Officers at Norfolk County Council have laid out new plans for the recruitment and retention of social workers. Picture: Archant Archant A new blueprint for social worker recruitment in Norfolk has been revealed to county councillors. Measures such as recruiting other professionals to share the workload and maintaining teaching partnerships to improve the pipeline of newly qualified social workers were set out in the report on social worker recruitment and retention.Elly Starling, lead HR and OD business partner for children’s services at Norfolk County Council, presented the report to the council’s children’s services committee on Tuesday.She said: “There is still a national shortage of qualified social workers. As a result of that there has been a lot of effort to invest in social workers.“We are currently looking at our delivery model for social care. We have to be creative in funding solutions to ensure that our social workers have the right number … [Read more...] about Plans revealed to reduce Norfolk’s reliance on agency social workers
Politics
California has ‘extraordinary’ budget surplus, analysts say
By Melody Gutierrez Updated 3:12 pm PST, Wednesday, November 14, 2018 SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 22: California Lt. Gov. and California gubernatorial candidate Gavin Newsom (L) laughs with a resident as he visits the Alice Griffith Apartments on August 22, 2018 in San Francisco, California. Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and San Francisco mayor London Breed toured a low-income housing complex. Newsom leads Republican gubernatorial candidate John Cox by an average of 23 percentage points in recent polls. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) less SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 22: California Lt. Gov. and California gubernatorial candidate Gavin Newsom (L) laughs with a resident as he visits the Alice Griffith Apartments on August 22, 2018 in San Francisco, ... more Photo: Justin Sullivan, Getty Images … [Read more...] about California has ‘extraordinary’ budget surplus, analysts say
Controversial Norwich homes site could land City Hall housing award
The new Passivhaus development at Goldsmith Street. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY Archant From controversy to accolade - a Norwich housing development is up for an award. Gail Harris, deputy leader of the city council in one of the four bedroom houses at the new Passivhaus development at Goldsmith Street. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYFrom controversy to accolade - a Norwich housing development is up for an award.The council’s approach to housing, which includes a 105-home social housing and Passivhaus development in Goldsmith Street and new homes in Bowthorpe, is in the running for a prize at the LGC Awards next year.The Goldsmith Street design has already won the Housing Design Award in 2016 and was also included in the top 10 in the world for new architecture in 2018 by The Times. When complete, the site will become the country’s largest Passivhaus scheme for social rent.Properties built to ‘Passivhaus’ standard are the highest certifiable standard of energy … [Read more...] about Controversial Norwich homes site could land City Hall housing award
Council boss: Why I sanctioned investigation into Tory councillor emails
Dr Wendy Thomson, who is leaving as managing director of Norfolk County Council at Christmas, sanctioned the email investigation. Photo: Archant A council chief has sought to justify a controversial investigation into Conservative councillors’ emails. The investigation involved the interrogation of data servers at County Hall Photo: ArchantManaging director of Norfolk County Council, Dr Wendy Thomson, gave the go-ahead in April for email data of Conservative members to be looked at to find a leak.It sparked criticism from opposition parties when reported last week.The council has so far failed to provide the legal justification for looking at politicians’ email data. A contractor, who used to work for the council’s IT department, said the only way to view the emails would be to change permissions on their mailbox.Conservative councillor Stuart Dark was tasked with carrying out the investigation into fellow councillors' emails Photo: Norfolk ConservativesAnother … [Read more...] about Council boss: Why I sanctioned investigation into Tory councillor emails
SF doctor was told by the NRA to stay in her lane. She said no
Updated 3:09 pm PST, Tuesday, November 13, 2018 Pathologist Dr. Judy Melinek displays a variety of shotgun shells and bullets which she uses for educational purposes at her office in San Francisco, Calif. on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. Dr. Melinek's response to an NRA comment that doctors should "stay in their lane" regarding gun violence went viral after she tweeted it on Friday. less Pathologist Dr. Judy Melinek displays a variety of shotgun shells and bullets which she uses for educational purposes at her office in San Francisco, Calif. on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018. Dr. Melinek's response to ... more Photo: Paul Chinn / The Chronicle Buy photo Photo: Paul Chinn / The Chronicle Image 1 of / 24 Caption Close Image 1 of 24 Pathologist Dr. Judy Melinek displays a variety of shotgun … [Read more...] about SF doctor was told by the NRA to stay in her lane. She said no