Health and social care management Essay

INTRODUCTION This essay the author will be able to evaluate current systems for managing finances Resources in health and social care settings. Therefore will evaluate how financial Decisions are made and the need to monitor budgets. This will then enable the author to Evaluate the impact of financial considerations on an individual using health and Social care services. Furthermore will provide a core understanding of the range of systems available, and How these are used in the planning and financial management of health and social Care budgets. The unit further will encourage understanding the importance of Monitoring budget expenditure and its influence on the provision of health and social Care services. LO.1 1.1PRINCIPLE OF COSTING AND BUSINES CONTROL SYTEMS Analysis of current situation against budget and forecast, classification and coding, job costing, Contract costing, actual cost ascertainment,allocation/apportionment COSTING DEFINITION: Costing it describe as According official terminology the technique and procedure of ascertaining cost. These valuation systems including main beliefs and system to determine the cost of goods or services. It also the  quantity of supply used in replacement of goods or services. The income used can be financed or money’s value, Semi Variable Semi Fixed Cost Cost: Cost is an amount that has to be paid or given up in order to get something Cost Unit: The unit cost is the cost incurred by a company to produce, store and sell one unit of a particular product. Unit costs include all fixed costs and all variable costs A cost center is part of an organization that does not produce direct profit and adds to the cost of Running a company. Examples of cost centers include Cost object: Cost object is often a product or department for which cost is accumulated or measured. For example, a product is the cost object for direct materials, direct labor and manufacturing overhead also the factory maintenance department is cost object for the cost of the maintenance employees and the maintenance supplies. Cost benefit analysis: Is A cost object is a tangible input for a product manufactured/service provided, like labor or material. For example a cloth manufacturing firm requires some Break even analysis: Classification of cost means, the grouping of costs according to their common characteristics. The important Cost behavior The way a specific cost reacts to changes in activity levels is called cost behavior. Costs may stay the same or may change proportionately Variable Cost / Product Cost: Variable costs are the Fixed and Variable cost A cost is fixed if, within a specified period of time, it does not change in response to changes in the level of activity. A variable cost is one that changes in response to changes in the level of activity, it changes in direct proportion to the volume of activity, that is, doubling the level of activity will double the total variable cost total cost over a period of time for the variable inputs. Any increase in the volume of production results in an increase in the variable cost and vice versa. For example, of variable costs is the cost of raw material. Semi-Variable Cost / Semi-Fixed cost: These costs are in part fixed and in part variable. For example: repair machine fees. Semi-variable cost includes both a fixed and a variable element. For example, a telephone bill contains a fixed standing charge and  a variable charge based on the number of units dialled. A semi-fixed cost or stepped cost is one where the cost remains constant for a range of activity; then when the activity increases still further the cost will take a step upward. Break-even Analysis is an expected component of most business plans, especially for start-up companies. It shows how much revenue you need to cover for both fixed and variable costs and cost benefit analysis are frequently used by health and social care organisation to monitor cost and make decision about expenditures. Cost data are very useful in budget preparation and forecasting for the financial year, the Providers use cost data to manage services and improve operational efficiency. Cost data are also used to support the development of pricing and currency design for reimbursement purposes A direct cost is especially noticeable to a set cost object. A cost object is a product, procedure, section, or action for which the health administration requirements to assess the cost, such as a medical test, a care appointment, or a health check process. Indirect costs cannot be traced to an agreed cost purpose not including resorting to some arbitrary method of assignment. Hand, is directly involved in producing revenues, and, if it is managed well, its revenues exceed its cost and it produces a profit. The six principles of costing are: Stakeholder engagement: Stakeholder engagement is the process by which an organisation involves people who may be affected by the decision it makes or can influence the implementation of its decision Materiality : is in accounting relates to the significance of transaction, balances and errors contained in financial statements. . Consistency For some costing purposes, a consistent approach is required across or within organizations. Data accuracy, Accurate costing relies on the quality of the underlying input data. Transparency Costing should be transparent and auditable Causality and objectivity Importance of costing: Costing help an organisation to manage is company to incur a cost with the  expectation of profit Example: A company may have a variety of distinct departments,division,or operating groups,each with separate responsibilities and each contributing to the overall success of the company.cost centers,for example,such as accounting,auditing,or inventory control,have costs,but does not contribute revenues. As a result, they do not produce profits. 1.2 The information needed to manage financial resources Is to understand the role of planning in the management of health and social care budgets also the importance of monitoring budget expenditure. Such as transparent and Accurate accounting Information, risk management, short and long term Forecasts, audit report. Information 1 Need is business costs, people, equipment, finance, buildings, consumable items, administration; Income streams; trends and external influences, e.g. changes in policy, competitive factors, legal requirements. 1.3Regulatory requirements Legislation and codes of practice, audit, accountability, policies. Systems: sources of income, how budgets are set, administration of budgets, cost centers, accountabilities, Audit requirements Information: business costs: people, equipment, finance, buildings, consumable items, administration; Income streams: trends and external influences:changes in policy, competitive factors, legal requirements. 1.4 System for managing finance Is a plan, assuring that resources are obtained and used effectively, efficiently in the accomplishment of the organization’s goals. Therefore, it focuses on programs and responsibility center and it is a total encompasses of all aspects of a firm’s operation and usually built around a financial and accounting structure need two types of information for management control planned date such as, budgets, standards, and projections) and  actual data. Budgetary control system Cost control system Financial control system Internal control and audit Enterprise resource management system IT control systems Importance of business control system LO2: ROLE OF PLANNING IN THE MANAGEMENT OF CARE TECH BUDGET Care tech annual report Financial Review The Group has repeated the good progress of recent years in 2013 The UK market Group has continued to be progressive and has made encouraging progress during the year. The underlying operating profit remains strong at  £23.2m compared with  £21.7m last year. Transaction on 28 August 2013 to acquire two property portfolio businesses, leading to an annual rent saving Of  £4.4m. Income Statement 2013 2012  £m  £m Growth Revenue 114.3 114.1 0.2% Gross profit 45.6 45.3 Administrative expenses (19.2) (20.4) Underlying EBITDA 26.4 24.9 6.0% Underlying EBITDA margin 23.1%, 21.8% Depreciation (3.1) (3.1) Share-based payment charge (0.1) (0.1) Underlying operating profit 23.2 21.7 6.9% Net financial expenses (5.7) (5.0) Underlying profit before tax 17.5 16.7 Taxation (3.4) (3.4) Effective tax rate 20.0%, 20.0% Underlying profit for the year 14.1 13.3 Weighted average number of diluted shares (millions) 51.3 50.4 Underlying diluted earnings per share 27.43 26.47 Full year dividend per share 7.00p 6.50p Revenue Revenue of  £114.3m (2012:  £114.1m) was 0.2% higher than in 2012. In the established Adult Learning Disabilities segment we continued to experience high levels of occupancy 2.1 Diverse sources of income 2.2 Factors that may influence the availability of financial resources 2.3 Types of budget expenditure 2.4 Decisions about expenditure TASK 3: IMPORTANCE OF MONITORING BUDGET EXPENDITURE IN CARE TECH 3.1 Managing financial shortfalls 3.2 Financial fraud actions 3.3 Budget monitoring arrangements LO.4: INFLUENCE OF SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES ON CARE TECH SERVICES 4.1 Information required in making financial decisions: Different types of information are needed by decision makers depending upon the stage of operation they are in. The decision involved can be Quantitative or qualitative. Judgments regarding movements in future share prices, likely future dividend payments and management efficiency. Ratios to determine management efficiency. Data to compare the market trend and future estimates. 4.2 Relationship between care service delivered and ‘costs and expenditure’ 4.3 Impact of financial considerations on a service user 4.4 Improving care services through changes in financial systems and processes Bottom of Form . Of fraud. 4 Understand how systems and processes for managing financial resources influence health and social Care services Financial decisions: responsibility for decision making, information available, sources of income, priorities The relationship between service delivery, costs and expenditure: cost-benefit, pricing policies, purchasing Arrangements. Impact on individuals: quality of service, access to service. Recommendations: options available, supporting evidence, information to be presented for discussion by financial decision makers. : Information about the business environment and external influences Good understanding Of the business cost by health care managers will aid the management of financial resources in health care organisation. The information includes Staff cost (Wages and salaries, Pension cost) Medical equipment and appliances cost (Hoist, Buckets, Buckets, Stretcher, Trolley, Wheelchair) Cost (Outright purchase or lease – Operating or finance lease Cost of consumable items (Food, toiletries, Soap, Kerosene, lantern Administrative cost and Professional fees The revenue (income) receives depend on the service and business engagement of the health organisation which includes normal business activities such as (Adult Learning Disabilities, Mental Health, Young People Residential Services, Foster Care rents and service charges from social housing lettings and leasehold management revenue grant, tax support contribution. The Regulatory body They are alot of regulatory required for satisfying while managing financial resources, but in this essay the author will mention a few such as, Care tech holding PLC in 2013 financial ending. Care Quality Commission,  Healthcare Sector Regulator Monitor, NHS Commissioning Board, 1. Important to monitor to avoid fraud and eoror What is Importance of costing in HSC 1.2Intoduce by defining business control systems Identify and explain the different business controls systems in BULLETS (Budgetary control system, Cost control system, Financial control system, Internal control and audit, Enterprise resource management system, IT control systems) Conclude with the importance of business control systems.

Projectiles essays

Projectiles essays 1. Title: Measuring the time of Projectiles 2. Hypothesis: If a ball is thrown and then also launched from the same height, will the ball reach the ground in the same amount of time. 3. Method: A ball was held at the edge of a flat surface, approximately 89.6m high, and then was released, timing how long it took the ball to reach the ground. This procedure was done three times in order to find an average time that it took the ball to hit the ground. Then taking the same ball and the same height place the ball 26m from the edge and launch it off of the flat surface. Begin timing how long it takes the ball takes to reach the ground once the ball reaches the edge of the surface. This was also done three times to find the average of the times. Dropped Launched 5. Analysis: According to the results, it shows that the average amount of time that it took the ball to reach the ground when it was launched was less then the amount of time it took the ball to reach the ground when it was dropped directly down. These results may suggest that when an object it launched it gains more speed causing it to travel faster and reached the ground quicker then an object that is just simply released. 6. Conclusion: If a ball is thrown and then also launched from the same height, will the ball reach the ground in the same amount of time? According to this experiment this statement does not hold true. The results show that the object that was launched took less time to reach the ground then the object that was dropped. However, these results may vary experiment to experiment due to human error and the difficulty of timing a situation that occurs in a very small amount of time. These results of timing contain human reaction time whi ...

Advice for Women Who Want to Become Truckers

Advice for Women Who Want to Become Truckers Everyone may tell you it’s a â€Å"man’s job,† but that’s just not true. It doesn’t have to be, anyway. And there’s such a huge demand for truck drivers now; you should absolutely take advantage of these opportunities if you’re interested and suited to them. Here are three major tips for women want to become truckers and are  trying to enter the industry.Believe in yourselfThe so-called â€Å"Confidence Gap† between men and women is well-acknowledged at this point. So many men go through the world and the workforce with this added sense of deserving what they get, particularly when they have a bit of experience or skill. Channel that. You’re probably just as qualified- if not more so- so go into the application process with that confidence. The industry will welcome you.Ask for helpYou won’t be the only woman in the trucking industry. Many brave and competent women have paved the way for you. Check in with Women in Trucking (WIT). Their website has a ton of information and resources you can rely on in your quest. You’re not alone. You have powerful allies out there just waiting to help you achieve your goals.Go where you’re most wantedYou’re going to need training. Choose a training school that has a mix of both men and women on their staff. Roadmasters Driving School is a good place to start; they’ve got several female directors running schools for them, and would be a great environment for you to study to pass your CDL (Class A Commercial Driver’s License) exam. If you chose a place that respects you, you’ll be able to take advantage of all the help that institution has to offer to help get you on your way.

Reliability, Validity and Trustworthiness in Nursing Essay

Reliability, Validity and Trustworthiness in Nursing - Essay Example 30). In case positive results of the nurses’ researches and studies are reached, then their research strategies are valid and reliable (Zangaro, Soeken 2005, p. 6). Qualitative researches are often positioned as pragmatic researches and there is no doubt that there is a need to follow the rules of these researches. In accordance with Aristotle, there is more practical than theoretical aspects of nursing. One of the greatest ancient philosophers claims: â€Å"practical sciences inquire into the principles and causes of things to achieve knowledge in order to make, as in engineering, or in order to do, as in ethics† (Strickland 2006, p. 5). Three main concepts of nursing research Reliability and validity are two integrative elements of trustworthiness of the researches and studies. Trustworthiness of the research depends on the initial research question, data collection, analysis and conclusions reached. The issues of validity and reliability should be taken into account in the process of reading different research projects, either quantitative or qualitative ones. Both in qualitative and quantitative studies, these concepts are of crucial importance. That is why the following research, which is based on the article by Byrne, Cooper and Fairburn â€Å"Weight maintenance and relapse in obesity: a qualitative study†, the concept of reliability is discussed in detail. The study deals with the problems of obesity, a challenging issue of weight regain and weight maintenance. A qualitative approach is chosen in this study, because there is a need to define the number of factors, which are influencing on weight maintenance and relapse in obesity. The reliability of quantitative studies depends on the methodology of calculation. In the study conducted by Byrne, Cooper and Fairburn transcripts were analyzed with the help of NUD*IST software (Byrne, Cooper and Fairburn 2003, p. 956). Reliability demonstrates how a certain procedural instrument is used to provide similar results in different circumstances. Validity is the correlation of an intended measure with the real measure. These two concepts should be better considered in terms of nursing research. In a broader definition: â€Å"validity in relation to research is a judgment regarding the degree to which the components of the research reflect the theory, concept, or variable under study† (Roberts 2006, p. 42). In order to determine whether results are valid or not, it is necessary to determine worthiness of the reached results in the process of the study. Internal validity refers to evaluation of the results’ worthiness. External validity deals with generalization of the study’s results and its application to the larger population (Morse 1991, p. 15). Further on, the concept of reliability is considered in detail and it is relevant to discuss the main characteristics of this concept. Reliability determines an instrument’s stability and consistency in a certain context. Reliability of a measured instrument should be considered in terms of a particular study otherwise its application may be irrelevant. Further on reliability will be considered in accordance with three main characteristics: stability, internal consistency and equivalence (Munhall 2001, p. 18). Test-retest

Paraphrase the paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Paraphrase the paper - Essay Example r important aspect of human trafficking is the technique use, for instance trafficking can be done through threats and force, where one is taken without his or her consent. Abduction and deception could also be other techniques (UNHCR 2). The intention behind the trafficking is the third aspect of human trafficking. This entails the main agenda behind act of trafficking, for instance it could be for slavery purposes. The final aspect of human trafficking is the outcome of the act, for example, death of the victims, or arrest of the offenders by authority. Slave trade is the business of selling human slaves form by one owner to the other. Slavery was mainly on the basis of racism and discrimination. The culture of the slave trade consists of a couple of aspects. The first aspect of the slave trade culture is brutality. The owners of the slaves did not care that slaves were human, and; thus, treated them in a brutal manner. The second aspect is cruelty, where the slaves were treated in ways that were cruel and undignified way. The third aspect is exploitation. The slave owners exploited the services of the slaves and did not offer payment for their labor. Dehumanization of the slaves was another aspect. The treatment of the slaves by the owners was inhuman, for example, the slaves were beaten and forced to work without rest. The final aspect is the treatment of slaves as goods; where slaves were sold form one owner to another just like goods are sold (UNHCR 2). Everyone has a right, According to Amnesty international and other bodies of human rights. However, slavery violates some of these rights in relation to the documentary sex slave. For instance, right to movement, right to make one’s own decisions, rights to speech, right to own property, and the right to dignity. There are ways by which the state determines a citizen legally. Birth is one fundamental way the state uses, where a person is legally considered a citizen of a State if he or she is born in the

Globalization and Indian Industries Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Globalization and Indian Industries - Essay Example Closeness to the technological frontier to fight the entry of the external competitors is considered to be very significant in this connection. The industries that have capability to improve their technological strength for investing in the updation of the production systems would be able to withstand the competition (Mishra, 2006). Thus the industries in this group tend to flourish and perform well under liberalized regime. While the companies that were very weak didn't have the enough strength to enhance their capacity and elevate them in towards the technological frontier. Thus most of these units have shorter business life span and ultimately get eliminated from the race. Thus the industries having very low technological frontiers would be losers under the globalised business environment (Mishra, 2006). Indian experiment on globalization started in the year 1991 with the major sectors involved being steel, pharmaceutical, petroleum, chemical, textile, cement, retail and BPO (Business maps of India.com, n.d.). The government had expected that high rate of growth could be achieved by inviting large volumes of foreign direct investments. A comparison on the number of companies that operated in India across pre and post-liberalized era clearly show the impact of the policy change. Earlier to 1991, the number of factories in India stood at 1,10,179 while their number reported in the year 2004 was 1,29,074. The first observable signs in this direction after the implementation of the polices were setting up of different companies with foreign investments for enhancing its operation in the above-mentioned sectors. This is said to have helped to address the local unemployment problems to a significant level and thus reducing the poverty levels in a few of the locations (Mishra, 2006). Also indirect benefits were obtained as a result of considerable improvements in the technology and management that the domestic companies had to attain to face the competition from their foreign counterparts having highly efficient production systems. On the other hand, the consumer preferences in buying also had a sporadic shift. The Indian consumer who were mostly dependent on the domestic products had the opportunity to purchase quality products at affordable prices. This had resulted in the lowering of business volumes of the pharmaceutical, chemical, manufacturing, and cement manufacturing industries (Business maps of India.com, n.d.). Also, the companies resorted to various structural adjustments like lowering of profits, which threatened the viability of long-term operations. Another striking feature was the reduction in the labour strength across the sectors. The labour statistics available for the year 1990 was 81,62,504 and those for the year 2004 was lowered to 78,70,081. Thu s the influence of globalization policies on the poverty reduction in India as a whole is very ambiguous (Mishra, 2006). Hence a The sector specific assessment on the impact of the globalization is as given below (i) Petroleum Industry: Globalization of the petroleum Industry had begun much before the

Overall family structure

Overall family structure Abstract: This paper introduces Helen, Julie, and Garry a family subset from the movie, The Parenthood and provides a description of their overall family structure also seen in the form of a genogram. The paper also includes a literature review of both Behavioral Family Therapy (BFT), and Solution-Focused Family Therapy (SFT) with the author settling on SFT as the preferred method for eliciting change from a systems perspective; which also includes a treatment plan complete with practical interventions using SFT and a GARF analysis from the BFT approach. In addition to noting how Helen and her children relate to the larger family system the learner offers a look into her personal world based on the effects of treating this family. The Family Subset The family subset to be discussed, from the movie The Parenthood, is comprised of a divorced mother of two children, one of which is engaging in teenage premarital sex, and the other is masturbating while watching pornographic films. This core group has expanded to include a husband for the teenage daughter who comes to live in the home of his new in-laws, a love interest for the mother, Helen, who eventually becomes a husband and the needed father figure for the pubescent son, and an extremely disinterested father who is preoccupied with his new life which includes a new set of children in addition to a new wife. Helen is the second child of four born to her parents Mr. and Mrs. Frank Buckman. One of the more noticeable things about the family is the relationship that does not exist between the family patriarch and his older three children. It is especially painful to witness how hard Gil, the eldest son, tries to be such a good father by being so actively involved in the lives of his own children as a way to escape falling into the same pattern of his fathers parenting style. In addition, to the fathers distant relationship with his children is the very passive attitude of the mother. Her every attempt to assert herself into conversation and even the lives of her children are thwarted and ultimately overshadowed by the final say of her authoritative and detached husband. Each of the four children Gil, Helen, Susan, and Larrys parenting style and success in their sexual/marital relationships can be attributed to the way they interpret their own upbringing. As mentioned earlier, Gils desire to have a better relationship with his children has caused him to be extremely high strung which is possibly because of the self imposed pressure to succeed. Also, his oldest son, who he tries the hardest to bond with has been diagnosed with something akin to high-functioning autism to which he blames himself. However, his marital relationship appears to be pretty solid; thus, he has succeeded in not being like his father in the respect that he shows to his wife. Susan, the youngest daughter has chosen a man who was able to tame her wild antics. She found his control to be quite sexually attractive. Susans response to her husband is a two-fold result of her bearing witness to her mother being controlled by her father as a child and wanting to rebel against that control while secretly desiring it. Nathan, Susans husband, is unlike her father in that he is very involved with their only daughter, Patty. The problem is that Nathan is overly occupied with everything that relates to Pattys educational capabilities and has included her in every aspect of their lives leaving very little time for intimacy for a still newly married couple. Thus, causing distance in their relationship which forces her to not be like her mother at all, and initiates a separation from him for a while. The youngest son, Larry, has seemingly benefited the most from the paternal relationship because the father saw a lot of himself in this son is not as successful as the other children whose relationships with their dad were not as close. Larry is extremely irresponsible and has only held on to the life lessons taught by his father that enable him to continue on his quest for getting rich quick. Larry does not have a stable companion, has never been married, does not hold a steady job, and has brought home a son whose mother is a Las Vegas showgirl at best. While Larrys life seems to be the most exciting, he lives rather dangerously and his life is at risk as a result of his out of control gambling which is a part of his quick money schemes. Helens childrens behavior is a reflection of the timing of her divorce rather than a reflection of her parenting style. Along with the end of a marital relationship between a husband and a wife during and after the divorce come feelings of failure, blame, and denial. The problem is that those emotions and thoughts are not exclusive to the couple involved but, often are things experienced by a child who is a product of divorce. When the parent who has the children, in this case the mother-Helen, has not adequately dealt with their own feelings concerning the divorce it makes it extremely difficult for them to address the needs, wants, and concerns of their offspring. Helens childrens actions are in relation to an unsmooth transition due to being a product of a bad divorce (Carter McGoldrick, 2005). And, thus have turned into a centrifugal family leaving the mother out and making her feel as if everything is her fault and there is nothing that she can do to make them happy (Capuzzi G ross, 2007). In our patriarchal society the man is often considered the breadwinner even if both parties are gainfully employed; while the woman is regulated to the position of primary caregiver. In this role, Helen is battling a range of lifes concerns from her own happiness which she feels she is neglecting because of her responsibility to her children. In her current state, she cannot be much good to her children although their safety and well-being is her main concern. The manner in which this family interacts with one another is a direct result of how their personal experiences with the divorce of Helen and her ex-husband has negatively impacted their thoughts and patterns of behaviors. Each taking on or placing the blame on self or one of the other remaining members of their family unit. Therapy would serve Helen and her children, Julie and Garry, by helping them over this intermediary hump of emotions relating to the divorce crisis and propelling them into the next healthy stage of the family cycle they now find themselves. Group therapy would provide the family and opportunity to effectively communicate their individual issues for example, Helen might bring up her concerns surrounding her role as primary caregiver and the neglect that is self-inflicted in hopes that she might make up for whatever her ex-husbands absence has deprived them of; Julie might discuss how she needs to feel the love of a male figure and although her choice might not be the brightest he is showing her the love that she feels she needs; Garry will likely open up about how his family has turned against him (his mother made his father not love him anymore, his father choosing to love his other son more, and his sister turning to her boyfriend and barely acknowledging him) just as his body has (because he no longer has a father to discuss and prepare him for the upcoming normal bodily changes associated with puberty). In order for this family subset to reach a place of normal healthy functioning for a family unit it is necessary to assess and create an environment of understanding of the emotional attachment of the family system and, how easily the family is able to adjust to whatever natural and unsuspected events that occur during the life cycle (Maynard Olson, 1987). The learner believes that the two systematic therapeutic models that will work best in bringing this family back to a positive place in their cognition, and behavior are solution focused therapy and family behavioral therapy. Solution-focused therapy will work to accentuate the successes of Helen and her children and move them away from current behaviors that have them each emphasizing on their own failures and that of other members of their family subset (insert citation here, Clinical Training in Solution focused therapy-Josee Lamarre, Journal of Family Psychotherapy 143-148, 2005). While Behavioral Family Therapy evaluates the family and how they currently work together so that changes can be made towards how they will interact with each other moving forward (insert citation here, Eileen Spillane-Grieco, Cognitive-behavioral family therapy with a family in high-conflict divorce: A case study, Clinical Social Work Journal 2000 105-119) In using the behavioral model the position of the counselor is to assist the client family in changing specific behaviors which have been defined by Dr. Glasser as being comprised of action, thinking, feelings, and physiology and, in turn will cause effective communication to develop (Glasser, 1980a). Solution-focused therapy suggests that the client family should look to what is presently taking place, and where they want to be in the future as opposed to what has transpired in the past. In changing the focus of the therapy sessions from that of the problem to that of achieving their personal goals based on what they would like to see as a result of their time in therapy will cause the client family to begin implementing the necessary steps to see those things realized. In addition, the client is instrumental to the process because they are constantly asked to define for themselves what is necessary for change to take place, or for the counseling being received to be effective (inse rt citation here: A Thumb-nail map for solution-focused brief therapy, Lance Taylor, Journal of Family Psychotherapy, 2005, 27-33); thus, causing Helen and her children to verbalize their responsibility to the success of their family unit. A Literature Review The articles that will be discussed in this literature review will argue the importance of the helping relationship; provide insight into intervention models that have worked with a range of client race, age, and backgrounds utilizing both behavioral family and solution-focused therapies. In addition, the editorials will offer evidence towards how well these theories have worked and will work for the learners client family. On Behavioral Family Therapy Thoughts about seeking help from a counselor can have negative connotations as expressed in the film from which we extract our client family-The Parenthood. Individuals are considered to be crazy, or think their problems are too insignificant, or are afraid of embarrassing themselves or their families with the kind of information that will be discussed. But, in actuality therapy provides an environment that is non-judgmental and safe, a counselor will affirm the feelings of the client and challenge them to think and behave in a manner that causes them to be more productive. It is those negative thoughts that will make it harder to get an entire family to come, as opposed to a single person, or even partake in the first couple of sessions. The problem has been statistically proven to be more likely a case of engagement. One article suggests that Behavioral Family Therapy (BFT) has the helping relationship as the foundation and if the counselor is able to build rapport quickly and earn estly then, it is more probable that the client family will not only remain engaged in the therapeutic process but, will likely have a successful outcome once therapy has ended (James, Cushway, Fadden, 2006). It is necessary to mention counselor responsibility in BFT considering that their role is valuable to the process. The therapist is required to explore and evaluate the hows of the family system as it operates currently and its potential for operation in the future (James, Cushway, Fadden, 2006). Without arguing for or against nature or nurture it is safe to say that family does play an important role in the way one acts consider the relationships of the Buckman clan as a whole and the dysfunction that ensues as they attempt to be different than the generation before them, and so then it should be equally safe to believe that therapy that would include the family is just as important in working towards change. Change is the ultimate goal in identifying and then ranking behaviors that the client family would like to change are priority. Once they have been outlined then interventions to facilitate change are necessary. In keeping with the definition of behavior which included thinking one conduit for change is positive thinking through cognitive restructuring, each family member will create a list of strengths of all of the members of the family unit. The result brings about a sense of self-awareness and quite possibly a new way of what role one actually plays in the family structure. Part of the homework will be for each family member to work on maintaining this new self-image in between sessions and ultimately adopting it as a lifestyle change (Khodayarifard, Rehm, Khodayarifard, 2007). This type of intervention will work well with Helen and her children as they are quite verbal in their disdain of each other. So, in highlighting the positive qualities of each other will not only affirm their role within the family, and work to dispel some of the former negative statements but, will cause them to live up to the attributes ascribed to them more often; thus, serving as a behavior modification. Although there is overwhelming evidence that supports the effectiveness of family behavioral therapy an article from 2000 argues that research shows that this theory has not been sufficiently compared to other like orientations (Kolko, Brent, Baugher, Bridge, Birmaher, 2000). However, BFT is still thought to be one of the best methods because of its relative adaptive nature that is specific to the preferred client demographics-family, individual: adult, adolescent, and etc. as the client family consists of a mother, and two children: one teenager, and one adolescent. Behavioral Family Therapy will work well in a family setting as Helen, Julie, and Garry can participate equally. The self control technique is an effective intervention that can be applied to Helen and her children within the Behavioral Family Therapy model. This method holds that each individual is responsible for their own actions and possess the necessary qualities to change them (Teichman Eliahu, 1986). Taking personal responsibility will force the family subset to see themselves separately from who they believe their parents to be and remove the need to place the blame on them for how they have decided to live their lives. For instance, Garrys behavior will no longer lead to acts of destruction because his father has chosen to not be actively involved in his life instead, he will recognize that he has control over who he will be and that is completely separate from who his father is to him. On Solution-Focused Therapy As the therapy name suggests there is an immediate purpose when utilizing this model. As such, after the necessary introductory things have been accounted for, one of the first pieces of information that the counselor needs to extract are the exceptions. These are windows into viewing potential solutions in that they identify specific instances where the client has already attempted to change what is considered normal behavior (Corcoran, 1997). Exceptions are seen as a kind of intervention in that positive affirmation is bestowed onto the person who has created an avenue for personal change and in so doing shows them how easy it is for change to occur. This will translate to Helen and her children perhaps through Julie who has demonstrated that she runs away from her problems-literally. She left home after an argument with her mother and impulsively got married; she left her husband and returned home when things got a little thick between her and Tod. But, during his stint as a race car driver, even though she vehemently opposed to this career option she showed up to the contest and was first at his side when he wrecked. All done of her own volition and thus, a time when she changed what could be considered normal or expected behavior. With thoughts focused on the future exceptions it will allow for the client family to consider how they can make a difference in family squabbles and other relational issues by meditating on the future. What will not happen are constant thoughts on the pain, the frustration, and the angst associated with the dysfunctional state of the family but, instead each member will meditate on a dream solution, which is ultimately a resolution to a problem (Bannink, 2007). One outcome to an ideal solution for this family would be that they no longer talked or yelled at each other but, now respected each other enough to quiet themselves and listen to the opinions and concerns of each other. Another benefit of the therapy would be for the family members to learn how to respond rather than react in a calm and rational manner. Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT) will cause the client family to look to self for resolution as opposed to the very dysfunctional thinking of placing blame and pointing out the negative in others. It is believed by the author, that a persons natural inclination is to think more negatively than positively in terms of what is likely to happen based on what has previously occurred. But, through the use of this model they find that the reverse is actually true and are likely to look forward to each day as opposed to dreading coming home to mom, or spending family time together (Reiter, 2007). Conclusion Both, BFT and SFT focus on the relationship and building rapport with the client in addition to being able to fit a broad spectrum of clientele. The combination of Behavioral Family Therapy and Solution-Focused Therapy will help the client family come out victorious because of the effectiveness of each orientation separately. BFT would work to learn the negative behaviors and then work to teach and enforce new behaviors and SFT will mandate that their attention always be focused on bringing about a different outcome and therefore a preferred outcome. While there are a myriad of downsides to both BFT and SFT they are so minute that they would not likely have an adverse affect on the client family. For instance, it may be that the length or number of sessions will be smaller than other theoretical approaches which would suit Helen just fine considering she is now the main source of income for the home. Fewer sessions can also work in favor of the client family in pushing them into setting realistic goals that need to be achieved and will also cause for the techniques learned while utilizing either approach be employed sooner rather than later and hopefully will continue long after the sessions have ended to go on with the changes that are necessary for success within their family unit. Through homework and other intervention exercises a favorable outcome is expected of Helen, Julie, and Garry, the client family. They will unlearn playing the victim role and lashing out in anger, learn how to effectively communicate, accept what has transpired in their lives and in putting it behind them not out of embarrassment or shame but, out of a realization that the present and future is where their focus needs to be. In the end, the learner is confident that both the Solution-Focused Therapy and the Family Behavioral Therapy theoretical orientations will serve as a successful method of therapy for this family. Diagnosis and Treatment Plan Helen and her children by all accounts can be considered a family that has not healed from divorce but copes with what that disruption to their family system translates for them and yearns to be well again seeks the counseling services of the learner. The remaining members of this unit individually and collectively exhibit a range of dysfunctional behaviors that include but are not limited to premarital teen sex, masturbation, yelling at each other and other dysfunctional communication patterns. The learner proposes that the therapeutic model that will work best in bringing Helen and her children back to a positive place in their cognition, and behavior is solution-focused family therapy. Before a counselor or therapist is able to successfully engage the client through verbal communication, nonverbal clues are given as to potentially how bad the situation is by simple things like how [the clients] choose[s] to sit in the room (Walrond-Skinner, 1976, p. 39). These kinds of nonverbal tools are just as important to assessing the situation as the ever blunt first question, why are you here today? The answer to that question is key in assessing the situation. From the interactions of the family as witnessed while in their natural habitat the following have been evaluated in regards to this operation of this family system: effective communication does not exist between the parent and children, the sibling emotional bond is nonexistent, and they do not rebound well when change occurs. After the initial general assessment or a description of the presenting problems has been disclosed the counselor must then set goals. In a variety of settings such as corporate meetings, counseling sessions, and etc. one widely used acronym for goal setting is to be SMART: specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely. The purpose of being smart when laying out the goals for others to adhere to is to ensure that they know what is expected of them without a shadow of a doubt; that a counselor or therapist will be able to easily notate when progress has been made or remains unachieved; to create practical objectives that while they may not be easy to accomplish are necessary for personal growth; and to ensure that there is a cap so that the client is aware that a deadline to check if improvement has been made. With SMART in mind, the treatment plan for Helen, Julie, and Garry would include the following: Goals: Helen, Julie, and Garry will work together to improve effective communication Helen, Julie, and Garry will learn adjustment skills as it relates to experiencing unexpected situations specifically the divorce of Helen and her ex-husband Julie and Garry will learn to interact as siblings by learning how to support each other in an effort to build an emotional bond between them Interventions : Clients will be required to hear out the other members of their family and to consider that persons point of view. The request to begin considering the point of view of others will begin within the second session between all three members of the family unit and will continue being asked until the 10th family session. In addition, the client family will be asked to apply this question to instances when an argument is likely to take place as a substitute to the way they normally communicate. This intervention will include the therapist and all subsequent members of the host family: Helen, Julie, and Garry and will last for at least ten sessions and will be assessed at the 10th session to see if it needs to continue. Helen, Julie, and Garry will journal about their past and present feelings related to the divorce of Helen and her ex-husband on a daily basis, and something will be chosen from each family members journal to be read aloud in the following weeks session. This intervention will allow all family members an opportunity to learn how each individual processed and is handling the divorce. In addition, the family will be required to attend at least three additional sessions of counseling in a Persons involved in Divorce support group to be educated on the varying perspectives of all involved in such a process. This intervention will include all members of the subsequent host family: Helen, Julie, and Garry and the therapist will act as the reader. The therapist will also be instrumental in securing a place for them within a support group; the family will be able to offer suggestions which the therapist will thoroughly consider and make an informed decision based on what is better for the clients. After the required three sessions, a decision as to how beneficial the group meets were and the necessity of continuing in them will determine whether more sessions are needed. That information will be considered from Helen, Julie, and Garry in addition to, the lead therapist of the group sessions. Julie and Garry will begin to genuinely compliment each other at least one time per day over the course of their time in therapy. In addition, they are to find out something that the other is involved in like Garrys new fascination with cars and wholeheartedly support those endeavors making time for them at least two times per month. The hope is to achieve the goal of creating a genuine sibling emotional bond. This intervention will include only the sibling subset of the client family unit. And, will consist of Julie and Garry having a separate bi- weekly family session (for a total of two sessions per month) without their mother Helen. During the last session for the month a verbal synopsis that will include how well they enjoyed the time spent witnessing their sibling doing something they loved. The learner has implemented interventions that adhere to the thought behind solution-focused family therapy, and when evaluating Helen and her children will take into consideration the possibility for numerous modifications based upon client achievement of goals, and failures as it relates to not adhering to the scheduled mandates of the treatment goals (Seligman, 2004). Each intervention applied would likely have the learners desired effect which will cause this family to knit closely together. They would own up to their own contributions to the state of their relationship as well as absolve themselves and the others of misplaced blame. The lines of communication will be open and no longer will they talk at each other in fits of hysteria or desperation. As a result of the intervention the family members will implement the communication skills learned which will include how to talk to each other and value the opinions, and feelings of one another even at those times of disagreement. Ultimately, this family unit will grow closer to each other, develop as a cohesive unit, mature in their personal pursuits and thought processes, and learn from each other which will cause them to have a smooth transition into the next life stage of their family subsets life cycle. The Learners Personal Reflection The entire process that began with watching the Buckman family at large and specifically the subset that included Helen, Julie and Garry and ended with setting goals that were believed to be to the benefit of making their family unit more cohesive had the learner slightly stressed. The limited experience in a counseling setting as a professional and as a client caused a recurring question regarding correctly processing and applying information. It is the belief of the learner that her experiences as wife, mother, daughter, sister, and etc. would create an excellent source from which to pull information from when dealing with clients and cause an equalizing of the relationship. While the learner can clearly relate to some of the dysfunction of the family on issues such as how families talk to each other, or not actually being able to relate or have things in common with siblings. One aspect of this family system that the learner has no personal knowledge of is divorce and how seriousl y it can upset the entire family cycle. The model for marriage for this learner has been that of her maternal grandparents who were married for 58 years before the death of her grandfather. The lack of reaction to Helen being divorced considering the learners religious views was a very interesting dynamic. It is more likely that this can be attributed to how often she can be credited with desiring divorce than, recognizing that as a professional personal beliefs regarding things like divorce are irrelevant to the counseling process. One of the biggest reactions was in regards to the ex-husband and his complete disregard for the well-being of his own biological children. This set off red flags of personal biases towards deadbeat dads as a result of the learners own father who was only sporadically involved in her upbringing, at best. Due to the internally boisterous response the learner will need to routinely do a self-check to ensure that her personal biases will not negatively affect the counseling environment that is a necessary conduit for client change. Due to the fathers utter removal from every aspect of his childrens life as a result of the divorce, Helen was regulated to the role of a single parent; and it forced their children into a single-parent family situation (Carter McGoldrick, 2005). Early on, the learner and her three sisters formed a pack after constantly witnessing the unnecessary sibling rivalry amongst their mother and her sisters. In clearing defining our goals for our sister-friend relationships, we are extremely honest with each other, genuinely concerned about every aspect of each other lives, and have vowed to remain so. From this relationship that was first built on a blood bond evolved four very different people, at various stages in their lives, who are now friends. Once the commitment was made to be different and was adhered to change occurred within the relationship between the learner and her youngest sister who she really did not know mostly because of the difference in age. Therefore, setting a goal for Julie and Garry to become more emotionally involved with each other was something that the learner can attest to. One final thing to note, is how in the learners family which is multi-generational and includes not just an immediate family unit but, is comprised of extended family members there is always something that occurs that can upset the family system however, behaviors are not drastically changed as a result. The adaptability of the learners family unit has created an environment where others are always prepared to take on countless roles in the event that the traditional role holder is unable to continue on. Thus, the family is able to continue to run smoothly even after a major upset to the family cycle. A persons entire being is founded, rooted, expanded, and explored through the family framework which by all accounts is the initial segue into a host of firsts (Carter McGoldrick, 2005). Thus, it stands to reason that it is completely necessary to ensure the stability of the family unit by ensuring its flexibility when presented with anything that has the power to modify the normal flow of the family system and, maintaini