Author: Guest editor

By Professor Catherine Needham, Professor of Public Policy and Public ManagementHealth Services Management Centre, University of Birmingham Yesterday in the Autumn Statement, the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt confirmed what had already been hinted: the cap on social care spending by private individuals would be delayed past its planned implementation date of October 2023. Instead, there will … Continue reading “The cap that never fits – delaying the social care cap yet again”

By Professor Judith SmithSchool of Social Policy, University of Birmingham In these straitened economic times, public services awaited the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement with trepidation, wondering where and how deeply the axe of funding cuts was going to fall. Trailers for the Statement had intimated tax increases, major spending constraint and delays to much-needed policy and … Continue reading “As good as it gets”

By Dr Kelly HallDepartment of Social Policy, Sociology and Criminology Social care services are reported to be facing a ‘perfect storm’ of financial and workforce pressures. Spending on social care is falling and fewer people receive publicly funded services. There is a workforce crisis and recent reports suggest that around a quarter of care workers … Continue reading “Can social enterprises tackle the social care crisis?”

By Dr Madeleine FindonSchool of Education, University of Birmingham  Recent headlines have revealed that one of the routes the Government is exploring to address the cost-of-living crisis is adjusting childcare ratios for two-year-olds in England. For the reader who is less familiar with the current requirements, adults working with 2-year-olds in England may currently be … Continue reading “The true cost of changing childcare ratios”

By Dr Scott TaylorProfessor in Leadership & Organisation Studies, Department of Management Many leaders would like to claim they have charisma, perhaps because it is one of the first terms we reach for when we try to describe what makes a good leader. At the same time, it’s a mysterious, even mystical, idea, reflecting its … Continue reading “What happens to a leader when charisma fades?”

By Professor John BrysonDepartment of Strategy and International Business, University of Birmingham Russia’s Ukrainian military campaign has many origins. One of these is Putin’s on-going failure to govern Russia to create better outcomes for those living and working in Russia. Another reflects the failure of all governments, including all European states, the US and China, … Continue reading “Putin’s Ukrainian war, sanctions, and the tragedy of the Russian people”

By Anna PilsonLecturer in Vision Impairment Education A recent report from Angel Eyes NI has found that the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an “alarming decline in emotional health and wellbeing” for some blind or visually-impaired children. This timely research has been undertaken in a context of a wider-UK governmental focus on the wellbeing of … Continue reading “How visually-impaired children have faced isolation during the pandemic”

By Dr Sophie King-Hill, Senior Fellow in the Health Services Management Centre (HSMC) University of Birmingham   Valentine’s Day is upon us, and with it, many of us are buying gifts and cards for others to proclaim our love, care and affection for them. On face value, this seems like an innocent and pleasant thing to … Continue reading “How consumerism stole Valentine’s Day”

By Dr Sophie King-HillHealth Services Management Centre, University of Birmingham Sexual behaviours in children and young people (CYP) aged 13-18 is an unexplored research area within the UK context, and no assessment tools for these behaviours currently exist that are underpinned by UK-focussed research. The national conversation taking place around sexual harassment in UK schools … Continue reading “Assessing sexual behaviour in children and young people”