9 December 2009

LOCAL AUTHORITY/GOVERNMENT

LAC (DH) (2009)8 Autism strategy: improving services for people with autistic spectrum conditions (7th December 2009)
This circular highlights arrangements for the design and delivery of a new national strategy for adults with autistic spectrum conditions.
Publication

Valuing health: business case literature review (8th December 2009)
The Healthy Communities programme has produced a literature review which summarises the available evidence and research on the financial and non-financial impact of health improvement activity. This review highlights the need for a greater focus on the financial impact of health improvement activity on local government services, but does indicate that there are a number of areas where local authorities could expect to make efficiency savings. These include older people’s health and independence, workforce health and climate change and sustainability.
Report


Assessments relating to people with learning difficulties: Guidance to Local Authorities (November 2009)
The transition from school to a new learning establishment can be a difficult time for any young person. Those with learning difficulties are at particular risk of not making a successful transition. As a result, young people with learning difficulties are less likely to participate in education or training post-16 as those without, and are twice as likely to be NEET (not in education, training or employment).

The guidance is designed to help local authorities make consistent, effective and robust decisions but does not tell them what to do in each individual case. The guidance is current to March 2010 when new guidance published in Spring 2010, reflecting changes brought about by the ASCL Act, comes into effect.
Guidance


Assessments relating to people with learning difficulties: Guidance to Local Authorities - Analysis of consultation responses (November 2009)
The Education and Skills Act 2008 section 80 states that “in exercising its functions under this section, an authority must have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State”.

The Education and Skills Act 2008 inserted Sections 139A to 139C into the Learning and Skills Act 2000 which placed a statutory responsibility on local authorities in relation to assessments relating to learning difficulties. The purpose of this consultation was to seek views on the draft statutory guidance.

The consultation ran from 23 April to 16 July 2009. A total of 70 responses were received. A summary of responses to each question is provided and a list of the respondents is included in the Annex.
Responses


Safeguarding children and young people: a new scrutiny guide (4th December 2009)
The Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) and Centre for Public Scrutiny (CfPS) have published a new guide to support overview and scrutiny committees in fulfilling their critical role in relation to safeguarding children.

The guide is designed to assist both councillors and officers in shaping and developing local safe services. The document includes:
  • suggestions for approaches to scrutiny
  • key references and advice for further reading
  • a series of questions that committee members may want to consider when testing whether local arrangements are robust.
Guide

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