Health service staff can now go on-line to find out the gaps in their knowledge and skills in information management and technology. The new service provides individuals with the ability to assess their own learning needs and relate these needs to their particular profession, while identifying relevant courses to improve skills. The tool also acts as a support for managers in drawing up personal development plans.The self-assessment tool works by allowing staff to input information about their current skills into a computer. It takes about 40 minutes for them to work their way through the questions. Using national health informatics standards for their particular profession, a profile is then generated, providing a detailed analysis of their skills and identifying areas where improvements could be made.

Read more on NHS STAFF GET ON-LINE DIAGNOSIS FOR IT PRESCRIPTION…

The Local Government Association is gearing up to for the next general election with a campaign to persuade politicians of all parties to give real commitment to local government. The Association wants to ensure that talk about new localism is turned into reality with greater freedom and flexibilities for councils to decide what is best for their local communities. It will also seek to ensure that partnership working between central and local government and between county and district councils is promoted.The Chairman, Sir Sandy Bruce-Lockhart and the Executive of the Association will work with leading politicians to coordinate public affairs and the corporate agenda to deliver the Association’s manifesto and persuade each political party to give real commitment to local government.

Read more on CAMPAIGN TO SUPPORT NEW LOCALISM…

By David Crimmens, Fiona Factor, Tony Jeffs, John Pitts, Carole Pugh, Jean Spence and Penelope Turner The Youth Service is viewed as a key member of Crime Reduction Partnerships and street based youth work is having an impact by reducing the numbers known to be offending and by discouraging anti social behaviour. The authors challenge the rationale for target-driven youth initiatives and time-limited funding for street-based youth work.