7059posts
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School Uniforms – What you need to know
School uniforms can reduce peer pressure at school for the latest clothes and help children feel settled and prepared for school, but they can be costly for parents.
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How we geared up for the changes to Driver CPC part 3 tests
Amanda Lane, Policy Manager of Technical Standards for the Rider and Vocational Policy Team, shares her experience of changing the HGV test process.
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The cross-government user research blog is back
We’re relaunching the user research in government blog
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Developing my career and improving my practice with a specialist NPQ
I’m excited to explore how my National Professional Qualification will directly impact my day-to-day practice. Discovering new strategies to combat truancy, low-level disruption, backchatting or even aggressive behaviour are always welcome in the classroom. I'm also aiming to become Head of Year so look forward to the opportunity to develop my career further through the NPQLBC.
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Putting your questions to us
We’re going to do a monthly Q&A session on The Farming Forum. In this post, I'll share our approach to Q&As and links to the ones we've taken part in.
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New offence to crack down on dog theft
In today’s blog we look at a new criminal offence to punish those who steal dogs.
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Content and interaction –How to become design BFFs
Content design is a collaborative discipline, so when you’re the only content designer in your digital team, it can be lonely. You don’t have that content buddy to bounce ideas off, get a second pair of eyes on your work …
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Accessibility: adapting online services to meet your needs
Our Lead Interaction Designer, James Francis, gives advice on how to adapt your technology to best suit your needs.
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Why we need to prioritise equality, diversity and inclusion
Gail Larkin, Lead HR Business Partner and lead on equality, diversity and inclusion for employees at the Planning Inspectorate, reflects on the reasons behind the release of Inspectorate diversity statistics this week
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Know your enemy: the contribution of veterinary laboratories to antimicrobial stewardship
A world without antimicrobials (including antibiotics) would lead to an increase in serious illness, death and the spread of disease. Learn how APHA are working to protect their future effectiveness and why limiting their use is vitally important.
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Blue Belt Programme Overseas Territories playing their part in tackling Climate change
Throughout COP26 (October 31st – November 12th) we have shared with you the potential impacts of climate change being faced by the Blue Belt overseas territories. But we have also shown you the work that is being planned and undertaken …
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The four key ways we’re supporting staff wellbeing
Laura Fordham is part of the senior leadership team at Bedford Academy, she shares how they are prioritising staff wellbeing and using the DfE Education staff wellbeing charter and its principles to support this work. After a challenging 18 months, …
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Be a ‘Road Safety Hero’ by making sure your eyesight is fit for driving
For Road Safety Week, Dr Cathy Armstrong, Deputy Senior DVLA Doctor, talks about the importance of meeting the minimum eyesight standard for driving.
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Why we think online HTML forms are usually better than document-based forms in government
From an initial comparison of different forms technologies, we believe more teams should be using online HTML forms.
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What is antimicrobial resistance and why do we need to take action against it?
The national annual report ESPAUR (English Surveillance Programme for Antimicrobial Utilisation and Resistance) outlines the scale of the problem antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses and this blog reflects its latest findings, as well as the actions we can all take to mitigate the effects of AMR.
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Collaborative enforcement: Jail for carbon credit fraudsters
Joe is a Senior Investigator at the Insolvency Service. In this blog, Joe writes about how a multi-agency collaboration helped protect the public from scammers.
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Establishing horizon scanning functions in government
Over the last few years, Government Office for Science (GOS) Futures team have seen an increase in teams from across government seeking advice about setting up new horizon scanning functions. In response to this, Bethan Morgan, Senior Capability Lead in …
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Government sets out commitment to protecting seabed with joint statement on clearing unexploded ordnance
Today the UK Government has published a joint position statement which sets out preference for low noise alternatives to clear unexploded ordnance.
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Smarter working and wellbeing for civil servants event
Join Civil Service Local, The Charity for Civil Servants and Civil Service HR in a series of sessions around Smarter Working and your Wellbeing.
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Car driving examiners – what’s the role like?
DVSA is launching its third phase of its campaign to recruit more car driving examiners with the aim of reducing waiting times created by the pandemic.
Kelly Swift started as a driving examiner with DVSA in June 2021. She discusses her experience of the recruitment and training process, and how she’s finding her new role.
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The Farming Investment Fund launches today
I’m pleased to say that the Farming Investment Fund launches today. The fund provides grants to farmers, growers, and foresters (including related contractors) so that they can invest in the things they need to improve productivity and enhance the natural environment. In this post, I'll share how you can apply and find out more.
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Integrated Marine Management – Working with People for Nature
Marianne Teoh, Senior Integrated Marine Manager, Blue Belt Programme One of the newest recruits to the Blue Belt Team is Marianne Teoh. Marianne is an interdisciplinary scientist and marine manager, who joined us from Fauna & Flora International in Cambodia, …
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World Prematurity Day: The day everything changed
With 1 in 13 babies in the UK born early (before 37 weeks), Carla Giudice shares five ways the Civil Service can best support colleagues with premature babies. My journey into parenthood started unconventionally. My pregnancy in 2016 was unexpected, …
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We’re awarding funding to 9 projects through Round 5 of the Local Digital Fund
Today we’re pleased to announce the 9 council-led digital projects that will be awarded funding through Round 5 of the Local Digital Fund. The aim of the Local Digital Fund is to help councils transform their digital services in line …
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Working part-time as a prison officer
As prisons operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, prison officers work shifts. Most work full-time, but some prisons offer part-time working. We caught up with Jason who told us what he likes about working part-time. “I’ve been …
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The importance of international engagement for the RPC
Stephen Gibson comments on the RPC's international work during the Covid pandemic
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New funding to combat bullying in education - Everything you need to know
Bullying in any form is unacceptable and can have a devastating effect on children, young people and their families. That’s why, as anti-bullying week continues, we have confirmed funding for five leading organisations, worth over £1m in total, to support …
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What you need to know about skills and technical education
We want to make sure that education and training gives people the skills they need to go on to get great jobs that are fulfilling for them and boost the economy.
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Restoring native tussac grass habitats in the Falkland Islands
One of the major responsibilities shared by DIO and British Forces South Atlantic Islands (BFSAI) is the sustainable management of land and facilities used by British forces in the Falkland Islands. This includes the conservation of some of the …
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Government considering new action on wet wipes
Today we are looking at media coverage of Government plans for possible new standards for wet wipes
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Government Security Awards 2022 - Nominations Now Open!
Dear All, I am hugely excited to announce the launch of this year’s Government Security Awards. This is a great opportunity to celebrate our Government Security profession, who have worked tirelessly to ensure the highest standards across our function, and …
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Investigating unregistered schools – how you can help
Chris Russell, our National Director, Education, explains the work of our unregistered schools taskforce and what you should do if you want to report an illegal, unregistered school.
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NHSD Care Identity Management alpha assessment
Read the alpha assessment report for the Care Identity Management service from NHS Digital. This report corresponds to the video assessment observation that took place on 11 November 2021. This is a lightly edited version of the original report to fit the style of this blog.
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Letting users tick a ‘none’ checkbox
The Department for Education has contributed a new checkbox to the GOV.UK Design System that lets users explicitly tell us none of the other options apply.
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How I’ve been supported in my trans journey
Data statistician Leo talks about his transition at work to mark Transgender Awareness Week. Find out how he navigated the process during the pandemic.
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Overcoming Personal and Professional Barriers: Your next Junior Leaders Networking Event
Our next Junior Leaders Networking Event takes place on Tuesday 30 November and will focus on helping you overcome the personal barriers which may hold you back from achieving your full potential.
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MP Roundtable with the RPA - Tim Farron MP (Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Café Ambio, Junction 36 at the Rural Auction Centre in Crookland was the perfect place to host our biggest MP Roundtable yet. With a huge turn out of over 100 farmers and land managers, this was a bit of a …
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Developing a whole school approach to tackle bullying
Hear from a school that has been awarded Gold Status through the All Together Programme in 2021 for their dedication and robust approach to tackling bullying.
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Taking action to tackle Channel crossings
We are seeing an unacceptable rise in illegal migrants departing from France. The British public have had enough of seeing people die in the Channel while ruthless criminal gangs profit from their misery. These crossings are dangerous, with overloaded boats …
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Chair’s stakeholder update - How climate change will impact on diet and what is the regulatory responsibility?
We need this conversation to continue beyond the COP26. So, I have an ask: how can we work together on the challenges that climate change is creating for the food system?