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Beyond the usual suspects. Towards inclusive user involvement

The purpose of this report is to offer practical help to develop more inclusive involvement for the future so that everyone who wants to be involved has equal opportunity to do so.

This report examines why some groups tend to be left out of schemes designed to promote greater user, or public/patient, involvement in public services. It explores who to ensure that all those who use long-term health and social care services could have a more equal chance of having a say and involvement in their lives and society.

Inquiry into purposeful activity in prisons (5th report, 2013 - Session 4)

The Justice Committee believes that the effective rehabilitation of offenders is vital in order to reduce crime levels, reduce the economic and social costs of crime and help create a safer Scotland. It also enables those individuals who have offended, for a variety of reasons, to choose a better life for themselves, their families and communities.

Improving community planning in Scotland

Report designed to make a constructive contribution to the debate about how community planning in Scotland can, and should, be improved.

It does not seek to provide 'the answer' to resolving all of the challenges that community planning in Scotland faces. Rather, it uses collective experience of auditing community planning and partnership working to contribute towards how community planning in Scotland can be improved.

Going to market: the role of outsourcing and shared services in housing associations

Research that explores the continued evolution of the housing association sector and the challenges of delivering front-line and back-office services cost effectively.

It is designed to help to inform and develop a conversation within the industry, and to draw attention to the factors relevant to organisations considering outsourcing or shared services. It focuses primarily on housing associations.

Housing and personalisation: points on practice

Briefing which reflects on the experience of housing support providers delivering services through personalised funding arrangements and consider what has been working well, as well as highlighting some issues that have been more challenging. Particular attention is paid to support planning and to the financial arrangements associated with direct payments and individual service funding.

National corporate parenting training programme evaluation

Since 2010 the Scottish Government has been funding Who Cares? Scotland to develop and deliver a national corporate parenting training programme. This training course is due to complete in March 2013 and there is the potential for a second phase of the programme.

The Scottish Government commissioned an independent evaluation of the National Corporate Parenting training programme, with a focus on the impact of the programme to date. Qualitative and quantitative research was conducted among participants. The research was carried out between December 2012 and February 2013.

Volunteering in health and care: securing a sustainable future

Report based on qualitative research involving focus groups with volunteers and patients, in-depth interviews with commissioners and providers of health and social care services, and a scenario analysis conducted with a workshop of invited experts. It also draws on a review of published evidence and benefited from the insights of an external advisory group.