research report

Anticipating the future citizen

Paper that seeks to open up that debate as it relates to English local government. Commissioned as part of NLGN’s Commission on Next Localism, it draws on a mixture of trend analysis and scenario planning to understand the ways in which the citizen/state relationship is already starting to change and to explore what that might mean for local services by 2015.

Short Breaks Fund: Round 1 evaluation report

The Short Breaks Fund was launched in November 2010 and has been made available through funding from the Scottish Government in recognition of the important contribution which carers make in caring for a loved one, and the vital role breaks play in sustaining carers and those they care for.

With a foreword by Minister for Public Health Michael Matheson this report considers what projects from the first round of funding have achieved, and captures their challenges and from this to considers what learning can be taken forward into future funding allocations.

Commissioning social care

The overall aim of the audit was to review how effectively the public sector commissions social care services.

It examines how well councils and their partners plan, and how councils either procure or deliver, effective social care services. It also assesses the extent to which councils and their partners involve users and carers in developing services to meet their needs, and how they work with providers in the voluntary and private sectors to provide high-quality, sustainable services.

Delivering dignity: securing dignity in care for older people in hospitals and care homes. A report for consultation

This draft report, based on expert evidence, recommends fundamental changes to the culture, leadership, management, staff development, clinical practice and service delivery of care homes and NHS hospitals to secure the dignified care that is the right of all older people, with the belief that getting it right for older people will mean getting it right for everyone. The three organisations which have established the Commission want to play a major role in supporting hospitals and care homes to improve dignity in care, led by the staff who are working there day to day.

‘Wherever there is money there is influence’: exploring BIG’s impact on the third sector

Report that charts the development of Big Lottery Fund's approach to the third sector against its own internal organisational development and the development of wider third sector policy and practice.

It argues that several key stages can be recognised in the relationship, and that different factors can be identified as having influenced this. It considers how the relationship is developing in the current context of widespread funding cuts and rapid policy change.

Mental health and education decisions

Paper that helps documenting the importance of the association between poor mental health, educational attainment and subsequent dropping-out behaviour.

It suggests (but does not prove) that there could be a causal mechanism. Thus, programmes aimed at improving the mental health of adolescents may be very important for improving educational attainment and reducing the number of young people who are 'NEET' (not in education, employment or training).