One in six people experience a mental health problem every day. A large bank of research and evidence shows that physical activity can be as effective as medication in treating depression. This briefing highlights the evidence and examples of good practice. Councils have a crucial role in this agenda.
Key issues for local authority children’s social care are the achieving effective leadership and co-ordinating early help services for potentially vulnerable children. Ofsted has produced thematic reports on these issues. This briefing summarises these reports.
The health, public health and social care round-up summarises new policy, research and publications. The briefing covers: •major developments in March •health and social care reform and finance •public health reform and practice •health and social care quality and practice.
Integrating health and social care services has urgent impetus from our ageing society and the numbers living with long-term conditions. This briefing outlines the current integration landscape, including progress on the Better Care Fund whose implementation started on 1 April.
Health and social care will be key battleground issues in the election. Here we examine the main announcements from the political parties so far and the views of policy shapers, professional groups and the public.
The House of Commons Education Committee has reported on Personal, Social, Health and Economics Education (PSHE) and Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) . The key recommendation is that these subjects should be compulsory in schools. This briefing looks at the report and other recent publications on the subject.
Planning, health and wellbeing is a new LGiU guide which brings together LGiU briefings and guidance from other organisations on supporting healthy communities through planning – a crucial issue, especially for councillors, public health and planners and one where cross departmental working is vital.
Ofsted’s 2013-14 on children’s social care (published this week) highlights the difficulties authorities face with increasing demand for services and continued intense public scrutiny; some authorities are performing well under difficult circumstances, but over half of local authorities are not yet good enough
The Oxfordshire Serious Case Review into Child Sexual Exploitation in the county examines the problems of recognising and taking action on groups of individuals exploiting children for sex, and describes the significant improvements in practice to reduce the exploitation.
Food Security from the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, deals with how individuals’ need for affordable and healthy food can be met. The briefing will be of interest to members and officers with an interest in corporate strategy, waste minimisation, planning, public health, civil society, and poverty reduction.
