Budget 2011: The Plan for Growth
This briefing sets out the most important measures announced in Budget 2011 meant to support growth. It ends with an assessment of their likely impact.
Tickell Review – The Early Years: Foundations for life, health and learning
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hWEp-5I5ok&fs=1&hl=en_GB] The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) was introduced in 2008 to provide a framework for consistent and high quality environments for all children in pre-school settings. A review was promised at the time, and Dame Clare Tickell (Chief Executive of Action for Children) was invited last summer by the government to conduct an…
NICE: public health and local government
This briefing outlines the current role of NICE, the work it does on public health and its relevance for local government and the likely impact on this work arising from the Health and Social Care Bill.
NICE and local government
Following the passage of the Health and Social Care Bill, the work of NICE is likely to be much more on the radar of local authorities, both in relation to social care and to public health. At the moment, local authorities probably use NICE’s resources less than they could or should. This is unfortunate because…
Audit of Political Engagement – a local perspective
Last night the Hansard Society launched their eighth Audit of Political Engagement – an annual healthcheck on our democratic system and effectiveness of Parliament. Beneath the headline analysis on coalition politics and the Big Society, there’s some useful stuff on interest in local government and desires to get involved in community politics. – 46% of…
Online councillor sessions
I spent last Monday evening in Hackney with a group of councillors discussing how social media and other online tools can help them be more dynamic, productive and efficient. The beginning of the session identified three clear areas that participants wanted to explore. How, they asked, can all this stuff; – …
Consultation on Equality and Human Rights Commission
The government is consulting on changes to how the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) will operate. The reforms will have implications for local authorities where they work in partnership with the EHRC.
Public Health and Social Care Round-up: February and March 2011
This briefing summarises new policy, research and publications issued in February and March that relate to social care and health.
D-Day for adult social care
Funding adult social care is a major headache for both local and central government. Yesterday, the insurance company Partnership hosted a conference in Westminster with the social care great-and-the-good to take a look at where we are and what’s next. On the social care to-do list, central government is the red-faced member of staff with…
Recovery Britain: ESRC report
The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) has published a report Recovery Britain presenting findings from recent research on the long-term effects of the recession and the social and economic ramifications of the recovery.
