This Guide from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence sets out a systematic method for reviewing the health issues facing a population, leading to agreed priorities and resource allocation that will improve health and reduce inequalities. It can be used to provide evidence about a population on which to plan services and address health inequalities. It provides an aid for cross-sectoral partnership working and developing creative and effective interventions.The government is committed to reducing health inequalities by 10% by 2010 as measured by infant mortality and life expectancy at birth.

Read more on HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT: A PRACTICAL GUIDE…

As a result of efforts by Arson Task Forces, cars clear schemes and other local arson reduction projects the number of arson attacks has fallen by 18%. The Task Forces are made up from police fire and rescue services and local authorities. Arson causes 100 needless deaths and 2,500 injuries a year. Motives range from revenge, fraud, and crime concealment to simple vandalism. The poorest communities are hardest hit, with those on low incomes 31 times more likely to be affected by deliberate fire-setting and sixteen times more likely to die as a result of such a fire. The annual cost of arson is estimated at 2.8 billion pounds.The majority of arson attacks appear to be committed by a small group of prolific offenders, many of whom are under 18 and also commit other offences. Fire and rescue services across the country already undertake some youth intervention work targeted at children with an excessive interest in fire-play or adolescents whose fire-setting behaviour is linked to other forms of anti-social behaviour such as vandalism.

Read more on ARSON ATTACKS DECLINING…

Sir Andrew Turnbull, Head of the Civil Service, has unveiled the national School For Government and the role it will play in modernising public services and in driving the Civil Service reform agenda. The structure and functions of the Centre for Management and Policy Studies, formerly the Civil Service College, which is based in Ascot Berkshire, have been completely re-vamped to form the National School. There will be a new emphasis on the needs of the wider public sector and the capacity of the organisation will be developed by drawing on experience from other organisations such as the local government leadership centre and academic institutions in the UK and abroad. The changes will mean an end to the ‘Argos’ type catalogue of courses formerly offered by the Centre and new forms of learning experiences will be introduced, based on what customers say they want.The School will work in partnership with Warwick Business School to develop leadership and management development programmes for ministers, senior civil servants, and senior policy makers and managers from national and local government, health service, police and education. The programmes will include exchanges with the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard, Copenhagen Business School and the Australian and New Zealand School of Government.

Read more on NATIONAL SCHOOL FOR GOVERNMENT LAUNCHED…