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Local government in 2019: a pivotal year

• Posted on February 13, 2019 by Abdool Kara

  2019 will be a pivotal year for local government in England. Numerous difficult and open-ended questions need rapid resolution, at a time when government focus and capacity is directed elsewhere. Drawing on a number of our recent reports, here I explore some of the challenges facing the sector, from budget cuts and growing social care demands, to local service funding reforms and new risks from local government commercialisation. more… Local government in 2019: a pivotal year

  Tagged: Brexit, Financial sustainability, Health, Local government, Public finances, Social care, Young people

  6 Comments

Adult social care at a glance

• Posted on August 6, 2018 by James Beveridge

  Over the past month we have seen widespread celebrations for the 70th birthday of the NHS, with the Prime Minister announcing new funding for a service that is both highly respected and at the forefront of voters’ concerns according to Ipsos MORI research. But many people don’t realise that 2018 also marks the 70^th anniversary of the birth of the welfare state and social care as we know it, or – as our recent publications show – as we think we know it… more… Adult social care at a glance

  Tagged: Financial sustainability, Health, Local government, Public finances, Public sector reform, Social care

  7 Comments

Getting old ain’t easy: NHS 70

• Posted on July 5, 2018 by Abdool Kara

  It is the 70th anniversary of the NHS and, like most 70-year-olds who haven’t taken good care of themselves, the NHS is starting to show its age and is creaking at the seams. more… Getting old ain’t easy: NHS 70

  Tagged: Health, Local government, Social care

  1 Comment

The social care challenge

• Posted on March 22, 2018 by Michael Burke

  Would you be willing to pay more tax to fund care? What about paying more towards your own or your parents’ care in old-age or if you find yourself in need of disabled care? What quality of care would you expect? Are you an unpaid carer yourself? Compromises may be needed in the funding and delivery of social care in light of the combined pressures of cuts in the budgets of local governments, which spend £14.8 billion funding the care, and the high vacancy and turnover rates in the adult social care sector. Our recent reports highlight the scale of the challenges facing the government as it plans for the future. more… The social care challenge

  Tagged: Children, Disability, Elderly, Employee engagement, Financial sustainability, Health, Local government, Public finances, Skills, Social care

  10 Comments

Care leavers: engaging for solutions

• Posted on December 16, 2016 by Mathew Power

  Care leavers happy with their accommodation, aware of their entitlements, feeling they have access to education or employment and that they’re listened to and helped to achieve their aims and aspirations. This is not just a vision of success, it’s the finding of Ofsted’s review of Trafford’s services. However, Trafford is one of only three local authorities out of 103 inspected and judged to be ‘outstanding’. Why? Often the answer can be found by consulting care leavers themselves. more… Care leavers: engaging for solutions

  Tagged: Accountability, Children, Cross-government, Customer service, Local government, Performance management, Social care, Young people

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Local service reform: is it all about the money?

• Posted on October 20, 2016 by Ashley McDougall

  Local authorities are under pressure. Demographics, cuts in central government funding, statutory services and public expectations combine to pose huge challenges to the financial sustainability of services. Has the limit to efficiencies been hit? We spoke to local authorities to find out if there’s still scope for improved value for money and to discover what works and what will prevent local public service reform. more… Local service reform: is it all about the money?

  Tagged: Customer service, Financial sustainability, Good practice principles, Information management, Local government, Performance management, Public sector reform, Social care

  3 Comments