The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has responded to criticism that there are deficits in generic leadership and change management competencies in local government technical management. Some 100 places are to be made available to ICT managers on the Future Leadership Programme run by Ashridge Management College. This is a self-development and leadership programme for mixed groups of senior managers from local authority service departments and other business areas. 1000 managers are expected to complete the three-module, 7 day, 3,500 pounds programme over the next twelve months.The ODPM and the Society of IT Managers have agreed on plans to embed e-Government and transformational change competencies into the Future Leadership Programme. This development recognises heads of ICT are frequently responsible for setting the strategic direction for e-government, as well as for developing the technical infrastructure and delivering operational services.

Read more on RESPONSE TO CRITICISM OF COUNCILS’ TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP…

Three quarters of central government departments have risk strategies in place for key areas, but many are not well developed, nor are they understood by staff. Training is lagging behind strategy development and a critical mass of staff have not yet developed skills and expertise to manage risks effectively. The National Audit Office in the report Managing Risk to Improve Service Deliver calls on departments to make effective risk management a central part of their day to day general management processes.The NAO, whilst applauding many examples of innovative approaches to risk and risk management, is concerned that public bodies are focused on developing a culture of active, explicit and systematic risk management. It wants decisions made by civil servants and other public officials to be routinely based around accurate and well informed judgements about risk.

Read more on WATCHDOG CALLS FOR BETTER DELIVERY OF RISK STRATEGIES…

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.

Read more on WALES TAKES FIRST STEPS ON SMARTCARDS FOR DOCTORS…

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.

Read more on COUNCILS LEAD WAY ON CHILDREN ACT REFORMS…

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.

Read more on FACILITATING COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT…

The National Consumer Council has set up a Public Services Users Forum in what it is calling “the start of a new phase in the quest to re-shape our public services to better meet the needs of users”. The move, which is being made in collaboration with a wide range of user-interest groups, follows research that shows more than three million people are already involved in shaping their local communities and public services. The NCC says its initiative aims to build on this for the benefit of all public service users.The report, “User Power”, by Stirling University academics Johnston Birchall and Richard Simmons, is based on research among 500 users of social housing and community care services in England and Scotland. It shows that people become more altruistic and community-spirited the longer they are involved with services. The findings also show that participation is not limited to the better educated and better off. It says treating users as partners in the design and delivery of services, rather than seeing them as being on the receiving end of a contract, is a key to successful participation and better services.

Read more on FORUM AIMS TO PLAY PART IN SHAPING PUBLIC SERVICES…

Head teachers are raising concerns today over new school inspection plans and calling for changes to the procedure under which schools can appeal against an inspector’s findings. David Hart, the General Secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, has written to Ofsted Chief Inspector, David Bell listing defects in the system.In the letter Mr. Hart points out that under the current system the appeal adjudicator has little real power and that complaints take far too long to be dealt with. He says, too, that Ofsted Reports cannot be amended unless the Registered Inspector who carried out the Inspection agrees.

Read more on HEADS RAISE APPEAL FEARS OVER SHORT SHARP SCHOOL INSPECTION PLANS…

By Dan Corry Choice is high on the political agenda and is set to become a predominant feature of public services. The author looks at the different ways in which providers and users can influence outcomes and he sets out the dangers choice can bring. He argues that choice has the potential to improve some services more than others, but what is important is the way choice is given.

The homelessness charity Shelter is launching a national investigation into housing after an opinion survey showed that seven out of ten people believe that Britain is in the middle of a housing crisis. The poll, conducted for Shelter by MORI, shows that house prices are seen as the biggest housing problem.In the Shelter survey 74 per cent of respondents cited prices as the main housing issue. Other areas of concern were run down estates, mentioned by six out of ten people, children living in bad housing, 36 per cent, and high rents which were highlighted by 34 per cent of people.

Read more on POLL PROMPTS HOUSING CRISIS INVESTIGATION…

Britian’s biggest teachers’ union, the NUT, is today launching a campaign for sprinkler systems to be fitted in all schools to help cut the one hundred million pounds a year bill for damage caused by fires in schools. The campaign has won the backing of a number of other organisations including the Fire Brigades Union, senior fire officers and the Local Government Association.The NUT says the number of school fires rose by 55 per cent in 2003 and the related costs has gone up by more than 170 per cent over ten years. Up to 20 schools a week are damaged or destroyed by arson with nine out of ten of the fires being started by pupils. Day time arson attacks when pupils are on the premises now make up a third of school fires and insurance premiums for schools doubled between 2001 and 2003, according to the NUT. Zurich Municipal, the main school fire insurer, says it runs a 100 per cent loss on its school insurance business.

Read more on TEACHERS WANT SPRINKLERS IN SCHOOLS TO CUT ARSON BILL…