Click here to find out more about the work of the team

LGA Research Bulletin

The LGA’s monthly research bulletin publication keeps you informed of key issues and developments in research impacting on, or of interest to, local government.

Click here to sign up to the LGA Analysis and Research Bulletin

Photo credit: Local Government House, London taken by the LGA

The post Local Government Association (LGA) Analysis and Research appeared first on LARIA - Local Area Research + Intelligence Association.

At this meeting it was clear it would be mutually beneficial to strengthen the working relationships between public health intelligence and the wider local authority research and intelligence community, and between local authorities and Public Health England. Effective collaboration and shared learning between intelligence professionals at the local, regional and national level would provide an increasingly important means of sharing learning and creating synergy in our current financial climate.

A small Working Group of LARIA and PHE members was consequently set up to explore and facilitate this work on behalf of Professor Newton and LARIA Council.

During the last year this Working Group has collaborated with a number of partners in order to address and explore a number of crucial key areas to take the LARIA-PHE agenda forward. Its aim was to gain a better understanding of the current scope of public health intelligence, both in Public Health England and within local authorities, to identify emerging opportunities for developing closer relationships, networking and communities of practice, and to explore the potential for shared training and/or other professional development.
Although the Public Health England and LARIA regional organisation does not work on the same boundaries, the Working Group found that Public Health England and LARIA both have contacts at a sub-national level in England (with LARIA also comprising Scotland and Wales). In addition, a considerable amount of joint working already exists between health intelligence professionals, and provides evidence of much commonality between practitioners, particularly around consultation and engagement. A clear appetite for collaboration also exists, particularly around further joint working/networking/training and the sharing of knowledge. LARIA-PHE Collaboration – Activity summary

A number of ‘quick wins’ (such as sharing information through online communities and regional newsletters and updates) have been identified along with a range of other areas in which collaboration could be fostered, including joint training, and work shadowing and exchanges to increase understanding, particularly of specialist skills etc. Based on the findings of our initial activities, a number of potential priority areas going forward were identified. A quick ‘dot vote’ on these identified priorities was undertaken at the recent LARIA Conference in May to offer a quick ‘finger in the air’ test of prevailing LARIA/PHE practitioner attitudes. Each person was given 5 dots to spend on the priorities listed as they so wished. Better opportunities for joint training received the highest number (47) of dot votes. LARIA 2014 Dot vote – Full Document.

Some issues or barriers requiring further thought and/or ‘workarounds’ have also been acknowledged by the Working Group, such as differences in both boundaries and the everyday use of technologies, and a mutual lack of awareness and overall understanding of ‘how it all works now’ as a result of the ‘quiet revolution’ in public health.

Helen Butcher, June 2014
LARIA/PHE Working Group Chair
LARIA Council/South East Chair

The post LARIA and Public Health England (PHE) Collaborative Project appeared first on LARIA - Local Area Research + Intelligence Association.

PHE has developed an excel tool to help CCGs review their ambitions which is attached along with a guidance document intended to support the use of the tool. It is recommended that users of the tool print the document and read it while using the tool. The guide contains instructions on using the tool with screen-shots, guidance on reviewing the level of ambition and definitions of the various CCG and Local Authority indicators within the tool (Technical Appendix).

The main focus of the tool is a CCG registered population base (because this is the basis for the indicator in the outcomes framework) but the tool also includes the LA resident population trajectories as context, which is particularly useful where the CCG relates to more than one LA.

For any technical queries please contact David.Merrick@PHE.gov.uk and for other queries relating to this tool please contact Sue.Baughan@PHE.gov.uk

The post SEPHIG: Healthcare PH programme appeared first on LARIA - Local Area Research + Intelligence Association.

If you work in one of the London Boroughs you can access GLA Information Services . This service provides access to a large database of up to date reports, articles and journals, along with a quick an easy way to search these online for information you may need.

If you would like any more information on these services please contact: Alexia Pipe at alexia.pipe@london.gov.uk

Photo credit: City Hall, London by Maciek Lulko

The post GLA Information Services appeared first on LARIA - Local Area Research + Intelligence Association.

Resources, research and data visualisations are freely available on their website including work on:

• income and living standards;
• housing, neighbourhoods;
• care;
• loneliness;
• dementia;
• ethnicity;
• the four nations of the UK;
• jobs and skills;
• core cities;
• community engagement; and
• sustainability.

They also have their own newsletter you can sign-up to and you can follow them on Twitter @jrf_uk

Photo credit: JRF offices

The post The Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) appeared first on LARIA - Local Area Research + Intelligence Association.

So what do we understand about our challenges, how should we move forward as a profession, and how can LARIA support the professional development of its members?

Take a look at what we’ve found out during 2013 from the research we’ve been carrying out with the help of People Matters Network.

In the months leading up to the LARIA annual conference in May, we will be carrying out our 2014 ‘R&I Challenges’ survey with members and at the conference we will be responding to the challenge put to us by Martin Reeves.

“Better use of evidence and insight in support of decision making is central to the challenges we now face at a local level within public sector agencies. This offers a huge opportunity for the modern-day researcher and engagement professional to make a real and lasting difference by equipping themselves with the skills that are invaluable to their organisation, both now and in the future. I am keen to see how the Laria / PMNet engagement develop and the actions proposed.”

Visit People Matters Network to take part in the discussions.

Photo credit: Dragon Boat Festival, London, taken by Ania Mendrek

The post PMN: Together we can… face our challenges appeared first on LARIA - Local Area Research + Intelligence Association.

The new fascinating website for the World of Statistics is now live! The aim of the organisation is to

• Increase public awareness of the power and impact of statistics on all aspects of society
• Nurture statistics as a profession, especially among young people
• Promote creativity and development in the sciences of probability and statistics

The effect of statistics can be seen all around us; from the food we eat to the alignment of the planets – can you imagine a world without statistics?

The latest News from the World of Statistics is now available.

Past newsletters can be reviewed in the archive.

Please share this information with your colleagues.

“Thank you for your support of The World of Statistics, the successor to the International Year of Statistics.”
-Ron Wasserstein (on behalf of The World of Statistics Steering Committee)

Photo credit: Durlston Head, Dorset; Tim Parkinson

The post World of Statistics appeared first on LARIA - Local Area Research + Intelligence Association.

From the Council of Europe website you can get information on:

1. the financial crisis at local level,
2. latest European research on policy at local level,
3. European Court of Human Rights’ and the European Committee of Social Rights’ decisions of consequence for the local level with regard to respect for the European Convention on Human Rights and the European Social Charter respectively (both bodies and their treaties are part of the Council of Europe).
4. Other matters of local concern.

Photo credit: Council of Europe, Strasbourg taken by Dominique Edte

The post Council of Europe appeared first on LARIA - Local Area Research + Intelligence Association.