local authorities

This report contains a framework of recommendations set out by the Social Services Inspectorate in response to the outcomes of the Public Inquiry into the death of Victoria Climbie. This framework is to be used by councils with social services responsibilities to audit their position in relation to the practice recommendations of the Victoria Climbié Inquiry report. It provides performance criteria against each of the recommendations linked to statutory requirements and guidance.

Document summarising the statutory duties of local authorities in Scotland with regard to preventing homelessness. It outlines the actions which local authorities should take to stop homelessness occurring and recurring.

The aim of this Report was to develop a cohesive framework for dealing with sex offending. Some of the 73 recommendations build on the policies and processes already in place in order to strengthen existing measures aimed at protecting communities from sex offenders. Other recommendations support the introduction of new measures and new arrangements which will help to deliver a safer environment.

Report of the Scottish Affairs Select Committee looking at Credit Unions in Scotland. In particular, it looks at the future for Credit Unions in Scotland and the questions of financial exclusion and financial literacy and affordable lending, credit and debt.

Report looking back over the development of Barnardo's services for sexually exploited children since 1994, which highlights the continuing hidden nature of the problem and describes Barnardo's present and future efforts to protect and support exploited children.

Report based on evidence gathered from local authority youth services inspections which occurred as part of Ofsted's joint area reviews of children's and young people's services from 2005 to 2008. It discusses the quality and impact of youth work and follows developments in the introduction of integrated youth support.

Report of an evaluation of the Young Children’s Voices Network (YCVN), a project, begun in 2006, which focuses on participation in the early years. The purpose of the evaluation was to analyse the nature of YCVNs and discover what has helped and hampered local authorities in developing both their network and a culture of listening.

UK Government consultation document on proposed school-level indicators to improve the information available to schools to help them assess the well-being issues their pupils face and evaluate the school's performance in promoting pupil well-being.

Report by the Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum outlining a strategy to make the most effective use of existing resources to help achieve the Scottish Government's target of eliminating fuel poverty "as far as is reasonably practicable by 2016".

Last year Communities and Local Government worked with the Citizenship Foundation to publish the Citizens' Day Framework. This guidance is the next step and suggests ways in which councils, voluntary groups and other organisations can encourage a sense of belonging. It is aimed at local cohesion practitioners and will be particularly relevant where they are working in areas where building a sense of belonging is a key priority, or where it supports the delivering of improved community cohesion in other areas.