information services

Families information services: evaluation of services provided

This report begins with a summary giving the background; key findings; notes on childcare information; advice and assistance - the brokerage service; information about other services, facilities and publications; information on services for disabled children, children with special educational needs and for disabled parents; access to the information service; service delivery; changes made as a result of the extended information duty requirements; and barriers, ending with recommendations and notes on limitations of the research. The main text then pursues these themes in detail.

Cystic Fibrosis Trust web site

A UK charity dedicated to all aspects of Cystic Fibrosis. The charity works to: fund medical and scientific research; ensure appropriate clinical care for those with Cystic Fibrosis; and provide information, advice, support and, where appropriate, financial assistance to anyone affected by Cystic Fibrosis. The website contains details of their publications, including factsheets and booklets for people with Cystic Fibrosis and their families which are free to download; details of helplines and grants; and information about research funded by the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

Good Practice: Creative ways to promote personalisation

Describes some creative ways of promoting personalisation to service users and practitioners. The four methods highlighted are: A board game called 'Whose shoes? - putting people first'; a website (shop4support) where people who use social care support services can choose them online; Social Care TV - to be launched by SCIE in October - which will include video about personalisation, and attending regional personalisation roadshows.

Local authorities : a change in the cultural climate?

Paper arguing that some local authorities in England need to reconsider their attitudes to culture. It contends that culture is a public good in its own right as it contributes to important social goals such as encouraging a creative younger generation and keeping older people mentally and physically fit. However, research has shown that some local authorities fail to recognise this and treat culture as a marginal area.

'Getting it right for everyone': conference report

Report of the proceedings of the 'Getting it right for everyone' conference held in Perth on 13th November 2007. The conference was concerned with improving the ability of those working in community planning to engage with people with learning disabilities and raising awareness of the issues facing people with learning disabilities in respect of planning the future of local communities.