Archives for January 4th, 2006

STRATEGIC PLANNING – AUDIT COMMISSION CONSULTATION

Abstracts, PublicNet: 4 January, 2006

Strategic Regulation was pioneered by the Audit Commission and is the heart of the current Strategic Plan. The Commission is now seeking views so it can set a clear vision of how, as an independent watchdog, it can help improve local services by focusing on value for money, and by addressing the interests of both the taxpayer and the service user. In order to get the focus right, the Commission wants to know what others think should be its top three priorities for the coming year.The consultation documents sets out the Commission’s view of the changes that will affect the public sector scene in the medium term and it wants feedback on the scenarios it presents. Among the factors which it sees as driving change are advances in technology which are raising people’s expectations of both public and private sector services, as well as providing solutions that meet their aspirations. It sees an older, more consumerist population demanding a wider range of bespoke services delivered in more user-friendly ways. The growing investment in public services, especially the NHS, is coming to an end. There will be downward pressure on public spending as the proportion of the population of working age decreases. Public services will be required to deliver more efficient, user-focused, sustainable services with greater transparency and accountability.

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NEW GUIDE TO EFFECTIVE WORK ON CHILDREN’S WELL-BEING

Headlines, PublicNet: 4 January, 2006

A unique new guide has been published as a comprehensive indicator of the most effective programmes available in Britain for promoting children and young people’s well-being while reducing the risks of underachievement and anti-social behaviour. It has been produced by the national charity, Communities that Care.”The Guide to Promising Approaches” has been fully revised and updated with support from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. It looks at a range of family, school and community-based services, including more than 30 programmes available in the UK, the effectiveness of which has been indicated by rigorous research. They include the Communities that Care preventive programme that is currently being implemented in more than 30 neighbourhoods in England, Scotland and Wales.

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PUBLIC SECTOR MANAGERS URGED TO TAKE LEAD OVER DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION

Headlines, PublicNet: 4 January, 2006

A campaign is beginning to ensure that senior managers in the public sector do all they can to implement the Disability Equality Duty. The campaign by the Disability Rights Commission follows the publication of a study that shows senior figures in the public sector lack a personal commitment to seeing the DED work.The Commission has published a code of practice designed to help organisations in the private and public sectors to understand the new law. The DED places a duty on the public sector actively to promote disability in the same way that they have a duty to promote race equality under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act. In addition, public sector bodies deemed to have ‘specific duties’ under the legislation will have to publish a Disability Equality Scheme. This must set out how they will eliminate unlawful discrimination and promote equality of opportunity. Those organisations with specific duties, including a range of public bodies such as local councils, government departments, universities and hospitals, have to involve disabled people in drawing up their schemes.

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