policy

Housing policies for Scotland: challenges and changes

Major changes in tenure over the last 25 years mean that two out of three people in Scotland are home-owners and half of social housing is provided by independent non-profit organisations. Despite these changes, longstanding challenges still remain to be met, and new challenges are emerging. This study looks back over the past decade of Scottish housing policy and forward to the next, as well as, provides an overview of housing outcomes in Scotland and how housing policy contributes to these.

Mental health, resilience and inequalities

This report aims to demonstrate how poor mental health is a significant cause of wider social and health problems, including: low levels of educational achievement and work productivity; higher levels of physical disease and mortality; violence, relationship breakdown and poor community cohesion. In contrast, good mental health leads to better physical health, healthier lifestyles, improved productivity and educational attainment and lower levels of crime and violence.

The incarceration of drug offenders: an overview

This report published by the Beckley Foundation Drug Policy Programme in partnership with the International Centre for Prison Studies at Kings College London, revisits the topic of the incarceration of drug offenders [IDPC, UK].

Most governments make strong statements about the need to maintain, and often increase, police activity and penal sanctions for drug users. This approach, it was claimed, is based on the idea that strong enforcement, and widespread incarceration, will deter potential users and dealers from becoming involved in the illegal drug market.

The exclusion from school of children aged four to seven

The number of children aged seven and under who are excluded from primary schools is very small but some children of this age are receiving fixed-period exclusions, occasionally leading to permanent exclusion. This study investigated the reasons for this and the ways some schools manage to avoid using exclusion. Sixty nine schools participated in a survey. Thirty schools had excluded several young children. Another 27 schools, each near to one of the first 30 schools, had not excluded any children in the same period. Twelve schools had only excluded one child, but on several occasions.

You and yours: disability

Section of the BBC Radio 4 website containing podcasts on matters relating to disability such as the latest news on legislation, public policy and social trends and how they affect people with disabilities. Also features investigations into products and medical advances intended to improve life with a disability.

Effectiveness of the new Local Safeguarding Children Boards in England: interim report

A large scale study was conducted to examine whether Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs) have successful in overcoming some of the weaknesses in Area Child Protection Committees. This interim report draws upon research undertaken over the first 12 months (January 2008 - January 2009) of the research study.