Health Management and Policy Alert

Personal health budgets in England - making them work in mental health

This report is the result of research conducted with people with mental health problems to find out what they want from the services and support that they use to manage their mental health, and what role personal health budgets might play in improving their experience of care and their health and wellbeing outcomes. The key issues identified included access to a choice of treatments and being involved in joint-care planning.

• Report
• Mind - news

Leading for outcomes: integrated working

This guide is designed to support team leaders, managers and trainers to lead teams in the adoption and implementation of a personal outcomes-focused approach. It focuses on issues specifically relevant to the emerging context of integrated working across health, social care, housing and beyond. It provides a framework for training and is designed to be adapted to the time and resources available and to the specific needs of a team.

• Guide
• IRISS - publications

Workforce planning training for your employees: a survey

Employers are invited to complete a survey that will inform their decision making about if and how a proposed new workforce planning course for those working in health and social care settings will be developed. Responses are invited until the 12th June 2013.

• Survey
• NHS Employers - news

The quality of life of female informal caregivers: from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean Sea

This research paper finds that the provision of caregiving to close relatives in Europe impacts on the providers’ quality of life in a way that depends on their geographical location (and therefore on the specific cultural/social norms of the area). The authors argue that these results show the importance of ensuring that policies match the needs of individual carers in their own geographical areas and cultural contexts. Research paper CHE - publications

Care.data guide for GP practices

This guidance for GP practices explains how better use of anonymised patient information from general practice will help commissioners improve the quality, efficiency, and equity of health care services. It explains how data from general practice will be collected, anonymised and used to improve patient care.

• Guidance
• FAQs
• NHS England - press release

Physical activity: brief advice for adults in primary care

This guidance aims to support routine provision of brief advice on physical activity in primary care practice. The recommendations include: identifying adults who are inactive; delivering and following up on brief advice; and incorporating advice in commissioning. It is aimed at commissioners of health services and anyone working in primary care whose remit includes offering lifestyle advice.

• Guidance
• Physical activity pathway
• NICE - publications

NHS Health Check: frequently asked questions

These frequently asked questions for elected members have been jointly produced by the Local Government Association and Public Health England. They address a number of transitional issues relating to the transfer of responsibility for delivering the NHS Health Check programme, which moved from PCTs to local government in April 2013.

• FAQs
• LGA - publications

Clinical reference groups for specialised services: a guide for clinicians

These guidelines, produced in association with Epilepsy Action, aim to help more children with epilepsy benefit from surgical procedures. They have been developed for paediatricians following the introduction of a new Children’s Epilepsy Surgery Service (CESS) last year, and will help to increase the number of children referred for epilepsy surgery. The guidelines will be shared with paediatricians in the form of a practitioners’ booklet and quick reference card. New resources are also being developed for parents to help them find out more about surgery.

• Guidelines
• NHS England - news

Insights into Developing Caring Cultures: a review of the experience of The Foundation of Nursing Studies

This report outlines insights from the Caring Cultures programme of work, which aimed to help nurse-led teams to create healthcare workplaces that are conducive to the delivery of high quality care, and provide a supportive place for staff to work.

• Report
• Executive summary
• FoNS - publications

Guidance on human rights for commissioners of home care

This guide aims to help local authority elected members and staff who are involved in the commissioning and procurement of home care better understand their obligations under the Human Rights Act 1998. It is also relevant to others who have an interest in home care, including care providers, regulators, service users, and their friends and families.

• Guide
• EHRC - publications