Hardy, B., Hudson, B. & Waddington, EThis self-assessment tool emerged through collaboration between the Department of Health and the NHS Trent Region. It is applicable to many cross-sectoral partnerships, although it was developed in the context of health and social care. 

The drive for better financial management in the public sector is resulting in the creation of new senior finance posts and fuelling salary increases. The latest edition of Hays’ Guide to Salaries in Accountancy, reporting on trends in the public and private sectors for second half of 2003, reveals that Directors of Finance in Higher Education secured the greatest salary increases with 4.8 per cent. 

Chancellor Gordon Brown has promised that more grants and loans will be available to voluntary sector organizations in the summer to improve their capacity to deliver public services. The funding will support the development of financial management and other skills and be made available through the Futurebuilders Fund.