A fresh approach to public sector leadership is vital if the Scottish Government�s vision of a more successful country is to realised, according to the Economic and Social Research Council.
Call for leadership
A fresh approach to public sector leadership is vital if the Scottish Government's vision of a more successful country is to realised, according to the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).
A new report claims that investment in leadership in Scotland has yet to prove its value, and argues that current global concerns around leadership are especially sensitive in Scotland following the major financial services companies fall from grace.
Professor Graeme Martin of the University of Glasgow's Business School said: "In Scotland, leadership has been seen as key to making the public sector more effective.
"Although the way it has been taught until now has its virtues, there has been duplication of effort, a lack of sharing of ideas of what has worked, and little evidence that our investment in leadership development has been a good one."
The report calls for Scotland's public sector leaders to throw their weight behind collaborative efforts in response to social issues.
Diabetes roadshow
Around 160,000 people in Scotland needlessly have Type 2 diabetes, according to health charity Diabetes UK Scotland, which has launched a national roadshow to tackle what it describes as a diabetes timebomb.
Among the 200,000 Scots who have the diabetes variant, 80% of cases could have been prevented by people adopting a healthy diet and increasing levels of physical activity, the charity says.
In a bid to prevent further needless cases, Diabetes UK Scotland launched its national Measure Up Roadshow this Wednesday in Aberdeen to help people find out more about Type 2 diabetes and discover whether they are may be at risk. The roadshow visits The Plainstones in Elgin town centre this Saturday and Sunday (9am-5pm).
Teacher training
The General Teaching Council should assume more responsibility for the ongoing training of teachers, its leader has argued, in response to a Government consultation about the future status and independence of the regulatory body.
The GTC's response also welcomes clarification of its involvement in approving teacher training courses and setting entry requirements. Chief Executive Anthony Finn also says teachers in the independent sector should be required to register with the council.
Balls in the firing line
A leading English local government chief has branded children's secretary Ed Balls part of the problem' over his handling of the Baby P affair.
In a blog posting, David Clark, director general of the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (Solace) said Balls had pandered to a tabloid anti-social worker agenda and had exacerbated a crisis in child protection.
He said it would be difficult for Balls plans to rejuvenate the low reputation and morale of social work in the wake of Baby P, given the comments he had made in the wake of the affair last year.
His criticisms betrayed an ignorance of the realities of child protection social work, Clark said.
Hate Crime landmark
Disability charities have welcomed the passage of the Hate Crime bill at the Scottish Parliament as a landmark'.
Norman Dunning, chief executive of Enable Scotland said: "Enable Scotland has fought for years to see crime against disabled people recognised for what it is: hate crime.
"Over a third of people with learning disabilities suffer ongoing verbal and physical abuse.
"Invoking the category of hate crime does more than impose heavier sentences for the perpetrators - it sends out a message to the wider public that attacking this particularly vulnerable group is unacceptable."
Alan Dickson, chief executive of Capability Scotland, said: "Hate crime is a violent expression of intolerance and for it still to be so prevalent is a sad indictment on our society."
