The dissertation provides a theoretical analysis and substantiates the possibilities of using the British experience of social work with children with disabilities, which consists of describing the ways of implementing this experience and developing recommendations for their effective implementation in the Ukrainian practice of social work.
The scientific novelty of the study lies in the fact that for the first time the content, system, social services and technologies of social work with children with disabilities in the UK are theoretically justified. Generalized approaches to the definition of «children with disabilities», «technologies of social work with children with disabilities»; characterized the system of social work with children with disabilities in the UK and described the content of social services provided to children with disabilities in the UK.
Social work with children with disabilities is considered as a set of social services provided by social workers, social services departments, state and non-state organizations, institutions and institutions whose activities are aimed at providing children with comprehensive social support at the local government level through the introduction of special social programs, social services that are implemented through appropriate models and technologies of social work.
The dissertation describes the genesis of social work with children with disabilities in the UK and identifies its main stages: Stage I – charitable (before 1715), Stage II – segregation (1715–1806), stage III – institutional (1806–1926), stage IV – medical (1927–1970), Stage V – integration (1970–present).
The classification of children with disabilities in the UK is determined on the basis of the International Classification of the World Health Organization and its main types are identified: by type of problems and nosologies; services which may be provided to children with special needs.
The dissertation analyzes the regulatory support of social work with children with disabilities in the UK. It is determined that social work with children with disabilities in the UK is carried out on the basis of documents of international law, documents of British and regional legislation.
The dissertation describes the system of social work with children with disabilities in the UK. It is noted that the system of social work for children with disabilities in the UK contains such organizations, namely: departments of social work, local authorities, volunteer organizations.
The system of social work with children with disabilities is defined as a holistic combination of theories, models, structures, principles, social services and technologies of social work. Social work with children with disabilities is considered as a set of social services provided by social workers, social services departments, state and non-state organizations and institutions whose activities are aimed at providing children with comprehensive social support at the local government level through the establishment of special social programs, social services that are implemented through appropriate models and technologies of social work. The main services for children with disabilities in the UK are analyzed and characterized: practical assistance; community based services; services for organizing rest and leisure; home adaptation services etc.
Technologies of social work with children with disabilities are defined as a set of methods and forms of social work used in the practical work of a social worker in the form of services to achieve adaptation, socialization and integration of children with disabilities into the social environment and ensure their comfortable life.
The dissertation describes the ways of implementing the British experience of social work with children with disabilities in the practice of social work in Ukraine: the use of British innovative practices and technologies of social work with children with disabilities; the elaboration of training programs for training social specialists who will work with children with disabilities; the introduction of specialists in social work with children with disabilities into the organizations which provide social services; the establishment of interdepartmental interaction between structures and organizations working with children with disabilities; the development and creation of a domestic model of social work with children with disabilities.
The practical significance of the results obtained lies in the development of recommendations for social workers engaged in social work with children with disabilities; the development of the content of the program for training social workers to work with children with disabilities.
