Jack Cunningham, Minister for the Cabinet Office has made a pledge to double the number of women in top Civil Service jobs by 2005. 12 % of the top 600 posts, are held by women and the pledge will mean that this will rise to 25%. At the next level down it is planned that the proportion of the 3000 posts held by women and ethnic minorities should be increased to 35% and 3.2% respectively.
A virtual conference will be held on the Internet next month to get views on how the Government can respond to the needs of older people. The agenda will include issues related to leading active lives, care and health, transport, consultation and involvement. Participants will be asked to say what matters most to them. The conference will be followed by a six month programme of events around the UK arranged in partnership with a range of voluntary organisations. Feedback will help to set priorities for action and shape policies to meet the needs of older people.
Lewellyn S
Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, (UK), 1998 Vol 11 No 3
Start page: 292. No of pages: 17
Looks at how responsibility is being devolved along with United Kingdom social services budgets to client services managers, team managers and frontline care workers. Explains the difficulties raised by the concept of responsibility, the new structure of social service departments after the 1991 National Health Service and Community Care Act, and how devolution has worked out in practice. Surveys eight regional social work departments where frontline hostility ensured budget responsibility rests with team managers; and where there are multiple sources of access to a budget, which diffuses responsibility. Shows how budget holders are not held responsible for overspends, prioritization rules are not agreed, and the Director is seen as the only responsible decision maker, to whom teams report rather than individuals. Advocates simple, narrative accounting practices clearly communicated.