By Michael A. WestThis practical text provides tools to help teams become more effective. It includes case studies, discussion questions, exercises and questionnaires. It draws on psychological research and the text examines those factors which prevent and promote team effectiveness. It also includes material on team leadership, on the sorts of tasks that are best done by teams, and on the relationship between working in teams and mental health. It also considers virtual team working and trust within and between teams.

Read more on EFFECTIVE TEAMWORK…

Plans have been revealed for the modernisation of pathology services within the NHS. Key elements include ensuring that services focus on patients’ needs, and the importance of keeping services up to date through new, appropriate and properly evaluated technologies, techniques and tests.Up to 70 per cent of all diagnoses depend on pathology but health minister, John Hutton, said the services were often invisible to the patients they served. The modernisation proposals would help to both raise the profile of pathology and increase the effectiveness of the services. The proposals include the development of new pathology networks and changes in the skill mix of the workforce.

Read more on NHS PATHOLOGY SERVICES TO BE MODERNISED…

Local authorities are looking at how they can play a leading role in reshaping the education service, following the proposed reforms to education for 14 to 19 year olds, set out in the report from Mike Tomlinson, the former head of OFSTED. Head teachers, meanwhile have welcomed the report.Responding to the Tomlinson proposals, Gareth Matthewson, the president of the National Association of Head Teachers said reform was long overdue and the report provided a long-term vision for the 14-19 education system by providing an agenda that meets many of the criticisms of the current examination framework. Mr. Matthewson said there could be no justification for business or higher education to reject the proposals. They gave employers virtually everything they wanted and provided universities with an advanced Diploma suitable for entrance to higher education.

Read more on COUNCILS LOOK FOR KEY ROLE IN EDUCATION REFORMS…