7597posts
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Delivering on Animal Welfare
There has been widespread online coverage following the Government’s update in the House yesterday on the status of the Kept Animals Bill.
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ICH E6 (R3) Good Clinical Practice
As a Lead Senior GCP Inspector at the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), I thought it would be useful to write about the changes to the International Council for Harmonisation (ICH) E6 Good Clinical Practice (GCP) Guideline …
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How to organise an accessibility scavenger hunt
Even if you don’t know it yet, accessibility matters to you personally. In this post Marian Avery explains why, and talks about how to organise an accessibility scavenger hunt to help build empathy.
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Improving and extending our offer for upland farmers
It is our mission to create an offer that is workable for every farmer and farm type in England. Upland farmers are a crucial part of our rural communities, economies and landscapes – they are central to the production of high-quality food and other goods. In this post, we set out the offer for upland farmers and share the work we are doing to make sure that it is accessible, broad and rewarding, and that it helps us to achieve our ambitions for food production, productivity and the environment.
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The NLW and protected characteristics: differences in employment and minimum wage coverage by ethnicity, disability, and gender
As set out in our previous blog, we recently published two research projects which we commissioned for our 2021 Report, and which use innovative approaches and data sources to shed further light on the impact of higher minimum wages on …
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NHS workforce stats for May 2023: Record numbers of doctors and nurses in NHS
For the second consecutive month, there are record numbers of doctors and nurses working in the NHS helping to deliver extra appointments, speed up diagnoses and tackle the Covid backlog. At the same time, additional data shows there are more …
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Patients given more choice to help cut NHS waiting times - what you need to know
We have announced plans to offer patients more choice over where they receive their NHS treatment after they are referred by their GP. Further information is available here. What are the new measures? Patients will now have greater control over …
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From lumberjack to lumberjill: Why forestry isn't just for men.
Kate Hawley Area Operations Manager for Yorkshire and the North East reflects on her experience of being a women in forestry and the significance of the new exhibition that has opened in Grizedale.
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Natural England chair Tony Juniper responds to criticism of nutrient neutrality
Natural England chair Tony Juniper responds to criticism of nutrient neutrality
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New Hospital Programme – media fact sheet
*Updated 8 November* This fact sheet sets out the latest on the government’s New Hospital Programme, following the announcement that five hospitals constructed mostly using reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) will be rebuilt by 2030 as part of the New …
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Coverage on government support for tenant farmers in response to the Rock Review
Yesterday (24 May), the government published a range of measures to support tenant farmers and help provide long-term sustainability for the tenant farming sector in its response to the independent Rock Review.
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How can digital technologies support care?
Most of us now use digital technology in some way in our day to day lives. It’s no different in the adult social care sector and often the same technologies and gadgets we use at home can be used to support how we care for people. But when this everyday tech is packaged up as “care technology” it can feel a bit technical...
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Coverage on the marine and coastal wildlife code
Today there has been coverage on BBC Breakfast on the launch of England’s first ever national Marine and Coastal Wildlife Code.
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A beginners’ guide to using frameworks for school buying
Emily Wignall, Digital Engagement and Information Manager in the DfE’s Schools Commercial Team explains what a framework is and how using one can help your school navigate a legally compliant buying process, whilst saving time and money.
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My learning journey in the Defra Cloud Academy
Associate Cloud Engineer Darcie Ingram reflects on her experiences being part of the first cohort of ‘cadets’ to join our new Cloud Academy.
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Nutrient neutrality coverage continued
Today there has been coverage in the Times newspaper inaccurately claiming that Natural England’s rules have prevented developers from building thousands of homes.
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Our early years curriculum roadshows on the education inspection framework (EIF)
We’re on the final stretch of our journey around the country delivering our early years curriculum roadshows on the education inspection framework (EIF). Now seems a good time to look at how far we’ve come and where we’re going to …
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5 things you need to know about being a prison officer
Starting out as a prison officer 35 years ago, Dawn progressed up the ranks to governor, a role she’s held in several prisons. She shares her thoughts and reflections on working as a prison officer, how it’s changed over the …
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Delegated healthcare activities: the principles of great care
What’s your definition of high quality care and support? Safe? Consistent? Person-centred? It is all those things. Deborah Sturdy, Chief Nurse fort Adult Social Care, celebrates the publication of ‘Delegated healthcare activities: guiding principles for health and social care in England’, giving social care colleagues enhanced tools to deliver the very best care.
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Supporting tenant farmers: our response to the Rock Review
The Tenancy Working Group was set up to review how government could better support the tenanted sector. Chaired by Baroness Rock, the group published its findings in the Rock Review. Today, we published our response on GOV.UK.
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ACE Research Network: Growing further together
ACE brought together government customers, academics and businesses from across the northwest at the first of a series of events designed to extend the regional reach of our research network.
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Trade economics at the TRA – a quick tour behind the scenes
You may be wondering what an Economist does when it comes to trade remedies and whether this role is for you. Here’s an insight into what it is like working as an Economist at the TRA. Economic analysis and trade …
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Demand for wireless connectivity: addressing a complex and uncertain future
“Wireless connectivity has become increasingly critical for different aspects of our lives, from keeping in touch, to getting around, to accessing a range of important services.” - Sir Patrick Vallance, former Government Chief Scientific Adviser. The Department for Science, Innovation …
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Part III: One Year On, Where To Next?
When we set out our digital strategy a year ago we, somewhat unusually, started from the bottom and summed up the impact of a lot of in-flight work and over 40 individual strategies. This isn’t the way that you might …
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Ensuring sustainable decommissioning of nuclear sites
James Heavingham from our Nuclear Regulation team writes about the growth in the Environment Agency’s role regulating decommissioning and clean up, as old nuclear facilities are shut down and sites cleaned up to a point where regulation is no longer …
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Help us to review productivity and slurry grant items
The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund supports the purchase of equipment, technology, and infrastructure designed to improve agricultural, horticultural and forestry productivity in a sustainable way. Grants are offered towards the cost of specific items of equipment on a list. We promised to review the list of productivity and slurry items and we'd like your help.
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The NLW and protected characteristics: Living wages and ethnic pay gaps
We have long been concerned with understanding the minimum wage’s impact on different groups of workers. Since 2021, the Government has formally specified this requirement in our remit, asking us "to gather particular evidence on groups of low paid workers …
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Building a better future for our teams
For Learning at Work Week, Defra digital, data, and technology Academy Lead Hermionie Blake explains how our Skills Academy Programmes are enabling talent to shine.
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Improving accessibility at the Royal Courts of Justice
Find out how colleagues at the Royal Courts of Justice Group have been working to improve access to justice for users with accessibility needs.
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Coverage on Nutrient Neutrality
There has been coverage in The Times today which covers comments from the Home Builders Federation, who claim that Natural England has blocked the building of over 160,000 homes due to nutrient neutrality rules, causing development levels to fall to …
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Coverage of Ivory Act extension to five new species
Five new species set to be protected under Ivory Act extension
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How to learn from Learning at Work Week
Joya Snowden, Digital Data and Technology Services Capability Development Lead, reflects on how we can all benefit from this annual celebration of learning, even discovering or acquiring new talents and curiosities.
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Respect the Range: How to safely access MOD land this summer
A team from DIO recently attended the South Downs National Park Authority’s ‘Secrets of the Heath’ festival in Hampshire, to speak to festival-goers and promote safe public access to the Defence Training Estate (DTE). The event took place at Hogmoor …
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Oak Processionary Moth: ID and action
Find out more about the tree pest Oak Processionary Moth. This visual guide explains how to spot it, and the actions you can take.
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What can you expect during a food business inspection? An Environmental Health Officer explains
We spoke to Luke, an Environmental Health Officer from Gwynedd Council in Wales, who talked to us about how he helps food businesses be safe and successful.
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Building back better and mainstreaming property flood resilience
Julie Foley, Director of Flood Risk Strategy & National Adaptation Around 1 in 6 people are at risk of flooding in England. Our changing climate means that more homes will be at risk in the future. We have traditionally focussed …
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Managing Deputyships with DigiDeps: A Collaborative Digital Solution
My name is Alexander Pulley and I am a team leader within the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG). Some of you might have heard of the OPG and some of you may even be our customers. At OPG, we …
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How we are preparing for the introduction of the new biodiversity net gain digital service
On International Day for Biological Diversity Service Designer Chris Brooker shares some insight into the work that has gone into designing a service for a unique new government policy which goes live later this year.
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The Qs of Quality Research
When looking for or commissioning research it is important to understand the research question, what it is you want to know. A suggested way to do this is to break your research question into basic what, how and why questions. …
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GSE Leadership Values: Integrity
When writing a blog about the GSE leadership value of ‘Integrity’, I had to stop and think for a moment about what integrity really meant for me. As both a Civil Servant and a scientist, I think it’s essential for …