This publication from the Institute for Public Policy Research describes the importance of social capital alongside human, financial and physical capital in explaining the economic and social progress of societies. The wealth, health and happiness of society are made up of more than goods and services bought and sold and they are linked to something more intangible such as the acquaintances that help people get jobs, and the trust that encourages people to collaborate. The twentieth century saw a decline in some of the traditional solidarities of class, religion and geography that nurtured social capital in the past. Greater freedom came at the price of a more atomised and less trusting society.In 2002 and 2005, The London Borough of Camden commissioned two surveys aimed at measuring social capital, as it is broadly understood. This publication is intended to help explore the significance of the survey findings and develop policies in response to them.
The Department for Health has published a revised pay framework for top managers. For areas with the largest population, Strategic Health Authority Chief Executives will receive 173,740 pounds, Primary Care Trust Chief Executives 142,420 pounds and Ambulance Trust Chief Executives 122,640 pounds.The pay of Executive Directors and other second level very senior managers will receive a percentage of the Chief Executive’s pay, depending on the field in which they work. In finance and human resources they will receive 75%, nursing 65% and corporate affairs 60%.
This programme is now available to view on egovtv.tv, the online television channel for public service modernisation. It reviews how Greenwich Council is joining up with health services using an innovative mobile solution to record data at the point of care and transmitting it directly into back office systems. The initiative is supported by the DCLG funded National Mobile Working Project NOMAD.GovTV (www.eGovTV.tv) is a dedicated web-cast television channel for governors of public bodies, council members and senior executives across all public sector organisations and is available free to an unlimited audience at anytime, at any location via the internet.
The Task Force report gives guidance for those involved in the commissioning, procurement, contracting and regulation of health and social care services across the statutory and third sectors.The report makes it clear that commissioners must be able to identify a diversity of providers based on quality, user need and value for money. Care is needed to ensure that smaller, vulnerable, community based organisations are not exposed to undue risk. Better commissioning of third sector organisations results in better commissioning overall and this should help to widen commissioning from a more diverse range of providers and so better meet the needs of the local community.
This review from the Audit Commission has demonstrated both the weaknesses in the current system and the need for change. Many of the flexibilities that enabled bodies to meet their statutory duties not to overspend, have either been eroded or have disappeared for good reason. Over time there has also been less of a focus on financial management both nationally and in some organisations. In some cases financial problems have been obscured. A growing number of organisations have incurred deficits of increasing size, which has resulted in the NHS overall overspending by 536 million pounds according to the unaudited accounts for 2005/06. It appears to be increasingly hard for organisations to recover financially.The Commission’s recommendations include scrapping resource accounting and budgeting and replacing it with a financial regime that gives greater emphasis to cash and liquidity and has transparent arrangements for borrowing for both investment and working capital. There should be a more effective and swifter mechanism for identifying and dealing with financial distress, with clear trigger points and matched intervention strategies. Specific steps should also be taken to improve the skills of finance staff and the capacity and capability of boards.
Read more on REVIEW OF THE NHS FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND ACCOUNTING REGIME…
sThis report from the Department for Communities and Local Government sets out research findings on the implementation of the Disability Discrimination Act by local councils.Most councils were viewed as doing well on providing physical access to buildings. But over one third were scored as performing poorly in this area. On consultation and partnership, local disability organisations said that they had been involved, but they were often critical of councils’ approach,particularly the failure to provide accessible venues and information. A range of barriers were identified by respondents which in their view councils need to address in order to achieve successful partnerships with disability organisations.
This annual report from the Department for Communities and Local Government on the take-up and implementation of the well being power describes progress by councils in promoting the social, economic and environmental well being of their area.The report describes the understanding of the well being power as ‘patchy at best’ with local authority lawyers having the most comprehensive knowledge. Awareness of the power amongst partners and other stakeholders is generally low.
This programme is now available to view on egovtv.tv, the online television channel for public service modernisation. It discusses the progress made by Children’s Services departments to date and considers the cultural challenges of ensuring multi-disciplinary teams work together effectively.The panel also looks at the role of the voluntary sector and the impact of Integrated Children Systems in delivering effective, cohesive Children’s Services. The panel provides a cross section of views from the key stakeholder groups including Local Authority Children’s Services, lead advisors and the Department of Health.
The Department for Communities and Local Government has published plans for transforming the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister into the re-badged DCLG. The focus of the Department will be to support stronger communities and places in which people feel proud to live; to challenge extremism and intolerance, and to build cohesion. It will also seek to narrow inequalities so that the most disadvantaged share opportunities to build a stake in society for themselves and their families.The new structure will be in place by October. This will include the creation of a new Board with significant changes in role and function. There will be external recruitment to bring new talent into the organization and to strengthen capacity.
Read more on DEPARTMENT FOR COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT – NEW NAME – NEW TASK…
The information held by local councils and other public bodies has huge untapped value for the public and for the private sector. Examples include information relating to planning, demographics, environment, and transport. A new EU Directive on the Reuse of Public Sector Information is in place to encourage public bodies to maximise the value of the information they hold. The Office for Public Sector Information (OPSI) offers a range of support initiatives to help achieve this aim. This LocalGovTV programme explains the Directive and the opportunities that reusing public sector information present. It helps to identify and evaluate key information sources and signposts the support on offer to help in realising the benefits of reusing information held within the organisation.The programme is available http://www.localgov.tv
Read more on MAXIMISING THE VALUE OF PUBLIC SECTOR INFORMATION…