Satisfaction with customer services in the public sector continues to trail the private sector. The latest survey by the Institute of Customer Service shows public services near the bottom of the league table which is led by tourism and retail. Overall, customer satisfaction levels are rising in the UK with an average rating of 74 up from 72 in the previous study.
Read more on SURVEY SHOWS CUSTOMERS NOT VERY SATISFIED WITH SOME PUBLIC SERVICE…
Sick absence in the public sector is significantly higher than the private sector and there is no satisfactory answer why this is so. The interim review of NHS Health and Wellbeing by Dr Steve Boorman indicates that the problem may be more to do with management than the health of the staff.
Read more on HIGH SICK ABSENCE LEVELS MAY BE MORE TO DO WITH MANAGERS THAN STAFF…
By Amanda Ludlow
Absenteeism is an issue for the private and public sectors alike. But the problem is particularly acute in town halls where 13.5 days are lost each year, compared to 7.9 days in the private sector. The author examines management attitudes to absenteeism, which are part of the problem. She also suggests ways to cut the absenteeism rate substantially.
The pay bill is a significant part of public sector budgets and a halt in annual rises would reduce pressure to cut jobs. The latest Labour Market Outlook survey from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and KPMG shows that public sector pay is starting to freeze.
Read more on FEWER PUBLIC SECTOR JOB CUTS LIKELY AS PAY FREEZES…
Now is the time to change public service leadership. New thinking should be promoted and ways found to build up capacity in a changed culture. This is the message from a new report from the National School for Government ‘Whole Systems Go’.
Read more on CALL FOR RE-THINK ABOUT PUBLIC SERVICE LEADERSHIP…
This paper from the Department for Children, Schools and Families describes how the Department proposes to work more closely with the third sector and it sets out the main focus of the shared goals and work over the coming months and years within the framework of Every Child Matters.
Read more on THIRD SECTOR STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN – YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES…
With the latest figures showing that the number of young people not in employment, education or training has risen by 1.3 percent compared to the same quarter last year, the charity UK Youth has called for non-formal programmes to be given greater formal accreditation.
Read more on CHARITY CALLS FOR RULE CHANGE TO SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE…
Further education courses play a significant role in helping people find a job. They also bring a range of benefits including an increase in knowledge, skills and confidence.
A report from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills giving findings of a survey of people who were not in work when they started their courses, found that more than 60 per cent believed that the course helped them get a job. In the two years after the courses were completed, over 40 per cent had secured a job. This figure is up from 34 per cent in the previous year.
Read more on COLLEGE COURSES HELP WITH GETTING JOBS SURVEY SHOWS…
Innovation is seen as the key force for change in public services according to a paper from the Strategy Unity. The paper draws on nearly 50 interviews with leading experts in public service reform from around the world and probes specific elements of service innovation and wider lessons for service management.
More community lands trusts are to be set up following successful pilot schemes. The charity, Carnegie UK, will receive a £0.5m grant to further develop the CLT sector by setting up a trade body and launching a website with portal and forum to provide information on creating a Trust.
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