A local government think tank has begun a consultation process which is designed to refocus public services towards the citizen. The consultation paper, ‘Getting to the heart of local accountability’, has been produced by the Local Government Information Unit and suggests there should be a single commissioning process for all local public services.
Read more on CALL FOR COUNCILS TO CONTROL LOCAL HEALTH AND POLICE…
Eight local authorities are being fast-tracked into the Building Schools for the Future programme. They will now be able to begin developing plans with an estimated value of more than 600 million pounds.
Read more on FUTURE SCHOOLS PROGRAMME SPEEDED UP FOR EIGHT COUNCILS…
Directors of adult social services have given strong backing to a Government consultation which has been launched to help shape the content of its Dementia Strategy, due to be published in the autumn. Jenny Owen, the Vice President of ADASS, said the process marked the beginning of important improvements in the way people suffering with dementia were cared for.
Read more on SOCIAL SERVICES DIRECTORS WELCOME DEMENTIA CONSULTATION…
Editors: Frances Hesselbein and Marshall Goldsmith
The book sets out visions, strategies and practices for the new era. It follows in the footsteps of the international bestseller The Leader of the Future, which has been translated into twenty-eight languages, and is one of the most widely distributed edited collections on leadership todate.
Local authorities looking for innovative new ways of delivering services to deal with the drive for more responsive services in a tight financial climate are turning to social enterprise companies. The inclusion of social enterprises among those bidding for contracts is also stimulating other contractors to come up with innovative solutions. Social enterprises can range from local recycling projects, credit unions, and art studios to the Big Issue magazine and Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen restaurants.
Over 250 12-14 year olds from around the UK appeared in Leeds Magistrates’ Court on Saturday 21st June 2008. They were taking part in the National Final of the Magistrates’ Court Mock Trial Competition run by the Citizenship Foundation in partnership with the Magistrates’ Association.
This article describes a project in the United States designed to allow the public to assess how well local councils are performing.
The general public assesses the performance of councils by indicators that differ from those used by councils themselves. They are not concerned about throughput or operational statistics, which councils and central government consider vital. Their concern is the outcome and this is the measure of success. The gap in information flow and communication between the public and local councils probably accounts for the feeling expressed frequently about powerlessness to affect changes in services.
Read more on INVOLVING THE PUBLIC IN MEASURING AND REPORTING LOCAL GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE…
Parents feel left out of their children’s lives when they are taken into care. Some describe it as “a living nightmare, hell on earth” and “…a never ending battle. No one listens. No one understands.” These findings come from a report by the Children’s Rights Director for England, Dr Roger Morgan. The report is based on a survey of the views of children and their parents. The survey also revealed that most parents think that their child is being looked after very well by the local council.
Read more on PARENTS SIDELINED WHEN CHILDREN TAKEN INTO CARE…
The Audit Commission is introducing short notice inspections for housing associations following a successful pilot programme. The shorterinspections will take less time to complete than the conventional inspections,as they will specifically target weaker services. This new approach will helpto drive through improvements in services to tenants and leaseholders and also reducethe regulatory burden.
Read more on SPOT CHECKS ON SOCIAL HOUSING TO DRIVE UP STANDARDS…
© PublicNet is a KnowShare production | Technology by Jag Singh + Hilton & Hilton Ltd | Admin Log in
