Smartcards are to be introduced for junior doctors and medical students in Wales to make it simpler for them to move between training posts and placements. The cards are part of a package of reforms in postgraduate medical education and training.Welsh Assembly Health Minister Jane Hutt said the introduction of the occupational health Smartcards would help save time for both students on training placements and administrative staff who arranged the placements.

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Local authorities are leading the way in implementing new methods of delivering services set out in the Children Bill even before it even becomes law, according to research from the Improvement and Development Agency. In a report it shows that many councils have already complied with two of the key demands of the bill, the appointment of a director and a lead councillor for children’s services, and the improved integration of services.The bill, which is due to receive the Royal Assent in November, gives local authorities until a deadline in 2008 to make these appointments.

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By Christine Sylvest LarsenThis Home Office Development and Practice Report draws messages for practice development implementation and operation from research. It sets out practical guidance for practitioners and policy makers. It views community involvement as involvement by individuals or representatives of community or voluntary organisations in public policy design and implementation. The report explains how and why changes could be made, based on the findings from research. The report is based on a systematic review of ‘what works’ in community involvement in area-based initiatives. It concludes that there are no simple answers on how to increase community engagement, but it does highlight a number of principles of practice that will be useful for practitioners and policy makers.

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