local government

The peer challenge programme is an integral part of the sector-led improvement programme. While originally conceived as a centrally run system with a number of 'early adopter' councils, peer challenge has developed on a regional basis. Each region now has its own programme manager, a lead-Chief Executive, a lead-Lead Member for Children's Services, and a lead Director of Children's Services (DCS) who drive forward the regional approach.

Report that identifies current practice in five anonymous Scottish local government case studies in their approaches to implementing austerity measures and considers the extent to which they recognise and seek to manage the resulting social risks to vulnerable and disadvantaged groups.

Think tank and membership organisation with a mission to strengthen local democracy to put citizens in control of their own lives, communities and local services.

Report that highlights the importance of having good quality cost information to inform policy decisions and scrutinise performance, and identifies some of the guidance and cost measures that already exist. It also provides some case studies to illustrate how councils and councillors are currently using cost information.

This report from Localis looks at the emerging experience from the first group of shared chief executive arrangements. It is based upon interviews with leaders and chief executives of both successful arrangements, as well as those which did not eventually proceed to share. Its aim is to highlight the lessons and factors behind progression, and by so doing inform the sector, and the debate generally, as to the necessary ingredients for a successful and sustainable shared chief executive initiative.

Report that provides the Accounts Commission’s perspective on local government in Scotland based on its recent audit work. It focuses on the challenges, risks and opportunities in 2012 and provides a short summary of resource management in 2011.

The Local Government Association (LGA) commissioned the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) to carry out a review of early intervention approaches to inform the practice of local authorities(LAs).

This study complements three other studies funded or supported by the LGA to help authorities to evidence impact and assess value for money (VfM).

Policy paper which seeks to contribute to an ongoing debate about how best to use health and social care resources to achieve the best possible outcomes in difficult financial circumstances.

This paper presents the key messages from two SCIE expert seminars: Innovate and Fly: supporting quality and efficiency in tough times (co-hosted with The Innovation Unit) 9 July 2010; and Big ideas, big society: innovation in care and support (co-hosted with the Department of Health) 5 August 2010.

This project was commissioned by the former DCSF to inform the development of guidance on research governance in children’s services. The overarching aim was to contribute to the development of a more coherent and transparent system, that is proportionate to the governance needs and ethical risks in research with users of children’s services.