The Successful Delivery Skills Programme launched by the Office of Government Commerce is the latest initiative in the drive to improve the project management skills of Civil Servants. The Programme brings together the cultures of the different departments to form a comprehensive approach that it is hoped will drive forward improvements in the delivery of complex public sector projects.The Programme is a benchmark standard of successful delivery skills. 

Clear and focused leadership at middle and top levels is vital for the improvement of public services says the Audit Commission. In a guide to managing improvement ‘Performance Breakthroughs’ it sets out reasons for failed attempts to do better and describes ways in which performance breakthroughs have been achieved. 

By Neil Hollins The development of wireless technology is bringing opportunities to do things in different ways. The author explains how mobile staff in local government can link directly into systems at base, process requests and get information. He also describes an implementation approach.

Despite strong government endorsement ‘flexible working’ has not yet permeated the public sector in any significant way. It offers the ability to shape work around the way people live their lives and brings considerable benefits in terms of staff morale and productivity.An online debate ‘Fit for Work’ sponsored by the Public Policy Forum will seek to find out why this is so. 

Following the launch of the Metropolitan Police Service’s Community Support Officer scheme, it is planned to recruit more than 1,000 officers across the UK. They will play a complementary role to police officers in tackling disorder and anti-social behaviour and carrying out routine patrols to increase visible policing and provide reassurance to the public. 

By Alastair Evans and Mike WaltersThe book shows how managers can measure the impact of absence on their own organisations, including the causes and cost, while offering guidance on how to build an effective programme. As well as case studies, the book offers sample policies plus guidance on the legal and disciplinary aspects of absence management. It demonstrates that effective absence management needs to be balanced and tailored. 

The London School of Economics and Columbia University have jointly launched an MPA in Public and Economic Policy. The degree is essentially a public sector MBA. 

The 1.3 million incidents of work-related violence a year affect staff morale and lead to high absenteeism, recruitment and staff turnover problems. As support for the Health and Safety Commission’s target to cut incidents of violence at work by 10 per cent by the end of 2003, the Employment National Training Organisation has devised a set of standards. 

By Brendan Martin Reproduced by permission of The Catalyst Forum In 1992 the new Mayor Indianapolis was elected on a platform of public service privatization. The initial conflict with the union later turned into a partnership to tackle the problems of the city. The author describes the forces that changed attitudes, the way the partnership works and the success it has achieved.

The Department for Education and Skills has asked local councils to radically re-think their youth service strategies, if they have not already done so. Traditionally young people in the 13 - 19 age group have suffered from the silo structure of public services. For example a 16 year old unemployed school leaver with no educational qualifications, a drug problem and a police record often received unco-ordinated support from a number of agencies.