‘Ensure care workers get flu jab’
Councils are being urged to make sure their health and social care colleagues get their free flu vaccination this year, as COVID-19 cases continue to rise.
Social care winter plan
The Government has published its adult social care winter plan, setting out the ambitions and challenges for social care later this year, including key actions for councils, care providers, NHS England and national bodies.
Councils face imminent £2bn funding gap
Councils in England face a £2 billion funding gap in the current financial year and could be forced to cut services if the Government does not meet the cost of soaring COVID-19 spending, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has warned.
Obesity fuelling adult social care pressures
Weight-related stigmas need tackling to help prevent rising levels of obesity from having a significant impact on demand and cost pressures in adult social care, the LGA has warned in a new report.
Mental wellbeing ‘crucial’ to recovery planning
People’s mental wellbeing will play a crucial role in every aspect of recovery planning, the LGA has said in a new joint report with the Centre for Mental Health.
Sector-led improvement – a success story
Councils are very supportive of the approach of helping each other to improve their performance, according to an independent report.
Planning for the future
The Government has published a series of proposals for overhauling the planning system.
Community engagement and local lockdowns
Snapchat and ‘community ambassadors’ are helping councils communicate public health messages about COVID-19 to local residents.
Time for change
Together with a number of Labour councillors in Birmingham, I wrote to the Prime Minister in June, urging him to rethink plans for a new government commission on racial inequalities in response to issues highlighted by the Black Lives Matter protests and, instead, to act now on the detailed findings of previous reviews.
New challenges for scrutiny
Action on climate change is urgent, and the stakes are high – but the size and scale of the task can make local action feel like a Herculean challenge.