Working after a stroke: survivors' experiences and perceptions of barriers to and facilitators of the return to paid employment.

Purpose: This paper examines respondents' relationship with work following a stroke and explores their experiences including the perceived barriers to and facilitators of a return to employment.

Method: Our qualitative study explored the experiences and recovery of 43 individuals under 60 years who had survived a stroke. Participants, who had experienced a first stroke less than three months before and who could engage in in-depth interviews, were recruited through three stroke services in South East England.

The mental health of looked after children: matching response to need.

Previous research has established high rates of mental health need in looked after children. The study described in this paper aimed to explore in more depth the mental health problems of looked after children and to examine the service response to those needs in two English local authorities. The study utilised a purposive sample of 80 looked after children which was biased towards those with high needs but which reflected the characteristics of looked after children in the two areas with regard to age, gender and type of placement.

The bereavement model, stroke and rehabilitation: a critical analysis of the use of a psychological model in professional practice.

Purpose: This pilot study aimed to explore with stroke survivors, carers and professionals, the impact of stroke and the process of recovery and rehabilitation. One theme that emerged in interviews with professionals was their use of the bereavement model in relation to recovery from stroke. The purpose of this paper is to explore the ways in which professionals use the bereavement model to explain and manage the rehabilitation of stroke survivors.