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Family group conferences (FGCs) in child welfare share decision-making with family members by bringing the immediate and wider family together to make a plan to meet a child's needs. This paper reports survey findings on FGC provision in the UK in 2022 and explores whether in England the presence of an FGC service and the rate of FGC provision is associated with the rate of children in care, entering care, in kinship foster care and leaving care. Seventy-nine per cent (n  = 167) of local authorities in the UK provided FGCs to families, and 14 per cent (n  = 29) did not. Services that were more established offered a more diverse range of FGCs. The introduction of FGCs in English local authorities was associated with a higher rate of children in care, but also higher rates of kinship foster care, a key goal of FGCs where it is not possible for children to stay with their parents. Higher rates of FGCs were associated with more children leaving care, possibly due to reunification with birth families. To understand in more detail, the circumstances of children in and leaving care in local authorities with FGCs, individual data linkage studies are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adults accessing community mental health services are required to have a care plan, developed in collaboration with the person accessing the service. The variation in care plan templates in use in England and Wales, and their impact on care planning, is unknown. This study evaluates the community mental health care plan templates in use across England and Wales. Data were obtained from a Freedom of Information request to 50 NHS Mental Health Trusts. An evaluation tool was designed and used to extract data. Data were rated red, amber, or green against clinical and design standards. Forty-seven care plan templates were obtained. The clinical aspect of the care plan template had 60% adherence to the national standards, and the design aspects had 87% adherence. A 'high/low' typology is proposed against the design/clinical standards. The study identifies priority areas for improvement in the care plan templates as space to record the actions that service users and carers will take to contribute to their care plan, space to record the name and contact details for their care coordinator or lead professional, plus others involved in the person's care. This study was not registered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses the 1908 Oxford Report, a founding document for the Workers' Educational Association, as a window onto the internal contradictions of the university adult education movement, an issue that has been neglected by historians of education. Examining the early history of the WEA shows that while the movement was inspired by Oxford Idealism and set itself the aim of democratising higher education, it also drew support from people who intended to professionalise the university by introducing the principles of trained expertise and selection by merit. The confluence of Idealism and professionalism resulted in a ground-breaking but inconsistent educational programme outlined in the Oxford Report. This paper suggests that the attempt to simultaneously democratise and professionalise higher education was untenable and foreshadowed later tensions within the WEA movement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contribution and role of psychologists, psychiatrists or mental health practitioners in working alongside forced migrants may take many forms. The guidance on which this paper is based, came about when several members of the British Psychological Society (including those with lived experience and insight and those who had set up services); became aware of the need for good practice guidance for clinicians working with refugees, asylum seekers including forced migrants across Britain. These guidelines cover a range of areas where clinicians work with individuals in clinical contexts, schools, nurseries, colleges and within community organisations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The United Kingdom and Australia have developed highly divergent policy responses to electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). To understand the historical origins of these differences, we describe the history of tobacco control in each country and the key roles played in setting ENDS policy in its early stages by public health regulations and policy networks, anti‐smoking organizations, 'vaper' activist networks and advocates of harm reduction policies towards injecting drug use. Methods: We analysed key government reports, policy statements from public health bodies and non‐government organizations (e.g. cancer councils and medical organizations) on ENDS; submissions to an Australian parliamentary inquiry; media coverage of policy debates in medical journals; and the history of tobacco control policy in Australia and England. Key discourses about ENDS were identified for each country. These were compared across countries during a multi‐day face‐to‐face meeting, where consensus was reached on the key commonalities and divergences in historical approaches to nicotine policy. This paper focuses on England, as different policy responses were apparent in constituent countries of the United Kingdom, and Scotland in particular. Results: Policymakers in Australia and England differ markedly in the priority that they have given to using ENDS to promote smoking cessation or restricting smokers' access to prevent uptake among young people. In understanding the origins of these divergent responses, we identified the following key differences between the two countries' approaches to nicotine regulation: an influential scientific network that favoured nicotine harm reduction in the United Kingdom and the absence of such a network in Australia; the success of different types of health activism both in England and in Europe in opposing more restrictive policies; and the greater influence on policy in England of the field of illicit drug harm reduction. Conclusions: An understanding of the different policy responses to electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) in England and Australia requires an appreciation of how actors within the different policy structures, scientific networks and activist organizations in each country and region have interpreted the evidence and the priority that policymakers have given to the competing goals of preventing adolescent uptake and encouraging smokers to use ENDS to quit smoking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Advance care treatment escalation plans (TEPs) are often lost between healthcare settings, leading to duplication of work and loss of patient autonomy. OBJECTIVE: This quality improvement project reviewed the usage of TEP forms and aimed to improve completeness of documentation and visibility between admissions. METHODS: Over four months we monitored TEP form documentation using a standardised data extraction form. This examined section completion, seniority of documenting clinician and transfer of forms to our hospital electronic patient record (EPRO). We added reminders to computer monitors on wards to improve EPRO upload. RESULTS: Initial data demonstrated that 95% of patients (n = 230) had a TEP, with 99% of TEPs recording resuscitation status. However, other sections were not well documented (patient capacity 57% completion and personal priorities 45% completion, respectively). Only 11.9% of TEPs documented consultant involvement. Furthermore, only 44% of TEPs with a do not attempt resuscitation (DNACPR) decision were uploaded. Following this, we added reminders to computer monitors explaining how to upload TEP decisions to EPRO, which increased EPRO uploads to 74%. CONCLUSION: Communication of TEPs needs improving across healthcare settings. This project showed that the use of a physical reminder can greatly improve communication of treatment escalation decisions. Furthermore, this intervention has inspired future projects aiming at making communication more sustainable through the use of discharge summaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The idea that volunteering and civic action may both play a role within the work of voluntary organizations has a long historical legitimacy in England. However, recent policy trends appear to undermine notions that the critical expression of official views is acceptable. In particular, where voluntary organizations are engaged in service-level contracts with statutory agencies, engagement in the political sphere is seen as risky. This paper takes an historical and analytic perspective to examine the evolution of volunteering and civic action in England. It examines how different discourses have affected spaces for popular engagement of voluntary organizations over time and the degree to which these are changing. The paper considers ways in which the complex and dynamic variations of this engagement can be understood in the contemporary voluntary sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A strong association exists between the quality of nurse‐service user therapeutic relationship and care outcomes on acute mental health inpatient wards. Despite evidence that service users desire improved therapeutic engagement, and registered mental health nurses recognize the benefits of therapeutic relationships, such interactions remain sub‐optimal. There is a dearth of evidence on factors influencing implementation of interventions to support and encourage therapeutic engagement. This study aimed to understand the barriers and enablers to implementation of the Therapeutic Engagement Questionnaire (TEQ), across fifteen acute inpatient wards in seven English mental health organizations. Qualitative methods were used in which data were collected from ethnographic field notes and documentary review, coded, and analysed using thematic analysis. Theoretical framing supported data analysis and interpretation. Reporting adheres to the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research. The TEQ as an evidence‐based intervention co‐produced with service users and nurses was valued and welcomed by many nurse directors, senior clinicians, and ward managers. However, a range of practical and perceptual factors impeded implementation. Furthermore, many existing contextual challenges for intervention implementation in acute inpatient wards were magnified by the COVID‐19 pandemic. Suitable facilitation to address these barriers can help support implementation of the TEQ, with some transferability to implementation of other interventions in these settings. Our study suggests several facilitation methods, brought together in a conceptual model, including encouragement of reflective, facilitative discussion meetings among stakeholders and researchers, effort put into winning nurse 'buy‐in' and identifying and supporting ward‐level agents of change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents summaries of papers presented at the BAD Investigative Group Meeting, held in Bristol, England in January 1982. Some of the topics are: raised arachidonic acid and prostaglandin levels in dithranol erythema, the effect of benzoyl peroxide on cutaneous micro-organisms in vitro, vascular changes in urticaria and urticarial vasculitis; a light and electron microscopic study, definition of a critical period in the MSH control of coat colour in the agouti mouse, irritant reactions to dithranol in normal subjects and psoriatic patients, and others.

This paper considers the situation of the English voluntary sector in relation to austerity-driven social policies. Existing characterisations are outlined and it is argued that the quantitative evidence used to represent the situation of these organisations to date has been partial because it relies too narrowly on financial resource input measures. We argue that the situation of these organisations needs to be conceptualised in a more holistic way and, to initiate a move in this direction, we identify and explicate two relevant dimensions: the perceived capacity of organisations to rely on volunteers for support (a non-financial resource input); and their perception of the effect of the policy climate in shaping their capacity to flourish, including their ability to perform multiple roles beyond service provision alone. We draw on an original mixed methods empirical study undertaken in England in 2015 to operationalise these dimensions, combining qualitative interviews with national ‘policy community’ members with a large scale on-line survey of social policy charities. We find a complex and variegated situation that, while acknowledging the fundamental importance of financial resource pressures, also points to the salience of the volunteering situation, and to the relevance of the challenging policy climate that these organisations have to navigate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents information on the third annual conference of the International Association for the History of Transport, Traffic and Mobility held in York, England from October 6 to 9, 2005. Title of the opening address delivered by David Nye; Speakers of the conference including John Walton, Michael Esbester and Michael Sibul; Topics covered by the papers presented at the event including transport and tourism.

Dementia-friendly communities ( DFCs) are a UK policy initiative that aims to enable people with dementia to feel supported and included within their local community. Current approaches to DFC creation rely on stakeholder involvement, often requiring volunteer assistance. There is though a lack of evidence that examines the reality of achieving this. This paper critically assesses the challenges and strategies for achieving stakeholder involvement in DFCs. The evidence base is drawn from an inter-agency project funded by the National Health Service in the South of England where seven DFCs were developed by steering group partners and four part-time project workers ( PWs). Data from the independent evaluation undertaken in the first year (2013-2014) of the project were analysed: 14 semi-structured interviews and a focus group examined PWs' experiences; while progress and key milestones are determined from monthly progress forms, good news stories, locality steering group minutes and press releases. Analysis was undertaken using a directed content analysis method, whereby data content for each locality was matched to the analytical framework that was drawn from Alzheimer's Society guidance. Challenges to achieving stakeholder involvement were identified as: establishing networks and including people representative of the local community; involving people affected by dementia; and gaining commitment from organisations. Strategies for achieving stakeholder involvement were recognised as: a sustainable approach; spreading the word; and sharing of ideas. By highlighting these challenges and the approaches that have been used within communities to overcome them, these findings form the foundation for the creation of DFC initiatives that will become embedded within communities. Stakeholder involvement is unpredictable and changeable; therefore, reliance on this approach questions the long-term sustainability of DFCs, and must be considered in future policies designed to enhance quality of life for people affected by dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - This paper aims to initiate debate about the tension between ideologies being played out in local government, as illustrated by the case of the empowerment agenda. Design/methodology/approach - The paper considers a range of evidence from: academic research; government documents; personal perspectives from the author's experience as an elected member in local government; and semi-structured interviews with a number of senior managers in local authorities in England. Findings - The paper suggests that the development of performance management frameworks for community engagement has been a means to shift the agenda away from democratic representation to a governance agenda around empowerment. This now includes giving a role to the voluntary sector both as the voice of the people and as providers of public services. It is argued that this illustrates a tension between ideologies at work behind the facade of performance management in local government. Research limitations/implications - The paper can only sample both the extensive range of government output on the community agenda and the academic work in this area over the last few years. Nor is it examining a finished product, as the government is setting up more agencies to develop the work further. The implications of this paper are that there is a need for future academic work to relate accountability and democracy locally to new public management and its connection to the global ideology of neoliberalism. Originality/value - Paralleling recent work in critical management studies, the paper links the consideration of local/national issues of democratic representation, community engagement and the role of the voluntary sector to the impact of the global ideological framework of neoliberalism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information about the third edition of the International Workshop on Antenna Technology (IWAT) conference which was held in Cambridge, England in March 2007 is presented. According to the author, the event was more than successful than the previous events, which was attributed to the very dedicated team of local organizers and hosts, and the high qualities of papers delivered by luminaries in the field. Several photographs of the conference are also included.

The authors reflects on a paper which explores the expertise and case-based teaching requirements in primary care and the results of the evaluation of an initiative for self-directed clinical learning across three primary care trusts in London, England. He considers the organizational perspective of clinical learning and the implications of learning initiatives for recruitment and retention of general practitioners. He also offers examples of the strategies adopted by the South London Organization of Vocational Training Schemes to consider the implications of sustaining a learning culture in a climate of organizational change.

This paper interrogates the relationship between working-class participation in higher education ( HE) in England and social and cultural mobility. It argues that embarking on a university education for working-class people has been construed in governmental discourses as an instrumental means of achieving upward mobility, or of aspiring to 'become middle class'. Education in this sense is thus not only understood as having the potential to confer value on individuals, as they pursue different 'forms of capital', or symbolic 'mastery' ( Bourdieu, 1986), but as incurring a form of debt to society. In this sense, the university can be understood as a type of 'creditor' to whom the working-class participants are symbolically indebted, while the middle classes pass through unencumbered. Through the analysis of empirical research conducted with staff from working-class backgrounds employed on a university Widening Participation project in England, the article examines resistance to dominant educational discourses, which understand working-class culture as 'deficient' and working-class participation in HE as an instrumental means of securing upward mobility. Challenging the problematic notion of 'escape' implicit in mobility discourses, this paper concludes by positing the alternative concept of 'fugitivity', to contest the accepted relationship in HE between creditor and debtor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the highlights of the 37th Annual General Meeting of the British Ecological Society held in the University of Oxford in Oxford, England on January 5 to 7, 1956. A soirée was held at the university's Department of Botany at which exhibits illustrating the ecological work in progress at Oxford were shown. A series of coloured slides of New Zealand vegetation were shown by professor Gordon of New Zealand. Some of the topics of the papers read at the meeting, include field populations of Calliphorine flies.

This paper addresses the issue of how strategic-level partnerships, such as Local Safeguarding Children Boards, know about and learn from practice. The death of Baby Peter in Haringey exposed the dangers of reliance on numerical performance data alone to inform leaders about the true state of practice. The drivers for, and impact of, regulatory, media and political pressures on front-line practice and partnership behaviour are discussed with reference to the rise of organisational risk management and 'rule-based' responses (Munro, 2009). These are exacerbated by an overload of negative data about child protection systems which results in contagious 'attention cascades' which lead to over-simplification of complex issues and the rush to quick-fix solutions. This results in compliance-based responses designed to avoid 'blame', based on individualistic analyses of complex situations. Under these conditions, 'learning', such as from serious case reviews, can become regressive (how to avoid future culpability) rather than progressive (how to improve knowledge skills and practice). It is argued that understanding and improving practice require strategic partnerships to have engaged with front-line staff in order to access practice narratives as well as performance numbers, and to achieve an accurate and systemic analysis of the state of practice and how it can be improved. This calls for collective forms of knowing and reflecting and the paper concludes by describing examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper evaluates the neo-institutional perspective in conceptualizing the public- private partnership in water provision in England and Wales. It questions the simplistic assumptions that effective water governance lies in getting institutions, incentives, and authority right. Drawing upon Mary Douglas's social embeddedness of institutions, this paper demonstrates that use of water is both individually-pursued and socially-shaped. This paper calls for a reorganization of the institutional arrangements to tackle power asymmetries between the regulators, water companies, and the public. It suggests that the design of the regulatory structures needs to cohere with the cultural meaning of water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Provides information on the Annual General Meeting of the Applied Vision Association which was held in Bristol, England on March 31, 2004. Changes in the association; Topics discussed during the meeting; Papers presented during the conference.

Two distinguishing features of the New Labour Government have been its focus on regionalism and the establishment of a department of state, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), explicitly dedicated to ‘cultural’ policy. This paper tracks the development of a new set of regional cultural organizations, the Regional Cultural Consortiums (RCCs). These were established to contribute to regional development and to deliver the DCMS's national policy goals. The paper examines the RCCs' remit, challenges, achievements and prospects, and locates these in wider debates about evidence-based policy and continuity and change in cultural and regional policy. Particular consideration is given to the RCCs' research and data collection activities and their role in developing a move towards improved capacity in regional cultural research and data collection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Typologies of government–voluntary sector relations mostly categorize nation-level situations, and omit consideration of intra-national differences. They are also rarely subject to empirical testing and subsequent theoretical development. This paper reports on research to apply Kuhnle and Selle's (2002) relational typology, which characterizes the experience of “Britain,” to a study of Scottish and English voluntary organizations' relations with government. Contrary to Kuhnle and Selle, the paper demonstrates — through survey data — a divergence between Scotland and England, within the “British” context, and advances the case for further testing of such conceptual typologies. The methodological challenges in moving from a theoretical framework to a research design capable of field application, using survey methods, are illustrated and discussed. Further directions for theoretically led work are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing attention has focused on relational spatial entities as potentially embedding renewed and alternative paths of local development. This paper discusses the intertwining of an emerging relational configuration of space and the pursuit of post-industrial development, by analysing the formation of an organisational identity. The case of NewcastleGateshead (UK) is interpreted as a brand emerging from urban collective strategy-making, involving two partner cities, thus crossing administrative borders. By suggesting the importance of the emergence of ‘branded relational spaces’, research results stress the active role of a collective construction of meanings and their communication in the creation of relational spatial entities. This provides an opportunity to reflect on the extent to which branding, here interpreted as collective strategy-making, goes beyond mere communication and fosters an institutionalisation of the branded space, thus influencing the way in which local development is spatially and strategically conceived. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: National Health Service (NHS) trusts, which provide the majority of hospital and community health services to the English NHS, are increasingly adopting a 'public firm' model with a board consisting of executive directors who are trust employees and external non-executives chosen for their experience in a range of areas such as finance, health care and management. In this paper we compare the non-executive directors' roles and interests in, and contributions to, NHS trust boards' governance activities with those of executive directors; and examine non-executive directors' approach to their role in board meetings.Methods: Non-participant observations of three successive trust board meetings in eight NHS trusts (primary care trusts, foundation trusts and self-governing (non-foundation) trusts) in England in 2008-9. The observational data were analysed inductively to yield categories of behaviour reflecting the perlocutionary types of intervention which non-executive directors made in trust meetings.Results: The observational data revealed six main perlocutionary types of questioning tactic used by non-executive directors to executive directors: supportive; lesson-seeking; diagnostic; options assessment; strategy seeking; and requesting further work. Non-executive board members' behaviours in holding the executive team to account at board meetings were variable. Non-executive directors were likely to contribute to finance-related discussions which suggests that they did see financial challenge as a key component of their role.Conclusions: The pattern of behaviours was more indicative of an active, strategic approach to governance than of passive monitoring or 'rubber-stamping'. Nevertheless, additional means of maintaining public accountability of NHS trusts may also be required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents news and information related to organization studies worldwide in 1989 and 1990. The 1990 World Congress of Sociology will be held by the Sociology of Organizations in Madrid, Spain. The annual conference titled "Organisation and Control of the Labour Process" will be held by Aston University in England. The Second Conference on Socio-Economics will be held at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Information on the Coudenhove-Kalergi Foundation, European University Award for 1989 is given. The Seventh International Conference on Organizational Symbolism and Corporate Culture will be held at the University of Saarland in Saarbrucken, Germany.

Presents the schedule of several conferences related to French literature to be held in England in 2004 and 2005. Annual conference of the Association for the Study of Modern & Contemporary France in Surrey; Second annual conference of the Society for Francophone Postcolonial Studies in London; Conference of the UK Society for Sartrean Studies in London; Fourth International Bande Dessinee Society conference in Manchester.

Purpose -- The aim of the research is to assess the extent and value of mental health service user (MHSU) involvement in research in England. Design/methodology/approach -- This is a knowledge review, including academic and "grey" literature, and documented testimonial evidence. Findings -- The involvement of MHSUs in mental health research has become mainstream. There is clear evidence that involving MHSUs in research adds value. Four gaps in the literature were identified. First, a lack of evidence from non-service-user researchers about their experience of working with MHSUs. Second, a lack of recognition that anyone involved in research may hold more than one role. Third, failure to treat carers as separate from MHSUs, or -- often -- to include them at all. Fourth, a lack of understanding that MHSUs may have a useful role to play in research on topics other than mental health. Research limitations/implications -- The literature would benefit from some evidence about non-serviceuser researchers' experiences of working with MHSU researchers. Carers should be recognised much more widely as different from MHSUs and with a valid role to play in mental health research from their own perspectives. MHSU researchers, and carer researchers, should be offered opportunities for involvement in research on topics other than mental health. Practical implications -- The evidence shows that involving service users in research can benefit everyone involved and the research itself. The process can be challenging for all concerned. However, there is now plenty of guidance about how to involve service users in research for maximum benefit to all (e.g. Faulkner, 2004b; SURGE, 2005; Morgan, 2006; Tew et al., 2006; Kotecha et al., 2007; Schrank and Wallcraft, 2008, pp. 243-247; Leiba, 2010, pp. 160-169; Armes et al., 2011; Morrow et al., 2012, p. 114). This guidance should be consulted by researchers, funders, ethics committees, and other stakeholders at the earliest possible stage of any relevant project. Social implications -- It is essential to recognise and acknowledge that anyone involved in research may hold more than one role. Embracing multiple and mutable identities is not an easy process, as the literature shows, and attempts to do so are likely to produce resistance at every level. Nevertheless, the example of the survivor researchers suggests that doing this has the potential to enrich our individual and collective experience, and therefore society as a whole. Originality/value -- The paper is written by an independent researcher who is also a carer for people with mental health problems: a viewpoint which is rarely found in the literature. The literature suggests that power imbalances and identity issues are at the root of most difficulties and gaps. Social identity and categorisation theory offers a useful theoretical perspective. The paper will be of value to anyone interested in mental health research, whether as a student, service user/survivor, researcher or teacher. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Public Health Responsibility Deal (RD) in England is a public-private partnership involving voluntary pledges between government, industry, and other organisations to improve public health by addressing alcohol, food, health at work, and physical activity. This paper analyses the RD physical activity (PA) pledges in terms of the evidence of their potential effectiveness, and the likelihood that they have motivated actions among organisations that would not otherwise have taken place. Methods: We systematically reviewed evidence of the effectiveness of interventions proposed in four PA pledges of the RD, namely, those on physical activity in the community; physical activity guidelines; active travel; and physical activity in the workplace. We then analysed publically available data on RD signatory organisations' plans and progress towards achieving the physical activity pledges, and assessed the extent to which activities among organisations could be attributed to the RD. Results: Where combined with environmental approaches, interventions such as mass media campaigns to communicate the benefits of physical activity, active travel in children and adults, and workplace-related interventions could in principle be effective, if fully implemented. However, most activities proposed by each PA pledge involved providing information or enabling choice, which has limited effectiveness. Moreover, it was difficult to establish the extent of implementation of pledges within organisations, given that progress reports were mostly unavailable, and, where provided, it was difficult to ascertain their relevance to the RD pledges. Finally, 15 % of interventions listed in organisations' delivery plans were judged to be the result of participation in the RD, meaning that most actions taken by organisations were likely already under way, regardless of the RD. Conclusions: Irrespective of the nature of a public health policy to encourage physical activity, targets need to be evidence-based, well-defined, measurable and encourage organisations to go beyond business as usual. RD physical activity targets do not adequately fulfill these criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents some of the highlights of the Ninth Silent British Cinema Festival held on April 6-9, 2006 at the Broadway Media Center in Nottingham, England. The event was co-organized by the Broadway and the British Film Institute/National Film and Television Archive. The relationship of the British film industry with Europe between 1908 and 1915 was examined during a panel session. It featured the short films "A Game for Two," "The Last Appeal" and "The Jest."

This paper traces the origins and charts the development and reform of the Metropolitan Police Service since its inception in 1829. It explores how the growing complexity of London's government, accentuated by the creation of the Greater London Council in 1965, reopened the debate for local government control of the metropolitan police. Not until the creation of the Greater London Authority in 2000, however, were changes in accountability of the Metropolitan Police finally put in place with the creation of the Metropolitan Police Authority as a functional body of the GLA. The paper reviews the working of this relationship over the past five years and considers the MPA's role in securing accountability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses the Delphi method as a way of studying organisational and sector change. It provides a brief introduction to Delphi, its application to public management and its relevance to research on the transformation of social housing. It then describes an application to research on the future shape and structure of the housing association sector in England. The method is used to clarify areas of consensus and divergence, and to identify differences between types of association and key trends in sector transformation. Conclusions are presented on changing sector identity, governance, spatial level of operations, organisational scale and organisational form and on learning from this application of the Delphi method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As voluntary and community organizations in the UK (VCOs) expand their role in the provision of public services, they are under increasing pressure from governmental funders to improve their management and organizational systems - to “build their capacity.” This paper considers the theoretical and practical challenges posed by the idea of “capacity building.” It also looks at the challenges for VCOs of meeting the capacity building agenda while simultaneously retaining organizational distinctiveness and independence. Action research is proposed as a means to meet the challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Provides information on a meeting on advances in medical and forensic imaging organized by the Imaging Science Group and Medical Group of the Royal Photographic Society in London, England on February 21, 2005. Theme of the meeting; Features of the programme; Issues tackled.

This paper is based on a talk given at a joint meeting of the London Mathematical Society and the British Society for the History of Mathematics held in Oxford on 13 May 1995. 1991 Mathematics Subject Classification 01A60, 46-03, 47-03. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information about the paper on the conceptions of social justice that was discussed during the 1974 annual conference of the Political Studies Association in Lancaster, England is presented. The paper also offers several principles which should be chosen to govern the distribution of wealth, prestige and other benefits among the members of the society. It emphasizes that arguments over these principles can never be resolved unless a conception of justice is found.

In the increasingly globalized economy there can be few organizations that have no need to interact with other organizations. In modern business, interaction with other organizations is virtually unavoidable. The ability to manage inter-organizational affairs effectively might be a capability critical to the success of the organization. This paper presents an enquiry into inter-organizational management. The aim of the enquiry was to identify and understand strategies that might improve inter-organizational performance with monopoly suppliers, a context often seen as particularly difficult by practitioners and managers. The central purpose was to discover whether there exist any principles that might be generally applied by managers to improve the performance of inter-organizationally managed processes. The research is based on two case studies of the management of baggage systems, one at London Heathrow Airport and the second at London Gatwick Airport. The Heathrow case was selected as an example of an operation where successful cooperation had been achieved. Gatwick was selected as a comparison because the cooperation within this operation was problematic. The paper concludes that there are principles that can be applied to different circumstances to improve inter-organizational performance. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley &Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores dilemmas facing social work in England in providing anti-oppressive services for Travellers, particularly those who lack secure sites. A context is provided by outlining the conflict between Travellers and the majority society, and its expression in oppressive legislation, policy and practice. The implications of the corporate local authority role for relationships between Travellers and social services, and the specific history of Travellers and welfare, are also explored. The remainder of the paper draws on findings from a Nuffield-funded study of policy and provision by English social services departments for Traveller children and families. Provision is undermined by mutually difficult relationships between Traveller communities and social services, and competing demands on social services in relation to professional values and support of Travellers’ rights, and their simultaneous contribution to local authority control of unauthorized camping. However, newer developments in some social services departments may be able to generate more positive relationships with Travellers, to promote their individual and cultural rights, and build partnerships with voluntary agencies which have a significant role in work with Travellers. The implications for social services departments wishing to develop their policies and practice with Traveller families are outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of encouraging small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to improve their environmental performance is now well recognised. This paper evaluates the contribution of the business-support network to the delivery of a range of services designed to encourage SMEs to adopt more environmentally sound practices by examining the work of an environmental non-governmental organisation working in the North West of England: Sustainability Northwest (SNW). SNW has attempted to catalogue, promote and co-ordinate the services provided by the business-support network in its area. The focus of this development has been the establishment of the Environmental Initiatives Database (ENID). This has provided further evidence that the bespoke, solution-driven services required by SMEs are not readily available. Furthermore, the increase in mutual awareness among members of the business support network, facilitated by ENID, appears to have done little to foster an atmosphere of greater cooperation and integration of services. In conclusion, the paper discusses possible reasons for this apparent impasse by outlining the rationale for a new initiative to enhance co-ordination among members of the business-support network: the Green Competitive Edge for the North West. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the highlights of the summer meeting on freshwater ecology at Exeter held by the British Ecological Society on July 3-7, 1964. It was held at the University of Exeter in Devon, England, by invitation of Professor L. A. Harvey and the university authorities. H. Gruffydd's paper entitled "The Population Biology of Chaetogaster limnaei" pointed out there were morphological and behavioral differences between a form of Chaetogaster limnaei living in the kidney of Lymnaea pereger and a form living on the outer surface of this snail.

The article discusses the highlights of the winter and annual general meeting of the British Ecological Society in the Botany School in Cambridge, England from January 4-5, 1961. In the first paper, titled "Aquatic and Swamp Vegetation in Scotland," D. H. N. Spence discussed the results of a study of lochs. In his presentation, titled "Dormancy in the Freshwater Copepoda," J. P. Smyly explored the function of resting-stages as an ecological adaptation to allow species to survive.

The article reports on the highlights of the annual general meeting of the British Ecological Society that was held at the Department of Zoology of the Imperial College of Science and Technology in South Kensington, England on January 7-8, 1955. Exhibits have been featured during the event, including two actinometers for solar radiation, illustrations of the ecology of a rock pool and the breeding of Atlantic seals.

The article reports on the highlights of the Easter Meeting of the British Ecological Society that was held in London, England on April 2-3, 1954. A. R. Clapham, a professor and president of the British Ecological Society, commenced the morning session on April 2, 1954. Several research papers were presented during the meeting, including those from Dr. Eville Gorham, Professor W. H. Pearsall and J. Brereton. On behalf of the Honorary Treasurer, the auditors' account was discussed by E. D. Le Cren during the meeting.

Information about several papers discussed at the Annual General Meeting of the British Ecological Society held at University College London in England on January 6, 1953 is presented. The author cited the presentations of different researchers during the event including the Chemical aspects of humus type natural conditions by E. Gorham and C. C. Dadd and the Bird migration by J. Fisher. Furthermore, the meeting was chaired by Dr. C. B. Williams, and was attended by over 100 members.

Information about several papers discussed at the Easter Meeting of the British Ecological Society held in Burlington House in London, England on April 7-8, 1952 is presented. Topics include the impact of rabbit to the agriculture in West Wales discussed by Prof. A. N. Worden and Ms. Winifred M. Phillips, the physiology of plants and plant ecology. Furthermore, the meeting was headed by Dr. C. B. Williams, president of the society and was attended by nearly one hundred members.

Information on several papers discussed at the 27th annual meeting of the British Ecological Society that was held in 1941 at the Botany School in Cambridge, England, is presented. Topics include the secretaries' report for the year 1940, the recent expansion in the research staffs of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, and the recent observations of the soils of lowland topical regions. The symposium featured notable persons including P. W. Richards, G. E. Blackman and M. F. Mare.

The article presents a speech by the president of the Sociological Society Edward Brabrook, during its annual meeting in London, England. The president addressed few words on the occasion of the annual meeting of the society. He paid tribute to physician J.H. Bridges, one of the most efficient member of the society. The production of three volumes of sociological papers, and of the first volume of quarterly "Sociological Review" were further discussed. In the first volume, published in 1904, V.V. Branford, honorary secretary and founder of the society traced the origin and the use of the word sociology. The twofold method by which the study is to be pursued was broadly defined. In the second volume its relation to the philosophy of history and its relation to ethics were stated, while the third volume fitly closes with the paradox of H.G. Wells, that sociology is not a science. The other sections discussed in the speech were progress report of the "Sociological Review," various meetings of the society in the past, finance, eugenics, civics, education and social economy.

Reports on the conference of the Association for High Speed Photography and Photonics held at the University of Westminster in Harrow, England in the autumn of 2001. Attendance of the conference; Lecturers; Recipient of the Rendell Award for the best paper submitted in the conference.

The article discusses several issues on auditing as highlighted during the 1997 Seventh National Auditing Conference at the Cranfield University School of Management in England. Power sees audit and audit research as having become unquestionably interesting with the growth of the audit society. Power maintains the validity of his initial claims. As audit practice extends into diverse fields, it maintains a commonality of approach. In each case there is a common systems structure and the audit process tends to concentrate on the integrity of organizational systems of self-audit.

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