The integration of health and social care services at patient level is taking too long to become a reality, says Monitor, the health watchdog.

Baroness Hanham, Chariman of Monitor, called for services to be integrated more urgently so people can benefit from care that is better co-ordinated and joined-up.

Read more on INTEGRATION OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE TOO SLOW SAYS WATCHDOG…

The latest extension to the Government Marketplace, where public services can buy direct from suppliers without a long procurement process, now offers high performance data analytics.

Web science company, FlyingBinary, has joined the Digital Marketplace, and offers cloud solutions that include EXASOL’s in-memory analytic database, EXASolution, together with data visualisation tools. Consequently, local authorities and central government bodies alike have the opportunity to easily procure and flexibly manage the most innovative, high-performing analytics services in order to see, understand and drive decision-making using their data.

Central and local government have the option to utilise the vast amounts of information and data they have to run services and garner insights. This creates efficiencies across operations, helps detect fraud and error, and helps move towards the goal of citizen centric services.

Read more on DIGITAL MARKETPLACE OFFERS MORE TO PUBLIC SERVICES…

The programme to promote innovative ways of joining up health and social care is being extended to eleven new areas.

The aim is to make health and social care services work together to provide better support at home and earlier treatment in the community to prevent people needing emergency care in hospital or care homes.

Read more on MORE INTEGRATION OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE…

Councils can play a greater role in getting the country building, according to an independent review.

In their report to the government, Natalie Elphicke and Councillor Keith House argue for councils to be put at the heart of providing more homes across all tenures in their local area.

Read more on COUNCILS CAN DO MORE FOR AFFODABLE HOUSING…

Monitor, the health watchdog, has warned care providers that plans to renew community services contracts automatically could be a missed opportunity to improve the NHS for patients and secure better value

Read more on WATCHDOG TELLS CARE PROVIDERS TO SHOP AROUND FOR VALUE…

A report commissioned by the Welsh Government reveals that a reorganization of local government could deter new councillors from standing for election and impact heavily on democratic processes and representation.

The report from the Cardiff Business School assesses what impact the introduction of the cabinet system in local government has had on decision-making, democracy, scrutiny and accountability in Wales with a view to its future development.

Read more on CHANGES IN WELSH LOCAL GOVERNMENT COULD IMPACT ON DEMOCRACY…

The Adam Smith Institute has called for the Green belt to be abolished to solve the UK housing crisis.

In a new report, The Green Noose, author Tom Papwort, sets out an analysis of Green Belts and proposals for reform.

Read more on CALL FOR GREEN BELT TO BE ABOLISHED…

Proposals for streamlining the process for setting up local councils should be more radical to give greater power to communities claims the National Association of Local Councils. In order to get their voices heard and run local services there needs to be greater neighbourhood democracy.

Read more on PROPOSALS FOR SETTING UP LOCAL COUNCILS DO NOT GO FAR ENOUGH…

The government’s flagship programme which aims to turn around the lives of 120,000 troubled families by March 2015 moved slowly when it was launched in 2012 because it proved hard to identify the families in need. This hurdle has been overcome and progress has speeded up.

Read more on TROUBLED FAMILIES PROGRAMME SPEEDS UP AFTER SLOW START…

More people are finding jobs through the government’s flagship back-to-work scheme, according to figures from the Department for Work and Pensions.

DWP figures show that the Work Programme is exceeding performance expectations for JSA jobseekers. This reflects a recent NAO report which found that the Work Programme is supporting people into employment at the same rate as previous programmes. The report also predicted that performance of the programme is expected to continue to rise.

Read more on WORK PROGRAMME GETTING MORE PEOPLE INTO LONGTERM JOBS…