This publication from the Chief Executives’ Task Force sets out a selection of good practice from around the country. It celebrates the innovation and imagination that local government is bringing to bear to improve services by becoming more efficient. It is the forerunner of a number of cases studies to be made available by the Regional Centres of Excellence later in the year.The showcase of 33 examples of good practice includes case studies of purchase cards in social care, streamlining invoice processing, Decent Homes programme purchasing consortium, spend analysis highlighting efficiency potential and streamlining agency staff procurement.
Almost half of looked-after children have had their education disrupted by extra changes of school after entering care, according to survey results from the charity the Fostering Network published today. The Network also highlights the gap in achievement between looked after children and their fellow pupils.The study is released this morning to coincide with the beginning of Foster Care Fortnight. The results show that 47 per cent of looked-after children had experienced at least one additional change of school on top of normallyexpected age-related moves. One in five of those who responded to the survey had undergone two or more additional changes of school, with one in 20 having to move schools at least four times.
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The government’s failure to tackle re-offending is putting the public at risk according to a major report published today by the Howard League for Penal Reform. “Out for Good: the resettlement needs of young men in prison” follows the largest investigation into young offenders ever undertaken in England and Wales. The report’s author says in spite of the fact that young men having the highest rate of offending and re-offending, they have been largely ignored by initiatives to cut crime.The report says that each month more than a thousand young men are sent to prison and it costs 35,000 pounds a year to keep each of them inside, But researchers found little constructive work was taking place in prison or on release and that seven out of ten of those released from prison would be convicted again within two years.
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