|
Feel free to circulate this email to your colleagues and suggest that they sign up to receive it themselves. Create or manage your LGA bulletin subscriptions or read previous editions of this bulletin.
The Consultancy Playbook and The Construction Playbook
Updated versions of both the The Consultancy Playbook and The Construction Playbook have been published:
-
The Consultancy Playbook looks at how to commission and engage with consultants more effectively, achieving better outcomes, better value for money and supporting public sector capability through the creation of knowledge and skills.
-
The Construction Playbook captures commercial best practices and specific sector reforms outlining the Government’s expectations of how contracting authorities and suppliers, including the supply chain, should engage with each other.
There are also additional guidance notes that have been published alongside the playbooks. The Cabinet Office is currently working on developing a summary of the key changes in the new versions which we will share in the next couple of weeks when they go live.
Social care
Adult social care vacancies
Adult social care vacancies are currently at a record high due to recruitment and retention challenges, according to Skills for Care’s annual report on the state of the adult social care sector and workforce which was released this week. The report notes that the vacancy rate in adult social care has risen over the same period to the highest rate since records began in 2012/13. The number of vacancies increased by 52 per cent in 2021/22 by 55,000 to 165,000 vacant posts.
Adult social care assurance – all you need to know to prepare for the return of regulation
As part of the Government’s reform agenda for adult social care and support, a new assurance regime will be introduced in England in 2023. Our webinar on adult social care assurance (on Monday 17 October from 2.00pm to 4.15pm), will help you prepare for this return of regulation. Under new legislation, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has a new duty to independently review and assess the performance of councils’ adult social care duties under the Care Act, and the Secretary of State has new legal powers for statutory intervention in cases where a council is judged to be failing, or has failed, to discharge those duties. Delegates will hear the latest developments and discuss the challenges and opportunities in creating a new assurance regime that aims to drive continuous improvement in adult social care so that people who draw on care and support are best able to live the lives they want to lead.
Social worker registration
The deadline for registration renewals for all social workers in England is 30 November 2022. All those wishing to renew their registration must submit an application form, pay the registration fees. Social workers who do not apply to renew by 30 November 2022 will be removed from the register. Find out more about applying to renew your social worker registration on Social Work England's website – please pass this on to your relevant teams and colleagues.
Accessible electric vehicle charge points
The British Standards Institution (BSI) has launched a new open-access standard to help ensure electric vehicle charging points are accessible for all users. The standard is co-sponsored by the UK Government and Motability, the national disability charity. PAS1899: Electric Vehicles Accessible Charging is now available and gives procurers, providers and installers of public chargepoints the best available information about how to address issues such as the height of chargepoints for wheelchair users, the weight of charging cables, the positioning of chargepoints relative to parking bays and much more. Disabled people, charities, accessibility experts, industry bodies, and charge point providers have worked together to develop the standard.
Public sector decarbonisation scheme
The Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has launched Phase 3b of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme. Public sector bodies including schools, hospitals, and councils will be able to bid for £635 million funding for heat decarbonisation and energy efficiency measures.
Review of electricity market arrangements
This week the LGA responded to the Government’s Review of Electricity Market Arrangements consultation. Our response focuses on the important role local authorities will need to play in a transitioning zero carbon energy systems and the benefits that working with councils can bring.
Adult social care assurance: all you need to know to prepare for the return of regulation
Monday 17 October, 2.00pm–4.15pm | Zoom
The Sourcing Playbook – autumn webinar series
Every Tuesday, 12.30pm–2.00pm from 1 November–6 December | Zoom
Regional retrofit action planning
Tuesday 6 December, 10.00am–11.30am | Zoom
The LGA Procurement team manages several LGA webpages dedicated to your needs. Please email guy.head@local.gov.uk if you would like any information added to our webpages:
|
