Local Authority Areas Research Articles

Keeping the focus on children: the challenges of safeguarding children affected by domestic abuse.

Safeguarding children affected by domestic abuse is a key responsibility for all professionals working with children and families, but can be difficult to achieve in practice. Despite a policy emphasis on early intervention and child-centred work, limited attention has been paid to how professionals in universal and additional support services address this important area of work. This paper reports findings from qualitative research undertaken in one local authority area in the north of England during 2011 which examines the challenges facing professionals in safeguarding children affected by domestic abuse. Six mixed professional focus groups were held, attended by a total of 23 participants. Discussion focused upon participants' awareness of domestic abuse, how they assessed and met children and young peoples' needs, and their views about service provision and safeguarding processes. Data were transcribed and thematic analysis undertaken. The themes presented in this paper--embodied recognition, someone else's job, service gaps, skills deficits, and focusing upon children and young people--illustrate the scope and limitations of professionals' work with children and young people affected by domestic abuse. Areas for practice improvement are discussed.

Diversion in youth justice: a pilot study of effects on self-reported mental health problems

As part of a larger study to evaluate the effects of a Liaison and Diversion scheme in community youth justice services, staff of newly established Youth Justice Liaison and Diversion (YJLD) teams undertook observational ratings and administered self-report mental health and risk measures to young people referred to this pathway. The overall objectives of the YJLD project were to divert young people from the criminal justice system and to coordinate other services in order to reduce their likelihood of reoffending and the extent of their mental health problems. Data were collected from five local authority areas in different parts of England. Young people thereby referred had an average of 5.4 h of contact with youth justice staff. For a sample of young people on whom data were available at the beginning and end of that process, there was evidence of a significant reduction in problems and a small but significant correlation between the amount of individual contact time with YJLD staff and the extent of change observed. Absence of a comparison sample limits the drawing of firm conclusions; however, recommendations are made for future controlled experimental studies.

Retinal detachment in England: database studies of trends over time and geographical variation

AimsRetinal detachment (RD) is one of the most common of ophthalmic emergencies in the UK. Our aim was to study trends over time and regional variation in rates of RD...

Emerging local schooling landscapes: the role of the local authority

The school system in England is undergoing rapid change, with the government creating more than 4000 ‘independent publicly funded schools’, known as academies, since 2010. The potential for fragmentation is considerable with diversity of governance emerging as a key feature of the new schooling landscape. Consequently, a major and widely recognised issue to which these reforms give rise concerns the future of the ‘middle tier’ –that layer between individual schools or groups of schools and central government. There are competing visions of how a future middle tier might evolve: one focuses entirely on a middle tier of individual schools and chains as a ‘self-improving system’; others conceive a continuing but revised role for the local authority (LA). The aim of this paper is to begin to explore the latter position, and in particular the potential role of the LA as a ‘broker’ of new patterns of school organisation. Drawing on interview data from three very different LA areas, the findings show that LAs differ in how they conceive their role and, consequently, on the strategies that they pursue.

An Analysis of Local Plan for Development Control at Local Planning Level in the State of Selangor

This paper covers three main aspects such as local plan, development control and local authority in Selangor. The aim of this research is to evaluate local plan as an instrument for controlling the development of land and building in local authority area and make recommendations on improvement in local planning system. The objectives for this study are to review the theory and concept local plan as an instrument for controlling development, analyses the form, content and process of the local plan preparation to assessing development in the local area. For research design, this study will use the mixed-method by the combination of qualitative and quantitative.

Achieving success in reducing teenage pregnancy in Hull.

Teenage pregnancy is a complex issue with a range of contributing risk factors including poverty, low educational attainment, truancy, not being in education, employment or training (NEET), low self-esteem, early sexual activity and poor contraception use. There are disproportionately poor outcomes for those who do become teenage parents. At age 30, teenage mothers are 22% more likely to be living in poverty, 20% more likely to have no qualifications than mothers giving birth aged 24 or over and are much less likely to be employed or living with a partner. Research and evidence-based practice has shown this issue cannot be addressed through a single intervention or service as the majority of teenage pregnancies are unplanned. Instead a consistent and co-ordinated partnership approach at a strategic and operational level across schools, health, youth services, social care and voluntary sector organisations is required to deliver improved outcomes. An early intervention and prevention approach which aims to reduce risks and build resilience, along with effective use of local data and performance management is vital to maximizse impact and ensure those areas/groups of young people most at risk are reached and supported.This paper aims to summarize the successful implementation of the National Teenage Pregnancy Strategy1 at a local level. It aims to inform future commissioning and policy and build on the evidence base to sustain the current downward trend, maximize impact and continue to deliver positive outcomes in a cost effective way for young people on this and other health issues.NATIONAL CONTEXTThe Labour Government's Teenage Pregnancy Strategy for England1 had a national target to reduce under-18 conceptions nationally by 50% by 2010. All local authority areas agreed on a local reduction target ranging between 40% and 60%. If all areas had met their targets then the national 50% target would have been achieved. However impact varied with some areas seeing significant reductions while others saw smaller reductions or even, in some cases, increases. Differing outcomes related to a range of local factors highlighted in this article including level of investment and prioritization of the issue at a senior and political level.The national strategy1 was informed by an international evidence review which identified thirty key action points categorized under four main themes:* joined up action, nationally, regionally and locally;* improved sex and relationship education;* access to youth friendly contraception and sexual health services; and* improved support for young parents to improve the disproportionately poor outcomes for them and their children.There was also a national campaign to reach young people and parents.Over the course of the strategy, further national guidance and updated strategies were published nationally and implemented locally. 2-7. These were informed by emerging evidence which underpinned the importance of key aspects of the strategy including high quality sex and relationships education (SRE)8 and the importance of improving access to and increasing the uptake of contraception.9 Furthermore the guidance was informed by deep dive reviews which compared similar areas (statistical neighbours) with contrasting progress which showed reductions associated with all elements of the strategy being in place.PROGRESS MADE IN HULLReducing under-18 conception rates was identified as a key issue for Hull following the launch of the National Teenage Pregnancy Strategy in 1998. As the strategy developed locally it was further informed by local consultation and research to address gaps in provision and enable service redesign to meet need, including understanding local barriers to accessing services,10 the sexual health needs of boys and young men,11 barriers to preventing unplanned conception,12 an evaluation of support for teenage parents13 and the local biannual Young People's Health and Lifestyle survey. …

Identifying dimensions of urban social change in Dublin- 1986 to 1996

Since the mid 1980s, Ireland has been subjected to significant social, economic and demographic change. The transformation was especially apparent in Dublin, the country's largest and most prominent urban centre. The paper employs small area statistics from the 1986 and 1996 censuses and adopts a factorial ecological approach to investigate the nature and geography of urban social change in the Dublin urban region. Four principal axes or dimensions of change were identified: 'Family status', 'Socio-economic status', 'Demographic change', and 'Seniors/Retirement'. While the study found that overall, the Dublin urban region was characterised by stability between 1986 and 1996, a number of significant spatial variations of change were evident in the four Local Authority Areas under study, particularly in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown and South Dublin. The paper also proposes several avenues for further research including an update of urban social change using data from the 2002 Census of Population when it becomes available.

P9. Giant cell arteritis--over diagnosed?

Background: GCA is the most common vasculitis in the western world. It typically affects individuals >55 years of age and has significant morbidity from its pathology and its treatment. There are no recent (after 2001) estimates of the occurrence in the UK. The aim of this study was to estimate the occurrence of GCA in the UK. Methods: All temporal artery biopsies performed at the Norfolk and Norwich University hospital between 2003 and 2012 were reviewed. Cases of GCA were included only after careful case notes review with all cases fulfilling 1990 ACR criteria. The general practice (GP) location was noted for each of the included cases. The GP location was grouped into standard local authority boundaries. In cases where the individual practice population lay on a local authority boundary, the practice was classified into the local authority area which held the majority of the registered patients. The population denominator was calculated from national census data. Results: There were 601 temporal biopsies performed at the NNUH between the years 2003 and 2012. Subsequently 267 individuals were diagnosed with GCA (44%); 206 were biopsy positive cases (77.2%). The mean age at diagnosis was 75.4 years; 187 were women (70%). Patients with biopsy positive GCA were significantly older (mean difference 2.4 years CI 0.1, 4.7, P 50 years. Conclusion: The results reveal and estimate of 13.9 per 100 000 people aged >50 years. This is much lower than the estimate from the GPRD study carried out in 2001. Within the GPRD study only three out of a selection of 45 cases that were reviewed had a positive temporal artery biopsy (6.7%) and 10 cases (22.2%) were diagnosed and managed in primary care alone. Assuming an incidence for our study is similar to that of the GPRD then in Norfolk perhaps as many as 50% of cases of GCA are managed in the community without undergoing biopsy before embarking on toxic corticosteroid treatment.

Cost-effectiveness of telecare for people with social care needs: the Whole Systems Demonstrator cluster randomised trial.

Purpose of the study: to examine the costs and cost-effectiveness of ‘second-generation’ telecare, in addition to standard support and care that could include ‘first-generation’ forms of telecare, compared with standard support and care that could include ‘first-generation’ forms of telecare.Design and methods: a pragmatic cluster-randomised controlled trial with nested economic evaluation. A total of 2,600 people with social care needs participated in a trial of community-based telecare in three English local authority areas. In the Whole Systems Demonstrator Telecare Questionnaire Study, 550 participants were randomised to intervention and 639 to control. Participants who were offered the telecare intervention received a package of equipment and monitoring services for 12 months, additional to their standard health and social care services. The control group received usual health and social care.Primary outcome measure: incremental cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained. The analyses took a health and social care perspective.Results: cost per additional QALY was £297,000. Cost-effectiveness acceptability curves indicated that the probability of cost-effectiveness at a willingness-to-pay of £30,000 per QALY gained was only 16%. Sensitivity analyses combining variations in equipment price and support cost parameters yielded a cost-effectiveness ratio of £161,000 per QALY.Implications: while QALY gain in the intervention group was similar to that for controls, social and health services costs were higher. Second-generation telecare did not appear to be a cost-effective addition to usual care, assuming a commonly accepted willingness to pay for QALYs.Trial registration number: ISRCTN 43002091.

Moving Towards Zero Waste in a UK Local Authority Area: Challenges to the Introduction of Separate Food Waste Collections

Moving Towards Zero Waste in a UK Local Authority Area: Challenges to the Introduction of Separate Food Waste Collections

Moving Towards Zero Waste in a UK Local Authority Area: Challenges to the Introduction of Separate Food Waste Collections

Moving Towards Zero Waste in a UK Local Authority Area: Challenges to the Introduction of Separate Food Waste Collections

Moving Towards Zero Waste in a UK Local Authority Area: Challenges to the Introduction of Separate Food Waste Collections

Moving Towards Zero Waste in a UK Local Authority Area: Challenges to the Introduction of Separate Food Waste Collections

Moving Towards Zero Waste in a UK Local Authority Area: Challenges to the Introduction of Separate Food Waste Collections

Moving Towards Zero Waste in a UK Local Authority Area: Challenges to the Introduction of Separate Food Waste Collections

Moving Towards Zero Waste in a UK Local Authority Area: Challenges to the Introduction of Separate Food Waste Collections

Moving Towards Zero Waste in a UK Local Authority Area: Challenges to the Introduction of Separate Food Waste Collections

Borderlands: Rescaling economic development in Northern England in the context of greater Scottish autonomy

This article argues that the space created by the clearing away of the English regional ‘institutional architecture’ after 2010 allows local authorities, in particular, to consider new flexible place-based approaches to economic development not possible under the old system. In this context, economic development activities, initiatives and alliances can now be developed to cover geographical areas that ‘make sense’, rather than being imposed or being chosen through habit: it is an opportunity to rescale or recalibrate traditional spatial approaches to place-based economic development. Here we discuss some implications of that, particularly how local authorities in the North East of England and Cumbria are responding – or could respond – to the potential granting of greater economic and fiscal powers to Scotland resulting from pressures for further devolution and the 2014 referendum on independence. We look at the emerging opportunities for collaborative approaches to cross-border economic development; this is an issue that is virtually absent from any contemporary studies of local economic development in the UK. Drawing upon recent research, the article outlines the case for a ‘Borderlands’ approach – which brings together the five local authority areas adjacent to the border – to develop joint approaches to economic development in areas such as transport, tourism, business development and superfast broadband. In addition to such cross-border alliances, we also point to opportunities to reinvigorate co-operation between the North East and Cumbria. The prospect of further autonomy for Scotland is stimulating a new interest in the North East, Cumbria and Scotland in working more collaboratively together, but the outcome of that (whatever the referendum result) may depend upon how the Anglo-Scottish border is perceived. We argue that it needs to be seen less as a barrier and more as an enabling mechanism which brings new opportunities for a relationship based on ‘co-optition’.

The impact of NHS resource allocation policy on health inequalities in England 2001-11: longitudinal ecological study

Objective To investigate whether the policy of increasing National Health Service funding to a greater extent in deprived areas in England compared with more affluent areas led to a reduction...

Outdoor Education Provision in Scottish Schools

This paper examines the frequency and nature of outdoor learning provision in Scottish schools, with specific attention paid to teachers’ approaches to learning outdoors, and it considers what further support and professional development teachers need to progress their practice. This enquiry is timely as limited data has been gathered over the past ten years (see Higgins et al. 2006 and Mannion et al. 2007) and little is known about how the policy document Curriculum for Excellence through Outdoor Learning and associated Education Scotland support has influenced outdoor learning provision. Questionnaires were administered to primary and secondary schools (n=90 returns) across four local authority areas. The results indicate that secondary schools are keen to develop outdoor learning provision and they need support to do so. Also, there is an increased use of school grounds as a context for learning within the primary school sector. In light of these findings and recent developments within national education, recommendations are made for both in-service and pre-service teacher training.

Children’s food trust ‘Eat Better, Start Better’ programme: outcomes and recommendations

Children's early years provide an important foundation for their future health and strongly influence many aspects of wellbeing. Children's tastes and eating habits are also formed early in life with consequences for growth, development, health and academic achievement in later life.1-4 Promoting the initiation and optimal duration of breastfeeding and good nutrition in the early years can reduce the prevalence of later obesity and associated chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and some cancers.5 Hence, the most cost-effective nutrition interventions focus on this window of opportunity.6 With over 1.3 million registered early years places in England7 and an increasing number of full day-care places,8 early years settings provide an invaluable opportunity to help children to eat well and engage with families to encourage development of healthy eating habits at home. All regulated early years settings in England are required to follow the mandatory standards for learning, development and care of children from birth to five years as set out in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework.9 The framework includes a welfare requirement for the provision of 'healthy, balanced and nutritious' food and drink, but until recently, there was no national guidance in England to explain what this meant in practice.10Development of the 'Eat Better, Start Better' programmeIn April 2011, the Children's Food Trust11 was awarded a Department for Education grant to develop and deliver the 'Eat Better, Start Better' programme. This programme evolved from two recommendations made by the Advisory Panel on Food and Nutrition in Early Years,12 the development of national food and drink guidelines for early years settings and food and nutrition training for the early years and health workforce. The main aims of the programme are to support healthier food provision in early years settings and in families with young children, and increase the food, nutrition and healthy cooking knowledge, skills and confidence of early years and health practitioners and parents.The programme has been implemented over two phases. As part of Phase 1 (2011-2012), the trust developed the Voluntary Food and Drink Guidelines for Early Years Settings in England13 and practical support tools, and worked collaboratively with five local authority areas to develop and pilot an integrated food and nutrition training and evaluation package. Following successful delivery in Phase 1,14 the programme was rolled out to a further 20 targeted local authorities across England between April 2012 and September 2013.The 'Eat Better, Start Better' programme has been designed to support early years and health professionals to confidently cascade age-appropriate, nutrition advice to early years settings and families, helping to ensure that children and parents receive consistent messages around healthy eating.The programme includes two trainthe- trainer courses (how to use the food and drink guidelines; healthy cooking with families), dissemination of guidance and resources, and regular monitoring of impact using standardised evaluation tools. The Trust's training, accredited by the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH),15 acknowledges the unique role health and early years practitioners have in delivering health and education services.Monitoring the impact of the 'Eat Better, Start Better' programmeEvaluation is an integral part of the programme. Following the training, each local authority undertakes baseline and follow-up audit visits in early years settings to assess the impact of the food and drink guidelines and practical tools on settings' approach to and provision of food. To assess the impact of the cooking sessions delivered to families, early years settings report what food was prepared, the skills developed and how many families were involved in the cooking sessions. This information informs an evaluation report for commissioning in local authorities and can be used as evidence of impact for health and wellbeing boards. …

Ethnic residential segregation stability in England, 1991–2001

The residential arrangements of ethnic groups became the subject of political interest when they were identified as a feature of urban areas that experienced unrest in 2001. Residential segregation was framed as both problematic for community relations and a cause of economic inequalities (Cantle, 2001; Denham, 2001). This article presents evidence that ethnic residential segregation in England was not increasing between 1991 and 2001 and that there was a trend for local authority areas to become more similar at a relatively low level of segregation. At neighbourhood level there is little evidence to regard ethnic residential segregation as a problem despite the policy priority it came to have.

Moving Towards Zero Waste in a UK Local Authority Area: Challenges to the Introduction of Separate Food Waste Collections

EU and UK Government targets for minimising and recycling household waste has led the responsible authorities to research the alternatives to landfill. In the work reported here the local waste collection authority (Charnwood Borough Council) has adopted the aspirational strategy of becoming a “Zero Waste Borough” to lead the drive for public participation. The work concludes that the separate collection of food waste would be needed to meet the two regulatory standards on recycling and biologically active wastes. An analysis of a neighbouring Authority (Newcastle-Under-Lyne Borough Council (NBC), a similar sized local authority that has a successful weekly food waste collection service was undertaken. Results indicate that the main challenges for Charnwood Borough Council would be gaining householder co-operation, the extra costs of collection and organising alternative treatment. The analysis also demonstrated that there was potential offset value via anaerobic digestion for CBC to overcome these difficulties and improve its recycling performance.