Guidance Notes and Best Practice Guides

TNAThe National Archives has published a new Records collection policy, which is a refresh of their previous Acquisition & Disposition Strategy and sets out which records they will & will not collect from public records bodies, when they will collect them and where they will be held.
 
They are also reviewing all of their guidance on appraisal & selection, in line with the new policy.  They will invite feedback from the public on Operational Selection Policies (OSPs), which are applicable to individual departments & agencies, or to records relating to a cross-departmental theme.
Press release & links
 
FRC: The Financial Reporting Council has issued FRS100 Application of Financial Reporting Requirementsand FRS 101 Reduced Disclosure Framework. These new standards are issued as part of the FRC’s fundamental reform of existing accounting standards.  The standards will be applicable to all companies & entities in the UK & Republic of Ireland, other than listed groups.  They will be effective from 1 January 2015, but may be adopted early.
 
FRS 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland will complete the suite of new financial reporting standards.   The FRC expects to issue FRS 102 early in 2013.
Press release ~ FRS 100 Application of Financial Reporting Requirements ~ FRS 101 Reduced Disclosure Framework
 
EHRC: The Equality & Human Rights Commission has recently launched a new guide for older people, their families & friends in England & Wales.  It provides an easy to understand guide to home care & human rights

’Your rights to home care’ aims to empower older people so they know they are entitled  to a home care service that respects their human rights, however funded, and what to do if those rights are at risk.  The guide follows the launch of the Commission’s ‘Close to Home’ inquiry report 1 year ago, which showed that many older people are reluctant to complain about inadequate care.
Press release & links ~ Your rights to home care 
 
SocitmStrategic sourcing of ICT services offers less risk & more benefits than simple outsourcing contracts, says Socitm's latest pocket guide, launched at the Socitm conference last week.   ‘Planting the Flag: pocket guide 4 - strategic sourcing’ sets out the case for strategic sourcing and outlines the critical steps needed to make it happen.
 
The guide is published at a time when a catalogue of failed outsourcing deals and instances of major services being brought back in-house, show how much the public sector still has to learn about procuring & managing wholesale outsourcing.
Press release & links
 
NICE: In England in 2010, 26% of adults and 16% of children between the ages of 2 & 15 were obeseBy 2050, it is expected that more than half the adult population in England & a quarter of children will be obese

As well as reducing life expectancy by an average of 9 years, estimates suggesting overweight & obesity now costs the NHS £5.1bn p.a. and could rise by an additional £1.9bn per year if current trends continue.
 
To help tackle the problem, NICE has published a new pathway which sets out how local communities, with support from local organisations & networks can prevent overweight and obesity. NICE has produced a costing report & a costing template to help put this guidance into practice.
Press release & links ~ NICE: Walking and cycling should become the norm for short journeys
 
DWP: For the first time, the 300,000 families undergoing separation every year in Britain will be able to get free online advice tailored to their needs. The Government has launched an easy-to-use web app, called ‘Sorting out Separation’, featuring an innovative & interactive tool, which offers parents personalised advice and shows where they can access further support.
 
It covers everything from how to avoid a separation to coping with the emotional impact of breaking up, accessing legal or housing support and arranging child maintenance.  The web app will be hosted by a range of leading family websites, starting with the likes of Relate, National Family Mediation, Mumsnet, Dad.info, Gransnet and Wikivorce.
Press release & links
 
NOCouncils have to take responsibility for their bailiffs’ actions and ensure complaints are handled properly, according to the Local Government Ombudsman. The LGO has published a report outlining issues arising from complaints about bailiff action on behalf of councils.

The report focuses on cases that have resulted in injustice to the individuals concerned, showing what can go wrong and just how serious the injustice can be.  The report suggests how councils and their agents can avoid others suffering in a similar way.
Press release & links
 
TUC: The TUC has welcomed the new code of conduct on communicating information about charges in defined contribution (DC) schemes to employers, published by the pensions industry. As part of automatic enrolment many employers are required to set up a workplace pension scheme for the first time.  Under the new code, providers & advisers will be required to tell companies how their staff will be affected by charges taken out of individual pension pots.
Press release & links
 
NEOver this week, Natural England will be contacting Environmental Stewardship customers and owners of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) with advice on how they can help combat ash dieback disease (Chalara fraxinea).  Natural England is also providing important advice on how to protect agri-environment payments should the disease be found in young trees planted as part of an Environmental Stewardship scheme.
Press release & links
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