Risky drinking in North West school children and its consequences: A study of fifteen and sixteen years (28th March 2008)
A study of 9,833 15-16 year old school children in the North West, examining relationships between risky drinking behaviours (binge drinking, frequent drinking, drinking in public places) and demographics, income, leisure activities and access to alcohol. Negative consequences of risky drinking such as violence and regretted sex are also investigated.
Click here for the Study
Safeguarding children in whom illness is fabricated or induced: A review of the implementation of the 2002 guidance within the NHS (19th March 2008)
A review of how Safeguarding Children in Whom Illness is Fabricated or Induced (2002) has been implemented within NHS settings. The report makes a number of proposals for improvement.
Click here for the Report
Click here for the Original Guidance
Keeping Them in the Family: Outcomes for abused and neglected children placed with family or friends carers through care proceedings (27th March 2008)
This project followed up a cohort of 113 children, removed from their parents’ care by the courts because of child protection concerns, who were then placed with members of their extended families or social networks.
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Care Matters: Time to deliver for children in care (26th March 2008)
This implementation plan for children in care covers the national framework for change for children in care, guides Children’s Trust partners in implementing change locally, and explains how the Government will monitor and evaluate progress via feedback from children and young people.
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Behind the Screen: The hidden life of youth online (27th March 2008)
The generational divide between children and young people and their parents is perhaps most widely seen in their views and approaches to the internet and media literacy. With this in mind, how do we ensure that children and young people are safeguarded from harm in way that is not over the top in principle and draconian in style, while at the same time maintaining the internet as a place for freedom, expression, creativity and socialisation? In its recommendations, this report calls for collaboration and support from peers, youth services, teachers and parents, rather than top-down restrictions and rules dictated from central government. The role of media literacy must be fully explored through informal and formal educational structures involving both young people and the older generations to enable use of the internet to be a safe and enjoyable process for all.
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Safer Children in a Digital World (27th March 2008)
Clinical psychologist, Dr Tanya Byron, has launched her independent report, Safer Children in a Digital World, which sets out an ambitious action plan for Government, industry and families to work together to support children's safety online and to reduce access to adult video games. The Government has welcomed the report, accepted all of its recommendations and pledged to act immediately on taking forward her proposals.
Click here for the Full Report
Click here for the Executive Summary
Click here for A Summary for Children and Young People
Click here for the Related Documents
Immigration, faith and cohesion: Evidence from local areas with significant Muslim populations (19th March 2008)
This report examines the significance of different dimensions of cohesion – including social interaction, participation and belonging – on the lives of Muslims and people of other faiths or of no faith, both recent arrivals and established residents, living in the London borough of Newham, Birmingham and Bradford. It provides new insight into people’s experience of cohesion and community at a time when policy is focusing on community cohesion at the local level, particularly in relation to the arrival of significant numbers of new migrants in some areas.
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Click here for the Findings
Routes and barriers to citizen governance (28th March 2008)
The government drive for greater community-based governance requires public bodies to ensure that all communities have the opportunity to participate in local decision-making structures and influence local service delivery. How effectively citizens from different communities and neighbourhoods are able to participate, however, can vary considerably due to structural, environmental, cultural and personal factors.
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Click here for the Findings
Work programme and scales of fees 2008/09 (response to consultation) (20th March 2008)
This report summarises our responses to the key issues raised during the consultation on our Proposed Work Programme and Scales of Fees 2008/09 and Indicative Fee Proposals for 2009/10 and 2010/11. It also sets out how we will deliver significant reductions to audit fees and clarifies that inspection fees will be reduced for some councils by up to half.
Click here for the Report
Click here for Further information
National Indicators for Local Authorities and Local Authority Partnerships: Handbook of Definitions – Summary of Responses (1st April 2008)
Following the announcement of the single set of 198 national indicators on 11 October 2007as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review 2007, the Government consulted on the detailed definitions of the national indicators between 8 November and 21 December. The consultation sought views on the methodology, frequency of reporting and data source of each individual indicator. The responses received helped the Government to finalise the definitions for the national indicators. This summary gives information on the methods used to consult on the definitions of the national indicators and analysis of the responses received.
Click here for the Indicators
Draft Guidance on Health in Strategic Environmental Assessment: Response to Consultation (26th March 2008)
The draft guidance on health in strategic environmental assessment (SEA), published for consultation in March 2007, was the first SEA guidance to focus solely on the related SEA topics of population and human health. This report summarises the responses made to the consultation.
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Consultation on revised proposals relating to the arrangements under Part IX of the Drug Tariff for the provision of stoma and incontinence appliances – and related services – to Primary Care: Summary of the responses to the consultation published 6 September 2007 (27th March 2008)
The review of Part IX of the Drug tariff has been ongoing since October 2005. Revised proposals for the arrangements under Part IX of the Drug Tariff for the provision of stoma and incontinence appliances - and related services - to Primary Care were consulted on between September and December 2007. This report summarises the responses to the September consultation - and sets out how the Department intends to take the review of Part IX of the Drug Tariff forward.
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Data Protection – Protecting People (A Data Protection Strategy for the Information Commissioner’s Office (1st April 2008)
The Information Commissioner's Office have issued a new strategy document setting out their broad aims, which might be summarised as focusing on risk rather than enforcement, where they have such a choice, to "moderate the most serious risks" and protect the most vulnerable. Data protection in the public sector will be an important area of work, as will the increasing use of surveillance.
Click here for the Strategy
NICE Guidance on Antibiotic prophylaxis against infective endocarditis (20th March 2008)
Chief Dental Officer Letter in regarding The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) response to conflicting advice in relation to antibiotic prophylaxis against infective endocarditis.
Click here for the Letter
Framework for the identification and validation of claims arising from phase 2 ISTC schemes cancelled or re-scoped as a result of the revalidation (27th March 2008)
This document seeks to set out a framework that may be used by the Department of Health where considering claims arising from the cancellation or re-scoping of various health Phase 2 ISTC schemes, arising as a result of the revalidation review undertaken by the Department during 2007/8.
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Influence of School and Teaching Quality on Children’s Progress in Primary School (27th March 2008)
This research shows that going to a primary school with better classroom and school practices has a positive effect on children's progress between years one and five, over and above the well-recognised influences of home background and prior attainment.
Click here for the Research
Are you getting it right? A toolkit for consulting young people on sex and relationships education (26th March 2008)
A new initiative developed by the Sex Education Forum, based at NCB, will give school pupils the opportunity to influence what they are taught in sex and relationships education (SRE) lessons, so that it helps them make safe and healthy choices. The SRE audit ‘toolkit’ will help schools canvas young people’s opinions on what they think they should learn about, at what age, and who they think their SRE should be delivered by – with choices ranging from their teacher or peer educators to outside experts.
Click here for the Toolkit
Health, Place and Nature: How outdoor environments influence health and well-being – A knowledge base (31st March 2008)
This research looks at the contribution of aspects of the outdoor environment, both natural and built, to health.
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DH 2008/03 Grundy heated food trolley (31st March 2008)
Identify heated food trolleys from Grundy suspected of containing asbestos and take action to remove and replace damaged asbestos or dispose of the food trolley.
Click here for the Alert
Personal Beliefs and Medical Practice (March 2008)
The General Medical Council (GMC) has developed new guidance in response to an increasing number of inquiries about issues relating to personal religious and moral beliefs – both doctor’s and patients’.
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Principles of GP Appraisal (19th March 2008)
This paper, from the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), sets out a policy and principles to underpin the appraisal process for General Practitioners working in the national health systems of the four countries of the UK.
Click here for the Paper
Government Response to The Road Ahead: The Final Report of the Independent Task Group on Gypsy and Traveller Site Provision and Enforcement (1st April 2008)
In December 2007, the Independent Task Group on Site Provision and Enforcement published their final report to Ministers: The Road Ahead. This document sets out the response to the recommendations to central government within that report.
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National Security Strategy (19th March 2008)
The Prime Minister has announced the publication of the first National Security Strategy for the United Kingdom. The strategy highlights the nature of the new security challenges, how they have changed, and how the Government are responding. The strategy sets out how the Government have learned the lessons of recent years, including experiences of terrorism and civil emergencies, not just in the UK but also overseas.
Click here for the Strategy
Transition: moving on well (19th March 2008)
A good practice guide on effective transition from children's to adult services for young people with complex health needs has been published by the Department of Health and the Department for Schools, Children and Families. The guide will help ensure that the young person and their family is better prepared for the move to adult care and that the adult care team has been involved in planning for the transfer.
Click here for the Guide
Click here for the Equality Impact Assessment
Click here for Annex B – Health Plan
Pilot of enhanced enteric fever surveillance in England, Wales and Northern Ireland: 1 May 2006 – 30 April 2007 (19th March 2008)
This report details the findings from the Health Protection Agency’s one year pilot study of enhanced surveillance of typhoid and paratyphoid fever (enteric fever) in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland (EWNI) between 1 May 2006 and 30 April 2007, together with recommendations for public health action. The largest proportion of cases (40%) occurred in the London region, therefore a separate London supplement is also available.
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Guidance on the application of dose coefficients for the embryo, fetus and breastfed infant in dose assessment for members of the public (March 2008)
This document provides guidance on the application of these dose coefficients in relation to different exposure situations. Information is given on the dose coefficients and the related guidance previously given by the ICRP and the National Radiological Protection Board. The importance of considering doses resulting from in utero exposures to radionuclides and their transfer in breast milk is assessed, based on a series of calculations carried out for routine discharges of radionuclides to the environment. The applicability of the results for emergency exposure situations and solid waste disposal is also addressed.
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Statutory Homelessness in England: The Experience of Families and 16-17 Yea Olds (28th March 2008)
The main aim of this study was to provide robust statistical evidence on families and 16-17 year olds accepted as owed the main homelessness duty by English local authorities, in order to inform effective policy interventions. The study focused on the characteristics and support needs of families and 16-17 year olds accepted as homeless; the causes of statutory homelessness; the experience of temporary accommodation; and the impacts of homelessness and stays in temporary accommodation.
Click here for the Full Report
Click here for the Summary
