World War I trench warfare, fighting took place on a routine basis and soldiers were rarely safe from the threat of death. The battles of the World War I War are largely divided into the Western, Eastern, Middle Eastern, and colonial fronts with the bulk of the fighting taking place in the first two. During World War I, over 9 million men were killed and 21 million wounded in battle as each side fought for their chosen cause. Battles of World War I by Year 1914 August 7-September 13: Battle of the Frontiers - Western FrontAugust 14-25: Battle of Lorraine - Western FrontAugust 21-23: Battle of Charleroi - Western FrontAugust 23: Battle of Mons - Western FrontAugust 23-31: Battle of Tannenberg - Eastern FrontAugust 28: Battle of Heligoland Bight - At SeaSeptember 6-12: First Battle of the Marne - Western FrontOctober 19-November 22:Â  First Battle of Ypres - Western FrontNovember 1: Battle of Coronel - At SeaNovember 9: Battle of Cocos - At SeaDecember 8: Battle of the Falklands - At SeaDecember 16: Raid on Scarborough, Hartlepool, Whitby - At SeaDecember 24-25: The Christmas Truce - Western Front 1915 January 24: Battle of Dogger Bank - At SeaFebruary 19-January 9, 1916: Gallipoli Campaign - Middle EastApril 22-May 25: Second Battle of Ypres - Western FrontMay 7: Sinking of the Lusitania - At SeaSeptember 25-October 14: Battle of Loos - Western Front 1916 February 21-December 18: Battle of Verdun - Western FrontMay 31-June 1: Battle of Jutland - At SeaJuly 1-November 18: Battle of the Somme - Western FrontAugust 3-5: Battle of Romani - Middle EastDecember 23: Battle of Magdhaba - Middle East 1917 January 9: Battle of Rafa - Middle EastJanuary 16: Zimmermann Telegram - Western FrontMarch 26: First Battle of Gaza - Middle EastApril 9-May 16: Battle of Arras - Western FrontJune 7-14: Battle of Messines - Western FrontJuly 31-November 6: Battle of Passchendaele (Third Ypres) - Western FrontOctober 24-November 19: Battle of Caporetto - Italian FrontOctober 31-November 7: Third Battle of Gaza - Middle EastNovember 20-December 6: Battle of Cambrai - Western Front 1918 March 21-April 5: Spring Offensives - Operation Michael - Western FrontJune 1-June 26: Battle of Belleau Wood - Western FrontJuly 15-August 6: Second Battle of the Marne - Western FrontAugust 8-11: Battle of Amiens - Western FrontSeptember 19-October 1: Battle of Megiddo - Middle EastSeptember 26-November 11: Meuse-Argonne Offensive - Western Front

Macbeth Homework

Macbeth Homework Free Online Research Papers 1. Briefly state what the soliloquy in Act III scene I 47-72 means, and what it adds to the play. After Banquos departure from the castle, Macbeth begins a soliloquy regarding his fear towards Banquo.Macbeths fear for Banquo roots from the prophecy that the witches gave Banquo, telling him that he will be the father of kings.Macbeth is frightened of this, becuase if it were to come true, his will be a fruitless crown, implying that Macbeth would not have an heir to the throne.This Soliloquy makes Macbeths decision to murder Banquo concrete, due to the fact that within this soliloquy, Macbeth deduced that it was either that he murders Banquo, or Banquos prophecy will come true, erasing the possibility for an heir to Macbeth. 2. State how Shakespeares Macbeth illuminates powers nihilistic core Shakespeares Macbeth exposes powers nihilistic core through showing that power has the power of corruption. Macbeth was fairhearted and in favor of god in the beggining of the play, however, when presented with the oppertunity for abosulute power, he was corrupted abosuloutly. Once Macbeth became king and could get no more power, his greed turned into control. Ensuring that the prophecy of Banquo, the only thing that could take away his power, would not ensue. Through this greed for power, Macbeth has annihilated his connection with god, and is tormented by his own conceince, such as seeing the ghost of Banquo at his feast, and paranoia throughout the play. Thus, Shakespeares Macbeth clearly illuminates the nihlistic nature of power. 3. Discuss the irony of Macbeths line to Banquo, fail not our feast. does Banquo fail the feast., and what does the banquet scene add to the play? Before Banquo went riding Macbeth had said to him Fail not our feast to which Banquo replied my lord i will not. This is an example of dramatic irony, where the speaker, Banquo, does not realize that Macbeth had already planned for his death before the start of the feast, while the audience does know of this fact. Whats even more ironic, is when Banguo shows up at the feast as a ghost. Thus, Banquo kept his word and did well to return to the feast. This scene is of very significant importance to the play because Macbeth is at his political peak in his kingship. However this scene also represents the beginning of the downfall of Macbeth because after this scene things start to go wrong. Research Papers on Macbeth HomeworkHonest Iagos Truth through DeceptionCapital PunishmentBringing Democracy to AfricaWhere Wild and West MeetEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenPETSTEL analysis of IndiaCanaanite Influence on the Early Israelite ReligionAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeThe Masque of the Red Death Room meaningsQuebec and Canada

The effects of Japanese earthquakes to the rest of the world Essay

The effects of Japanese earthquakes to the rest of the world - Essay Example However we all strong and weak alike always lives at the mercy of mother nature and when she unleashes her anger on us; most improved of the human alarming system and protective measures have little to offer. On 11 March, 2011 Japan courted one of the worst earthquake attacks in the history of the nation that measured 8.9-9.0 in Richter scale. The â€Å"earthquake occurred offshore of the east coast of the Tohoku region on the Island of Honshu, Japan.† (RMS Special Report) After the main shock several smaller one follow suit. This earthquake was followed by high tidal wave or tsunami. Adding to the agony the combination of earthquake and tsunami resulted in atomic reactor malfunctioning and eventual burst of the same. These series of catastrophic events without any doubt have resulted in loss of thousands of lives but the cumulative dangers it holds embedded within itself perhaps outweighs the immediate loss that human life living in Japan has incurred so far. This article lea ds an opinion based illustration of the impact of Japanese earthquake on the local and global community regarding the short and long run economy and environment. First of all the immediate impact of the earthquake and the tsunami is on the local community through the destruction of thousands of house, properties and human life. A primary estimate of insured property loss has accounted that only in terms of property a loss equivalent to US$12bn – 35bn has been incurred in this particular earthquake. It should also be kept in mind that this is only a preliminary estimate that is expected to row with time and in actual terms. (Fitch Ratings ) The city of Sendai was worst hit and in entire Japan well over 12 million people who accounts for 10% of the total Japanese population have been significantly affected from this earthquake. Apart from the property an estimated number of 10000 to 50000 cars must have been damaged by the earthquake. Numerous numbers of small sea vessels along with 90 large commercial vessels succumbed to the quake and tidal wave that followed it. Above all over 10000 people are reported missing or dead following the earthquake. (EQECAT; RMS Special Report) Considering the nuclear reactors; at least two are severely damaged. The Fukushima reactor or reactor 1 and reactor 3 both are at danger. These plants are contaminating the environment through the nuclear leakage and radiation has spread as far as Glasgow from them. This particular incident exposes the local and global residents alike since nuclear contamination is a great danger that can spread miles and over continent and can remain in the environment for hundreds of years. Already Russia, China, USA and even Korea have expressed great concern over this issue. (News Flavor) The economic effect on Japan and the rest of world from this earthquake is worth discussing and will have short run and long run dimension. First and foremost the immediate government response and the response th rough aids from the bank of Japan will burden the economy immediately. Funds have to be canalized from other sectors in rescue and restore operations and that will definitely slow down the growth and development process that the nation was experiencing so far. Already the central bank of the country the Bank of Japan has

Qualitative research proposal; at-home vs in-office dental bleaching Proposal

Qualitative ; at-home vs in-office dental bleaching - Research Proposal Example this programme would essentially be good dental and general health, with six healthy permanent maxillary anterior teeth of a Vita shade score of A2 or darker. Above all they should be willing for dental bleaching. The study teeth will be the four maxillary central and lateral incisors. The shade of the teeth will be evaluated using the Vita shade guide and photographs. The participants will be randomly assigned to one of the two experimental study groups. The dental shade, GI, PI, TV and tooth sensitivity of each participant will be assessed before application of dental bleaching, after two weeks, and after six months of treatment. The results would be arrived at by the quantitative analysis of the data procured. Tooth discoloration may be due to several different types of causes and may vary in appearance, localization and severity. It may be classified as intrinsic, extrinsic, and a combination of both intrinsic and extrinsic (Hattab & Qudeimat, 1999) Stubborn extrinsic discoloration and intrinsic stain are generally removed by the use of various bleaching techniques. Bleaching refers to the treatment, usually involving an oxidative chemical, that alters the light absorbing and/or light reflecting nature of a material structure, thereby increasing its value (whiteness).Vital tooth bleaching refers to external application of bleaching gel/ solution and is also known as night guard vital bleaching. For vital tooth bleaching procedures, there is a wide array of whitening products available containing the whitening agent hydrogen peroxide (or one of its precursors, notably carbamide peroxide) which penetrates the tooth structure and oxidizes the colored compounds in the dentin (the second layer of the tooth). Products containing a concentration of 10% carbamide peroxide, come in a ‘tray’ which could be used by patients at home while the results and concentrations are monitored by a dental professional. Other materials based on higher concentrations of