NHS
EXCLUSIVE: Councils should consider pressures index similar to NHS
Local government should look at introducing a pressures index similar to the NHS to measure the risks to the critical services it provides, council chiefs have suggested.
No holiday for Solihull’s council COVID ‘army’
As the Omicron variant started to take hold over the holidays, Solihull MBC mobilised its multi-disciplinary COVID ‘army’ to monitor and react to a fast-moving situation, says Ruth Tennant.
Stop and think again – does the Health and Social Care Bill address the issues?
Chris J Perry looks at whether the Government should place the cash it intends putting into Health and Social Care into pensions instead, while undertaking widespread organisational changes.
The problems with the finance settlement
Ian Miller examines the risks and uncertainties for districts in the provisional settlement, and lists the uncomfortable topics he says ‘cannot be avoided for much longer’.
Scottish ministers defend Budget impact on councils
Scottish Government ministers have defended the impact of country’s Budget on councils amid warnings town halls face soaring costs.
Buying benefits for communities
Associate director of CLES Tom Lloyd Goodwin looks at how the quest for social value is being approached through making the most of opportunities within local 'anchor institutions'.
Preparation is key
Cllr Carl Jackson outlines how Buckinghamshire Council is attempting to tackle the latest COVID-19 challenge to hit the area.
Osborne urges ministers to 'double' devolution efforts
Former chancellor George Osborne has urged ministers to ‘double’ efforts to drive forward devolution and local taxation.
County deals: nothing new under the sun
As we move towards county-wide deals, we need to ensure that they are built on true collaboration with equal representation across the tiers, argues Trevor Holden.
Social care reform plans fall 'woefully short'
The Government has ‘fallen woefully short of the mark’ with its proposals for social care reform, according to shadow minister for social care Liz Kendall.
Javid aims for 'integration by default'
Health and social care secretary Sajid Javid has said he wants to push through integration reforms to ‘stop people from bouncing around the system’.
A golden opportunity for the sector
Nicola Chiverton says local government is currently enjoying a renewed, positive profile. So now is the time to harness this appreciation and ‘sell’ the personal – and potentially world-changing – benefits of starting a career in the sector.
Spinning plates to balance budgets
How do we reduce budgets that have been baked into service provision forever to pay for a step change in direction, asks Tracie Langley.
Social care reforms ring alarm bells for council finances
Michael Burton says the Government's decision to rush through last-minute changes watering down the cap on social care costs for poorer householders rather than letting them be properly debated will cause long term damage politically and financially.
Supporting our homes, people, and communities this winter
By offering to develop streamlined hospital discharge pathways with commissioners, HC-One is improving outcomes for those admitted to its homes, says Jake Rollins.
A bold local route to better mental health
Local Living Well sites put people with complex mental health needs in control of their support and encourages them to set their own recovery goals. The programme is proud of its success, says Tally Daphu.
Care England warning over vaccine mandate
Care England has warned councils to expect a ‘big impact’ from the Government’s decision to demand all care home staff be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Breaking down the walls
Children need their communities, but communities need their youngsters too. And, as Chloë Darlington explains, councils are leaving one of their greatest strengths untapped.
The good, the bad and the ugly
If the Government is to hit its goals on integration, prevention and health inequality it needs to fund the NHS, social care and public health properly. But the Spending Review was a mixed picture, says Rob Whiteman.
It looks likely that councils will continue to live on the thin gruel
Councils are expected to be allowed to increase bills by 2.8% per year, says Ben Page. 'The bad news is that all this means the now familiar tale of cuts to council services looks likely again unless more cash is forthcoming'
