Sanctuary Schemes supported by local authorities and other agencies such as the police have succeeded in helping families stay safely in their own homes, according to new research. The study by the University of York shows that while domestic violence is one the major reasons families become homeless, protection measures can stop that happening.

Read more on COUNCIL-SUPPORTED SCHEMES HELP PREVENT VIOLENCE VICTIMS BECOMING HOMELESS…

More than 100 local councils have called for a change in the law to prevent millions of pounds being wasted in dealing with litter created by motorists. They want the right to take action against the registered keeper of a vehicle that rubbish is thrown from in a system similar to those for dealing with speeding and flytipping.

Read more on CALL FOR CHANGE IN LAW SO COUNCILS CAN TACKLE ROADSIDE LITTER…

By Bill McIntyre

The spending review to be published in October 2010, will probably reveal that the cuts in public service budgets are the most severe in living memory. In the private sector many businesses have been through this experience much more recently. The author describes how some businesses cut budgets in a controlled and more structured fashion, whilst others don’t and make it more difficult to deal with the effects. This is the lesson for the public sector.

Read more on LEARNING FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR ABOUT CUTTING BUDGETS…

The leading public sector union has hit back at claims in a recent report that productivity in local government does not match up to the private sector. UNISON said the study by consultants, Knox D’Arcy was misleading, unrepresentative and unhelpful.  

Read more on UNION HITS BACK AT CLAIMS OVER COUNCILS’ PRODUCTIVITY…

Educational professionals in Wales are being urged to sign up for a conference which will focus on the emotional and social wellbeing of pupils and teachers. It will look in detail at some of the steps that can be taken after a major incident affecting a school.
 
The call for teachers and other practitioners to attend came from the Welsh Assembly’s Deputy Minister for Children, Huw Lewis. The event will hosted by Esther Rantzen, who will talk about her experiences in founding Childline, and key speakers will include Claude Knights, the Director of the Children’s Charity Kidscape and Aled Haydn Jones,  who  helped to launch Meic, the National Advocacy and Advice helpline for children and young people in Wales.
 
The conference, due to take place on September 17th, will highlight ways in which teachers can deal with major traumatic incidents in their schools as well as covering themes such as pupil participation, schools-based counselling and advocacy services.  

Read more on TEACHERS URGED TO ATTEND CONFERENCE ON WELLBEING…

By Charlene Li

This is an essential guide for leaders who want to use social media to be “open” while maintaining control

“Be Open, Be Transparent, Be Authentic” are the current leadership mantras-but organizations often push back. Management is premised on the concept of control and yet the new world order demands openness. Leaders do not know how to be open and be in control. This must-have resource will help the modern leader understand how to lead in the new open world-where blogging, twittering, facebooking, and digging are becoming the norm.

Read more on OPEN LEADERSHIP: HOW SOCIAL TECHNOLOGY CAN TRANSFORM THE WAY YOU LEAD…

Local government leaders are calling on schools which will change status in the next year to keep down the cost of pupils’ uniforms. The Local Government Association is concerned that the number of institutions becoming academies could mean a boom for uniform suppliers leaving hard up families to foot the bill for entirely new outfits.

Read more on NEW ACADEMIES URGED TO SHOW RESTRAINT ON UNIFORM COSTS…

The Government is being urged to put parish and town councils at the heart of renewing rural areas. The call, from the National Association of Local Councils, follows the publication of the Rural Coalition’s report, The Rural Challenge, which warns that many villages could wither unless radical action is taken to safeguard them.

Read more on LOCAL COUNCILS WANT TO BE AT HEART OF RURAL REGENERATION…

By Nathan Marke

With public sector budgets being cut extensively until 2013, increasing workforce effectiveness is a top priority. But with funding in short supply some organisations are continuing to support ageing, costly infrastructures. The author explains how a better connected workforce can drive productivity and process efficiency, removing costs and delivering value overall. He relates his experience in the London Borough of Brent.

Read more on DRIVING PRODUCTIVITY WITH A BETTER CONNECTED WORKFORCE…

Local authorities do not feel confident that they know all the children living in their area so they can fulfil their duties to keep them safe. The concerns are raised in the latest survey from Ofsted, which highlights the challenges councils face in identifying and tracking children who are missing from education.

Read more on OFSTED SAYS COUNCILS FACE BIG CHALLENGES OVER CHILDREN MISSING FROM SCHOOL…