Guidance Notes and Best Practice Guides
Directgov: A series of online resources have been published on Directgov to help individuals and communities plan & prepare for emergency situations, such as flooding. The new help forms part of the Community Resilience Programme, which aims to help individuals & communities prepare for (& recover from) emergencies more quickly.
EA: Specially-designed traps baited with cat food & fish food will be used to help scientists investigate the extent of invasive ‘killer’ shrimp populations across England & Wales. Over 100 traps, that have been proved effective in Environment Agency trials, will be deployed at ‘high priority’ sites, which offer the perfect habitat, such as boulders just below water, are used for water sports and recreation, or are important conservation areas, to check if the shrimp is present.
Press release and related links
HL: On 1 May 2004 the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia - the A8 accession countries - joined the EU. On 1 May 2011 the transitional arrangements that were put into place 7 years ago come to an end.
Homeless Link has published a briefing note to clarify what this means for local authorities and their partners in working with A8 nationals who are rough sleeping. It should be read as part of the good practice note, Developing a Strategic Response and Offer for Central and Eastern European Rough Sleepers. Local authorities should ensure that the offer of reconnection is made to rough sleepers from EEA countries to enable a return to their home country.
There is no automatic entitlement to welfare benefits once the transitional arrangements end for A8 nationals. Each case is determined on an individual basis. Homeless Link has also produced a briefing note outlining eligibility for Job Centre Plus Services after 1 May 2011 for A8 Nationals.
Press release and related links
Newswire – TUC: To coincide with International Women's Day last week, the TUC published new guidance on how employers & union reps can work together to support women through the menopause at work. The menopause is an important occupational health issue for the 3.5m women over the age of 50 currently in work.
Press release and related links
Ofsted: Ofsted is launching a website area showcasing good practice across the sectors that Ofsted inspects & regulates. The site will have examples from schools, adult learning & skills, and children & families services across the country. Examples from early years & childcare will be included from September 2011.
FSA: The Food Standards Agency is reminding parents of Government advice to exclusively feed babies breast milk for around 6 months and not to introduce solid food until after this time. This is following an in-depth review by experts who looked at the best time to introduce gluten, a protein found in cereals such as wheat, rye & barley, into infants’ diets.
Press release and related links
LLUK: Lifelong Learning UK have published a factsheet on Gender Reassignment. The Equality Act 2010 has made it unlawful to discriminate against a person on the grounds that they have undergone, are undergoing, or intend to undergo gender reassignment.
Press release and related links
LLUK: Lifelong Learning UK have announced that the new Libraries, Archives, Records and Information Management Services (LARIMS) National Occupational Standards (NOS) have been approved by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills.
The new suite of NOS replaces 2 older suites which were produced for this part of the lifelong learning sector (one suite was aimed at managers & practitioners and a second was applicable to staff in operational roles).
Press release and related links
LSIS: February 2011 saw the transfer of 4 of the key products from Becta’s learning & skills portfolio, to Learning and Skills Improvement Services.
Press release and related links
LLUK: The new ‘Client Entitlement Statement’ for adult career service users has been published on the Lifelong Learning UK website. The statement clearly explains the level of service that all users of adult information, advice & guidance services should receive. It has been designed to promote good practice and client-focused service within the adult career guidance sector.
Press release and related links
QCDA: The 2011 Keeping test materials secure factsheet is now available on the QCDA website.
Press release and related links
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