WIREDGOV

Stress is one of the most frequently reported work-related health problem in Europe and is believed to be the cause of the majority of all lost working days.  The EC therefore welcomes the ‘Healthy Workplaces Manage Stress’ campaign launched this week to raise awareness about the psychological, physical and social risks linked to stress at work.

Addressing stress and psychosocial risks is one of the challenges covered by the forthcoming EU Strategic Framework on Health and Safety at Work 2014-2020, due to be presented in June 2014.

• Commission welcomes EU-wide campaign to manage stress at work
• DWP:  Given the right help most people want to support themselves
• DH:  Hard enough task even in good times
• Fall in sickness absence proves there is no such thing as a ‘sickie culture’
• NEF:  Why are we so obsessed with ‘hard work’?
• NEF: Could a well-being diary help you in 2014?
• Scientists unlock structure of elusive ‘stress’ protein
• Work absence at record low but still costs economy £14bn a year – CBI/Pfizer survey
• Organisations commit to supporting staff facing domestic violence
• Employee well-being the key to reducing sick leave, TUC report finds
• BHF - One in five workers fail to take lunch break during working week
• New support to tackle long-term sickness absence
• BHF - Work stress linked to heart disease risk
• How Does it Feel to Deliver Bad News at Work?
• More than half of employees face financial struggles and three quarters report lack of advice in the workplace
• Employers urged to take 3 steps to improve mental health
• New stress management tool holds up a mirror to poor managers

Navigating the cloud - Public Sector IT departments are mandated by the Cabinet Office to consolidate, harmonise and rationalise their IT landscapes. To do this, they need to:

• Facilitate the breakdown of departmental barriers
• Combat economic challenges by leveraging economies of scale
• Encourage competitive practices through standardised frameworks
• Support SME’s
• Enable transparency around the provision of services by private sector organisations

Secure hosting combines the flexibility of resources on demand, with agreed service level and compliance auditability to realise greater cost efficiencies.  One of four solutions to achieve IL3 pan-government accreditation on the government’s G-Cloud platform, Atos Accredited Secure Cloud suite supports the “Cloud First” initiative and helps public sector organisations to make better use of cloud computing—and create more flexible, agile operations.

Click here to find out more and discover how your organisation could benefit from tangible savings of 20-30% less running costs compared to in-house delivery.

Plans to reduce the number of plastic bags in Europe came under fire as local & regional authorities criticised the proposals as lacking ambition.  With nearly 100bn plastic bags used each year, members of the EU’s Committee of the Regions approved a report setting out far tougher proposals than those laid out by the EC.  The Committee calls for:

* an outright ban of free plastic bags by 2020

* mandatory EU targets to reduce the number of single-use plastic bags for all member states

* obligatory charges for all carrier bags

• Europe's local governments call for 80% reduction and ban of free plastic bags
• Environment: Commission proposes to reduce the use of plastic bags
• Life Cycle Assessment of Supermarket Carrier Bags
• EAC Report: Plastic bags
• Keep the carrier bag charge simple - MPs tell Government
• Committee Secures Delay to Extension of Carrier Bag Levy
• Environment: Commission proposes to reduce the use of plastic bags
• Plastic bag charge set to benefit the environment
• Retailers show commitment to resource efficiency
• Minister congratulates retailers and shoppers on the successful introduction of the bag charge
• Report provides advice for retailers & shoppers on carbon footprint of carrier bags

Two Welsh Government Ministers have set out their commitment to tackling poverty in rural Wales and creating vibrant communities.  The Minister for Natural Resources & Food, Alun Davies, explained how his plans to invest nearly £1bn in rural Wales will ‘strengthen Welsh farm businesses, support Wales’s wider rural economy and create opportunities for future generations’.

Deputy Minister for Tackling Poverty, Vaughan Gething, set out how the RDP is an essential tool to tackle rural poverty. The Tackling Poverty Action Plan and the RDP will be utilised to help prevent rural poverty in the longer term, help people into work and mitigate the impact of poverty.

• Ministers taking action to build vibrant rural communities
• In parts of Britain nearly half of jobs pay less than the living wage
• Multi-million pound support package for Merthyr and Rhondda’s most deprived communities
• New one-to-one service aims to Lift 5,000 long-term unemployed into work or training
• JRF:  Often beautiful, but usually a long walk (little public transport) to anywhere or any service (4^th item)
• CSJ:  With budget cuts we can only afford targeted funding that delivers value for money (2^nd item)

Local authorities must do more to make sure the needs of looked after children living far away from their family, friends & communities can be met, a report from Ofsted says.   As ‘corporate parents’ for the children they look after, it is worrying that there is often limited management oversight & monitoring of the quality of care that is provided, the report says.

Ofsted is calling on the government to review the impact of strengthened regulations on children’s homes providers and local authorities, to ensure that the risks to, and needs of children & young people are properly met and regularly reviewed by those with responsibility for them.

• Ofsted: More must be done for looked after children living far from home
• Children should not be ‘sent into the wilderness’

Simply ‘signing-on’ for benefits will be a thing of the past under new rules coming into force at the end of April 2014, which will mean jobseekers will have to do more to find work.  Jobseekers will be asked to take the first basic steps to make themselves employable before meeting with a Jobcentre Plus adviser, and then if necessary meet more regularly with their adviser so they get more support up front.

• Jobseekers required to do more to find work

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) started work last week as the UK’s primary competition & consumer agency, with a vital role to play in helping stimulate economic growth & innovation and ensuring consumers get a good deal.

• New competition authority to make markets work well for consumers, business and the economy
• CMA finalises changes for private healthcare
• Guidance on the CMA’s approach to Short-form Opinions

The STFC has announced a call for applications to the Projects Research and Development scheme (PRD). Applications should be submitted by the deadline of 29 July 2014. The PRD scheme is intended to develop the capabilities needed to underpin UK science & technology leadership and gives industry the opportunity to apply directly to the STFC for funding for research & development.

• STFC:  Call for proposals for the Projects Research and Development scheme

Details of a new government scheme to help businesses stay safe online has been announced.  The Cyber Essentials scheme ‘provides clarity to organisations on what good cyber security practice is and sets out the steps they need to follow to manage cyber risks’. The new scheme is also applicable to other organisations including universities, charities and public bodies.

• New award scheme to boost cyber security for UK businesses
• NAO:  The new ‘frontline’ is both civilian & military (7^th item)
• Cyber security skills could lead to securing employment (5^th item)

The NHS contribution towards the costs of a place in a care home with nursing is being increased by 1% for financial year 2014 to 2015.  The funding for people assessed as requiring the help of a registered nurse is being increased by 1% for 2014 to 2015.

• NHS funded nursing care rates increased from 1 April 2014

Chevening Scholarships are the FCO’s flagship global scholarship programme aimed at future leaders, influencers & decision-makers.  Chevening Scholars are carefully selected from thousands of applicants to study at universities across the UK.  Applications for Chevening Scholarships must be submitted online its website. Further details of closing dates & priority subject areas will be available on the country pages of the CS website

• Chevening Scholarship places in developing countries tripled for 2015/16

Bernard Jenkin MP, Chair of the Public Administration Select Committee (PASC) says: “Poor data integrity reflects the poor quality of leadership within the police.  Their compliance with the core values of policing, including accountability, honesty and integrity, will determine whether the proper quality of Police Recorded Crime data can be restored.”

• “Why we can’t rely on police recorded crime statistics” - report published

Applications are now open for Scotland’s first Veterans Commissioner.  The new ambassador will work with service charities like Helping Heroes, local authorities and health boards to identify any areas in public services that could provide greater support to veterans and help shape future policy development & opportunities.

• New role to raise profile of veterans

The EC is launching an online tool to search the list of airlines that are subject to an operating ban or operational restrictions within the EU, better known as the ‘EU Air Safety List’.

• Travelling by air? Check online if your carrier is safe
• Commission publishes first EU Transport Scoreboard

ETHOS
Exploring the debates that shape public services.
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