Parenting programmes purport to improve the parenting capacity of both mothers and fathers; however it is predominantly mothers who participate. Father participation is important because fathers have a positive impact on both child development and behaviour, and outcomes for children are enhanced when both parents participate in parenting programmes. This article draws upon a study (via an online questionnaire) that explored the views of social workers about the issues affecting fathers' participation in parenting programmes. The results showed that participants considered the qualities of the programme leader, the programme content and the philosophy of the service delivery organisation to be the most important issues impacting on father participation. From the perspective of change, qualities of the programme leader and organisational philosophy were considered the most feasible to address. The sample comprised three times more female than male participants and there was an evident difference in viewpoint according to gender on issues including the gender of the programme leader and the gender make-up of the group.

The nature and importance of the relationship between leadership and probation practice is considered drawing upon information collected from Probation Offi cers and Service Managers as part of a study on probation practice and the contribution of leadership to the achievement of effective service delivery. The participants asserted that the quality of the relationship between Service Managers (holding a positional leadership role) and Probation Offi cers (as practitioners) is likely to exert a positive infl uence upon Probation Offi cer work performance and that the practice credibility of Service Managers (based upon the clear articulation of professional values, the possession of knowledge, and demonstration of expertise) was associated with the development of trust, respect, confi dence and willing following amongst staff. Participants also suggested that the management style employed by senior managers (refl ective of the impact of New Public Management) is at variance with the practitioners' desire for leadership that places emphasis upon practice. Three challenges facing senior managers in the New Zealand Community Probation Service are identifi ed which, if engaged, offer solutions to issues concerning the relationship between leadership, practice and ultimately effective service delivery.

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The 13-item of EWS-R can be considered as a reliable and predictive scale for assessing quality of life and overall satisfaction on people living in long-term care facilities.

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of elder abuse in a representative sample of older people in Aotearoa New Zealand. Analysis was conducted on responses from the second wave of the New Zealand Longitu- dinal Study of Ageing (NZLSA) omnibus survey of 3,923 adults aged 50-87 years. Using the elder mistreatment screening questions, the sample was split between those who identified of having experienced elder abuse (n = 529) and those who did not (n = 2417) from a large population-based study to compare on 19 variables (i.e. age, gender, marital status, living arrangement, education levels, ethnicity, personal income, total number of health conditions, physical health, mental health, ability to get around, economic wellbeing, loneliness, social and emotional loneliness, depression, happiness, satisfaction with life and quality of life). Significant differences were found on 16 of the variables assessed. Results suggested that those who have experienced elder abuse had a higher level of loneliness and poor economic wellbeing. They were more likely to experience depression, have poorer mental health and be less happy. The experience of abuse had significant impact on their satisfaction with life and overall quality of life. A better understanding of these risk factors associated with elder abuse in aging population will assist with both prevention and intervention.