The move to joined up working between health and social services will be made a little easier by an initiative to ‘join up’ knowledge in health and social care. A six month project has been launched by The National Electronic Library for Health and the electronic Library for Social Care. The aim is to provide quick and easy access to the best available knowledge to support evidence based practice.Key issues which will have to be resolved are how to link the knowledge base with the National Institute for Clinical Excellence and the National electronic Library for Health. Information Management Associates will carry out the project.

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Stephen Byers, Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, was given a stormy reception when he addressed the Annual Conference of UNISON, the UK’s largest public sector union. He was heckled when he said that the government planned to invest an additional 50bn pounds in public services over the next three years. He said: “In the real world virtually every public service engages private partners.” He made it clear that the issue is the quality and value of the services on offer and that the Government is not about to embark on the wholesale privatisation of essential public services.Adrian Dilworth, President of UNISON, stressed that they wanted to engage in proper debate with the Government about the future of public services, although the Conference will debate a series of motions that are hostile to plans for increasing the use of the private sector.

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Tony Cutler and Barbara WaineReviews the Performance Management Framework introduced in September 2000 to reward good teaching. Details how below a pay threshold an incremental pay system linked to length of service continues to operate, but above the threshold increments are linked to performance. If performance falls below expectations no increment will be awarded, but conversely good performance can result in the achievement of one or two increments. Identifies a major weakness in the Framework which focuses on pupil attainment – GCSE passes- rather than on professional development. Highlights the factors beyond the control of teachers which influence pupil performance.

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