A report today says public sector workers not only have better pay than people in the private sector but also enjoy shorter hours, earlier retirement and better pensions. The study from the Policy Exchange also puts the size of the public sector at more than seven million people.

Read more on NEW REPORT SAYS PUBLIC SECTOR STAFF WORK LESS FOR BETTER PAY…

Local authorities should be given more responsibility for policing and health care as part of a package of measures that would see a devolved, locally-focused system for public service delivery. The ideas are set out in a paper from the New Local Government Network which says scrapping entitlements offered to service users is a step in the right direction.

Read more on THINK TANK BACKS LOCALLY-FOCUSED SYSTEM OF SERVICE DELIVERY…

Local authorities need more information about home education and better understanding of it so they can provide effective support for children who are being taught at home, according to Ofsted in a report today. Inspectors, who visited 15 local council areas in England, say that most families are positive about being monitored and guided by local authorities.

Read more on OFSTED SAYS COUNCILS NEED MORE UNDERSTANDING OF HOME SCHOOLING…

The Independent Police Complaints Commission is facing enforcement notice by the Information Commissioner after failing to resolve 69 freedom of information requests within the legal timeframe. The Commissioner says the IPCC has repeatedly failed to respond to requests in line with the Freedom of Information Act.

Read more on INFORMATION ENFORCEMENT ORDER ‘STRONG SIGNAL’ TO ALL AUTHORITIES…

The Information Commissioner’s Office says it remains highly concerned that organisations in the NHS are continuing to break data protection rules designed to protect patients’ personal information. A quarter of all breaches reported to the ICO are from the health service.

Read more on INFORMATION COMMISSIONER CONCERNED OVER NHS DATA BREACHES…

The Government is to look at the most effective ways of reducing waste and of maximising income from waste and recycling. The newly-announced review will also look at how waste policies affect local communities and individual households.

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Social Services directors are warning they will speak out strongly on behalf of people who need care if spending cuts prevent them getting support. The warning comes in a letter to the Care Minister sent at the same time as a briefing paper to all MPs and 400 peers setting out what the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services see as their four key priorities.

Read more on DIRECTORS BRIEF MPs ON PRIORITIES FOR SOCIAL SERVICES…

A new survey says schools are relying increasingly on teaching assistants to step in and cover lessons. The study, commissioned by the public sector union UNISON, reveals a lack of proper planning to cover for absent teachers leaving assistants to fill the gaps without enough training and support.

Read more on STUDY SHOWS INCREASE IN TEACHING ASSISTANTS COVERING CLASSES…

Heads of children’s services have warned that full publication of Serious Case Reviews could damage other vulnerable children. They have cautioned against the move and said the review process should not put children under further emotional stress.

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Staff training has been identified as a pressing issue for the growing number of health and social care organisations now working in collaboration with one another. New research from Embrace-Learning shows such collaborative working has increased tenfold since 2007 and is expected to rise steeply in the next two years.

The organisation, which is a developer and consultant in e-learning, says that the health and social care sectors face intense scrutiny in the light of the announcement of a specialist commission to investigate funding. Its study found that collaborative working and sharing resources had increased across the UK. Arrangements in areas including Lancashire, Cumbria, North West London and County Durham had led to reduced costs brought through greater efficiencies.

Read more on STAFF TRAINING IS PRESSING ISSUE FOR COLLABORATIVE WORKING…