Improving and evaluating performance with the PSS

The Public Sector Scorecard (PSS) is used to measure a number of critical success factors for performance management and improvement in the public and third sectors. An article has recently been published, highlighting the fact that although several research papers have been published describing the problems and pitfalls of public sector performance management, few have offered a solution. 

Here, a case study approach is used to take an in-depth look at the UK Ethnic Minority Employment Task Force and for Sheffield Let’s Change4Life, to address and evaluate child obesity using the PSS. 

An innovative outcome of this study, was the use of a combination of the PSS and the Theory of Planned Behaviour for the evaluation. 

Mental Health update

The Department for Education has announced plans to help young people set up online advice networks and workshops so that they can offer peer support on mental health issues.

A recent issue of the British Journal of Psychiatry included a supplement in which the editors make the case for a transformation of mental health care for young people based on early intervention and a priority focus on emerging adulthood.

The Mental Health Taskforce has published a report, which takes a strategic approach to improving mental health outcomes and makes recommendations for the NHS. 

Place2Be and NAHT give a picture of primary school counselling provision across the country. They believe that all schools need access to or the ability to host professional mental health services, in order to effectively support children and build their resilience for the future, 

The Institute of Health Visiting is calling on local authorities, to ensure that all health visitors have the training, capacity and support to provide “sufficient advice to all new parents”. They stated that an increased focus on the first two years of a child's life would help the NHS to reduce the impact of maternal depression and other perinatal mental health problems on babies’ mental wellbeing. The responsibility for the commissioning of public health services for under-fives was handed to local authorities last October.

CareKnowledge

CareKnowledge has recently been added to our collection of online resources. It is an extensive source of both up-to-date and archived material in health and social care including topics such as adult and child protection, serious case reviews and mental health. Updated daily, the service supports practitioners and managers in these areas to help inform on key developments. The site also offers opinion, analysis and research via blogs, briefings and special reports that help to put complex issues into context. Access CareKnowledge via the E-Resources link in the Library portal. 

CareKnowledge includes the following journals and magazines:

Housing Care and Support

International Journal of Leadership in Public Services

Journal of Adult Protection

Journal of Childrens Services

Journal of Family Health

Journal of Integrated Care

Learning Disability Today

Mental Health Review Journal

Mental Health Today

Mental Health Training Education and Practice

Quality in Ageing and Older Adults

Tizard Learning Disability Review

Working with Older People

Occupational Therapy

The College of Occupational Therapists (COT) sets the professional and educational standards for occupational therapy in the UK, representing the profession nationally and internationally and contributing widely to policy consultations. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Association of Occupational Therapists (BAOT) and operates as a registered charity. Their website is a useful source of information for both professionals and the public offering guidance, reports and research publications.

The College launched the 'Occupational Therapy: Improving Lives, Saving Money' engagement programme this month. The purpose of the two year programme is to influence stakeholders, by showing the difference that investing in occupational therapy can make. To set the ball rolling, they have published a report, which gives the impact of occupational therapy across urgent care pathways including acute crisis and emergency care, discharge planning and specialist services.