Guidance Notes and Best Practice Guides
HEFCE: The 4 higher education funding bodies have announced how they will recognise & reward excellent research that has led to wider social & economic benefits. The publication (‘Decisions on assessing research impact’) confirms how much weighting the assessment of research impacts will have in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF).
CQC: The Care Quality Commission has published 2 important guides for people who receive care in a care home or in their own home. Both booklets provide information on important changes to the way care is regulated in England and contain helpful information on what you can expect from your care service and what to do if you need to make a complaint.
Press release ~ What standards to expect from the regulation of your care home ~ What standards to expect from the regulation of agencies that provide care in your own home ~ Get more advice on using and choosing social care ~ Read essential standards of quality and safety
NICE: Children are being placed on restrictive & potentially dangerous diets as parents look to the internet & the high street for alternative tests to diagnose food allergy, NICE warns. NICE has issued a national guideline on food allergy in children which advises against the use of alternative tests, such as Vega testing, hair analysis and kinesiology.
The use of these alternative tests is on the increase because of a lack of allergy services on the NHS and difficulties with diagnosing the condition in primary care. But there is very little evidence to support the use of these tests, some of which can retail for £60 or more. It is estimated that of those children who report an allergy, 20% wrongly self-report diagnoses of various food allergies and do not eat certain foods because they think they are allergic to them.
Press release and related links
FSA: The Food Standards Agency has updated its list of product ranges that do not contain the 6 food colours associated with possible hyperactivity in young children. Another 4 companies have been added to the list: Higher Nature Ltd, Lower Hurst Organic, Sasco Sauces Ltd and Wholebake.
ScotGov: Examples of how schools are planning for the changes Curriculum for Excellence will make to how & what pupils learn in S4 - S6 have been published. Education Secretary Michael Russell said the case studies could help schools learn from each other and help parents understand the range of options & opportunities that their children will benefit from.
Press release and related links
FSA: The Food Standards Agency has published an updated guide on charges for meat hygiene controls. The guide is for food business operators of approved meat premises in Britain and came into effect from 28 March 2011.
QCDA: The 2011 key stage 2 science sampling Test administrators' guide is now available online. The booklet provides guidance on the administration of the key stage 2 science sampling tests.
Press release and related links
CLG: To help councils deliver efficiency savings early through organisational restructuring, the Government is providing £300m of flexibility - through capitalisation - in the next financial year.
In order to provide authorities with clarity early in the financial year, the timetable for capitalisation is being brought forward. Decisions can be expected in July, nearly 6 months earlier than in previous years. Guidance for how councils should apply has now been issued. The deadline for applications is 12 May 2011.
In order to provide authorities with clarity early in the financial year, the timetable for capitalisation is being brought forward. Decisions can be expected in July, nearly 6 months earlier than in previous years. Guidance for how councils should apply has now been issued. The deadline for applications is 12 May 2011.
Press release and related links
Newswire - CWDC: Fostering service providers can now access clearer guidance and new training resources to enhance the support they provide foster carers and improve standards of care for vulnerable children & young people. The improved guidance has been developed by the Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC) and the Fostering Network.
Press release and related links
