Most read posts this week 8th November 2013
Here’s the most read frontline and independent blogs this week based on their combined views on Guerilla Policy and Guerilla Feed – from the Work Programme to benefit sanctions, the banking crisis to revolution.
Most read posts this week 1st November 2013
Here’s the most read frontline and independent blogs this week based on their combined views on Guerilla Policy and Guerilla Feed – from the Work Programme school accountability, foodbanks to revolution.
Most read posts this week 25th October 2013
Here’s the most read frontline and independent blogs this week based on their combined views on Guerilla Policy and Guerilla Feed – from the Work Programme to mobility support, mental health to Help to Buy.
Most read posts this week 18th October 2013
Here’s the most read frontline and independent blogs this week based on their combined views on Guerilla Policy and Guerilla Feed - from the Work Programme and jobseeking, welfare policy to World Mental Health Day.
Collateral damage
“We know without any shadow of a doubt that there is absolutely no evidence or professional argument that can be advanced to support this Transforming Rehabilitation omnishambles that is being imposed upon us.” Jim Brown looks at what the lessons of the Work Programme could mean for the outsourcing of probation.
The hidden costs of welfare reform
“However, for most participants – regardless of age, qualification level and gender – welfare-to-work appears to increase anxiety. This is a potent reminder that the costs of welfare reform cannot – and should not – be measured in economic terms.” Daniel Sage argues for a broader definition when considering the impact of welfare to work policies.
The path to the precipice
“We are blithely rushing along a path towards a fundamental change in our welfare system that will have far-reaching social and fiscal consequences. There is a perfect storm of a poorly contracted Work Programme, political rhetoric, and short-term accounting practice.” Richard Johnson looks at the debate on the next round of welfare reform.
Why it won’t work
“Any organisation thinking of bidding for probation work ought to be fully aware that despite all the rhetoric and spin, every Government policy from now till the next General Election will be designed to make the task of Transforming Rehabilitation as difficult as possible…” Jim Brown explains why the probation reforms won’t work.
Will George Osborne’s Work Programme Type 2 work better than the Work Programme Type 1?
“This begs the question: what is the purpose of the Work Programme? Why are providers not already addressing issues such as drug addiction and illiteracy? In the view of current providers, are they not viable clients under the payment by results regime?” Andy Winter questions what the ‘new Work Programme’ says about the existing one.
Councils using zero hours, casual staff and the work programme
“This post lists the results of an FOI I recently sent to councils to get a rough idea of how many people councils employed on zero hours contracts or zero hours-type working arrangements and how many councils were using the work programme.” Kate Belgrave investigates the increasing use of zero-hours and casual work contracts in local authorities.
Does welfare-to-work boost well-being?
“Improving well-being through welfare-to-work is not straightforward. To make stronger and more widespread gains, it is likely that the government will have to try a much different approach.” Daniel Sage considers whether welfare to work programmes improve the well-being of unemployed people.
Shadow politics: Three reasons why public services feel increasingly less public
In the shadow politics, public services feel increasingly less public - from the development of policy to the delivery and regulation of services - in a way that may come back to haunt the political class itself.
Omnishambles update 10
As MP’s start packing their bags and jetting off to foreign climes no doubt, we learn that David Cameron has decided to postpone the widely-expected Cabinet reshuffle until they return. He didn’t want to ruin anyone’s holiday apparently, but I think all of us in probation rather hope that Chris Grayling has a really miserable […]
Frontline Friday 5th July 2013: Our favourite frontline blogs this week
Here’s our list of ten frontline blogs we’ve particularly liked from the week of 1st July 2013. Let us know which posts we’ve missed and which other bloggers we should be following for next week’s list.
Government spin can’t hide the fact the the Work Programme is still not working
I remembered today that the latest Work Programme figures were being published and did my usual thing of looking for the story on the BBC News website. Its article on the figures is entitled “More find jobs on the Work Programme, DWP figures suggest“. I then looked for the DWP press release which was titled […]
The political class: Why big ideas are a big waste of time and money
The political class and frontline practitioners not only have different ideas for improving public services - they also disagree fundamentally on what the problem is.
Recent comments from Manchester City Council…A response
Judging by the phone calls, emails and tweets that my colleagues and I have received, the report in Third Sector of comments by Geoff Little (Deputy CEO of Manchester City Council) addressing the Charity Finance Group conference earlier this week has sent a shockwave around the voluntary and community sector not just in Manchester but the rest […]
Declining investment in research threatens to undermine evidence-based policymaking
The Government claims to be investing in evidence to improve policymaking - yet many departments are reducing their investment in research. The risk is that public policy is increasingly informed by partisan or partial ‘research’ - or in some cases, no research at all.
Frontline Friday 24th May 2013: Our favourite frontline blogs this week
Here’s our list of ten frontline blogs we’ve particularly liked from the week of 20th May 2013. Let us know which posts we’ve missed and which other bloggers we should be following for next week’s list.
Risky business
“[C]an the Work Programme work for all user groups? The short answer is: no, two years after launch, it is clearly failing the most disadvantaged jobseekers.” Richard Johnson explains why the Work Programme isn’t working - and why its failure holds important lessons for other areas of welfare reform.
