Guidance Notes and Best Practice Guides

WAG: Two new leaflets aimed at supporting young people & parents affected by the global downturn have been launched by Education Minister Jane Hutt.  The ‘Supporting Young People and Parents through the Recession’ campaign will provide useful information on all learning & skill opportunities that are available to young people aged between 16 and 18 across Wales.
 
It will also give information on how parents & guardians who have been affected by the economic climate can access support to help their children through full-time education. The campaign will target young people throughout youth centres and leisure centres during the summer and will promote the message that ‘education and learning works’.
Press release ~ Learning something new will prepare you for whatever the future holds (Leaflet) ~ Your Family Friend: Support and help for parents and guardians in Wales (Leaflet) ~ WAG - Education and skills ~ WAG - Over 16 and Continuing Education ~ WAG - Information for Learners ~ A guide to funding for adult learners
 
NICE: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has published final guidance recommending the use of tenofovir disoproxil for the treatment of people with chronic HBeAg-positive or HBeAg-negative hepatitis B in whom antiviral treatment is indicated.
 
This guidance does not apply to people with chronic hepatitis B who also have hepatitis C, hepatitis D or HIV.
Press release ~ Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate for the treatment of hepatitis B
 
NICE: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has published guidance on the use of rituximab for the first line treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. The guidance recommends that rituximab should be considered as a possible first treatment for people with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia who are able to take fludarabine in combination with cyclophosphamide.
 
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia is the most common form of adult leukaemia and is a cancer of the white blood cells (lymphocytes).  The cancerous lymphocytes multiply in an uncontrolled way and stop normal white blood cells, red blood cells & platelets (blood fragments that have a role in the clotting of blood) from working properly.
Press release ~ Rituximab for first line chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
 
NICE: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has published guidance to help healthcare professionals to identify children who may have been maltreated.  The guidance provides a summary of alerting features that should prompt a healthcare professional to consider, suspect or exclude child maltreatment.  Child maltreatment includes neglect, physical, sexual & emotional abuse and fabricated or induced illness.
 
In the 12 months to 31 March 2008 there were 538,500 referrals of children to social services departments (DCSF 2008).  The number of referrals only represents those children identified as ‘at risk’ of maltreatment and, as such, is likely to underestimate the number of children being maltreated.
Press release ~ Guidance on when to suspect child maltreatment ~ National Service Framework (NSF) for Children, Young People and Maternity Services for England
 
CLG: Housing & Planning Minister John Healey has announced new guidelines for councils & developers to make the most of the nation’s historic assets like Victorian stations or our network of canal sides for imaginative new developments across the country.
 
This integrated planning policy for protecting the historic environment, affecting archaeology, historic areas, buildings & landscapes, is intended to send a clear message that the historic environment should be seen as an asset, not an obstacle to development.

The new policy, which is accompanied by detailed guidance from English Heritage, sets out that councils & developers should use the historic environment to stimulate & inspire new buildings and development of imaginative and high quality design.  
 
The new Planning Policy Statement 15: Planning for the Historic Environment (published for consultation - closes on 30 October 2009) replaces Planning Policy Guidance notes PPG15 and 16.  It is accompanied by a Historic Environment Planning Practice Guide.
Press release ~ Planning Policy Statement 15: Planning for the Historic Environment ~ Historic Environment Planning Practice Guide ~ English Heritage – A new planning policy framework ~ White Paper: ‘Planning for a Sustainable Future’ ~ Planning circular on World Heritage Sites
 
HEFCE: HEFCE has received a letter from Higher Education Minister David Lammy on behalf of the Secretary of State setting out how he would like the Council to respond to the announcement that the Government will fund student support for an extra 10,000 full-time undergraduate places for 2009-10.
 
HEFCE will be writing to all institutions this week setting out the distribution of these new student places.  The guidance will include the detailed list of the subjects relating to the broad categories specified in the annex to the Minister's letter.
Press release ~ Letter from David Lammy, Higher Education Minister ~ Government announcement on student places
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