local government

A national approach to anti-bullying for Scotland's children and young people

Consultation paper setting out and seeking views on a draft national approach to anti-bullying in Scotland. In particular, it proposes an approach to anti-bullying in Scotland for children and young people, broadly outlines contributions to this approach by sectors and stakeholders nationally and identifies the role to be played by the Scottish Anti-Bullying Steering Group.

Towards agile government

Report setting out what the concept of agility in government means and why it is potentially useful for public sector managers. It examines the changing context in which governments are operating and explains the reasons why developing greater agility can help public services respond to new challenges.

Guide to strategic commissioning: taking a closer look at strategic commissioning in social work services

Guide intended to assist councils, working with key strategic partners, to evaluate their performance on the strategic commissioning of care and wider supports for adults, children and young people.

It should also assist councils to evaluate joint commissioning with partner agencies. Its use is not mandatory.

The guide is designed for use in all sectors of social work. It is not prescriptive, and it is for councils to decide how to use the material. However, it contains key questions to ask when evaluating performance on strategic commissioning.

SCIE Report 5: Users at the heart - User participation in the governance and operations of social care regulatory bodies

There is a growing realisation that service uses and carers should be involved in developing the services they receive. Their expertise as users of services and what they want from services should be heard. It is particularly important that service users are involved in the national organisations that regulate services, the workforce, education and training n social care.

Performance inspection of social work services: South Ayrshire council 2009

The inspection of South Ayrshire social work services took place between November 2008 and March 2009. Our inspection team consisted of SWIA inspectors, an associate inspector, a carer inspector and sessional inspectors. The directorate of children and community delivered good outcomes for many people who used its services. Those people who used services that responded to our survey and that we met during the inspection were satisfied with the help they received and the way they were treated.