By Debbe KennedyThe author focuses on how-to develop support for change in organizations, including leadership, sponsorship, manager conviction and buy-in from everyone involved. It includes action strategies, stories, insights and ideas for what and how to gain acceptance of the need for change and understanding of its implications in seven key areas that influence organizational effectiveness.
Published by Berrett Koehler. ISBN: 1-58376-119-5. 10.95 US dollars.

The 5000 offenders who commit about 10% of crimes in the UK are to be targeted in a new cross-Government initiative. 

A new local government leadership center, due to be opened later in the year, is at the core of the leadership strategy launched by the Leadership Development Commission. Other elements of the strategy, which provides a framework to stimulate leadership development at the individual, team, local authority and national levels, seeks to secure the contributions of other stakeholders, including political parties. 

A MORI poll found that 92% of people trust doctors to tell the truth, teachers came in second with 89%. Only 20% of people trust journalists to tell the truth and 72% believe they actively lie. Politicians were slightly higher up the table with 22% believing that they tell the truth.The reaction of respondents to questions about trust were also reflected in their answers about satisfaction with the way certain professions do their job. 

The role of the Teacher Training Agency has been extended to include the professional development of teachers and the training of school support staff including teaching assistants. The Agency will become the key organisation which will coordinate efforts of all those involved in providing professional development for teachers. 

The Commission for Health Improvement reports that hospital care has significantly improved over the last four years and is now more focused on the needs of patients. It notes progress in reducing waiting times in A&E and for outpatients appointments. But the Commission is concerned that there is still too much variation in the care provided within hospitals and across hospitals depending on where a patient gets treated. 

By Theo Theobold and Cary CooperThe book tackles the nuts and bolts of communication at work with startling honesty and an avalanche of practical tips. The author’s views are supported by comment from an impressive line-up of experts, whose communication strategies drive a range of successful organizations. 

Strategic Health Authorities across England are being urged to implement the new hospital consultant contract by the end of April. The encouragement comes in a letter to be received by SHA chief executives from the Department of Health and the Consultants’ Committee of the British Medical Association, which is upset over delays.Trusts that do not meet the proposed deadline will be able to make use of joint BMA/DoH implementation teams to help resolve local problems. 

Almost 200 million pounds is being made available for three Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder projects in the north of England. The funding has been announced by the Deputy Prime Minister who said it would help to reverse decades of decline in communities affected by low housing demand and abandonment. There will also be more money for former mining districts.The pathfinder districts are South Yorkshire, East Lancashire and the Oldham and Rochdale area. 

By James W Bryant Reproduced by permission of the Public Management and Policy Association. Managing change is difficult at any time. When the change involves partner organizations with a range of cultures and varying agendas the difficulties become more acute. The author sets out an approach for dealing with collaborative change and describes how it was put into effect with a community safety partnership.