Patricia Hewitt survived the recent Cabinet reshuffle. But her department faces huge upheavals, with newly merged SHAs and PCTs and a worldwide search for a new health service boss. Seamus Ward...
Bed blocking has increased dramatically in more than 10% of England's local authorities with social service responsibilities, figures seen by Public Finance reveal.
Tony Blair vowed this week to go 'further and faster' on public service reform as he prepares to launch another wave of change that will 'shape progressive politics' for a generation.
This year's big winners at the Public Servants of the Year Awards work in very different parts of the public sector, but they share a commitment to helping disadvantaged young people turn their lives...
Transforming a failing school into an institution that includes and motivates all its pupils is a major challenge, but one that former footballer David Seddon relished when he took on Baxter College...
Research shows how tough prison can be on families but Sharon Berry's charity, Storybook Dads, has gone a long way towards bringing inmates and their children closer together. Joseph McHugh reports
Books not Asbos are being used by a pioneering Edinburgh community library to challenge young people's antisocial behaviour and transform lives. Judy Hirst met the staff at Sighthill, who are...
This year's Outstanding Public Servant of the Year represents the best in public service, say the judges. Through his work with Connexions, Anthony Vanterpool or 'Swifty' helps to change the...
New transport chief Douglas Alexander might imagine he has inherited a successful rail sector. But Christian Wolmar predicts a host of problems further down the track
As all the parties compete for a fresh image, the LibDems have taken a lead by appointing England's youngest MP as a top Treasury spokeswoman. Vivienne Russell talked to her
David Miliband planted the idea of 'double devolution' when he was communities minister. Now the priority of his successor, Ruth Kelly, must be to explain what this concept means and how it will...
A £2.15bn ground-breaking agreement has brought benefits to the teaching profession in Scotland, a public sector watchdog has found. But a lack of performance measures makes it difficult to assess...
Town hall leaders have welcomed Sir Michael Lyons' latest report on local government reform, which gives a boost to the localism agenda as it calls for greater decentralisation.
Sweeping changes to the government's housing department have created the perfect opportunity to revive stalled building plans, a leading homeless charity has said.
Local authorities are struggling to provide appropriate housing for vulnerable adults because of cuts in the Supporting People grant, the Commission for Social Care Inspection has found.
Rising rates of middle-age obesity, diabetes and cancers are often portrayed as a huge drain on the NHS, but a study out this week shows that the 50-something English are healthier than their US...
We are delighted and proud that Unison, one of the largest trade unions in Europe, is again sponsoring the overall team award at the Public Servants of the Year Awards 2006.
A catalogue of central government failures strengthens the case for devolving more powers to local government. So why despite decades of official rhetoric and numerous inquiries is Whitehall so...
Local government is finally getting the attention it deserves, with its white paper and inquiry both due this year. But will anything change? Public Finance invited Sir Michael Lyons and a round...
