GOV.UK blogs

Covid vaccine: Book your jab before NHS offer ends

The offer of a free NHS Covid vaccine ends for the majority of people on Friday 30 June. If you have yet to come forward for a first dose of a vaccine, you are encouraged to do so to protect …

What can be done to tackle Invasive Non-Native Species?

The annual Invasive Species Week is taking place between the 15th and 21st May 2023, led by the GB Non-Native Species Secretariat (NNSS) with many organisations taking the opportunity to raise awareness of the issues and work that is being …

Delinked payments guidance updates

The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has published updates to the guidance for delinked payments on GOV.UK.   For an overview of what delinked payments are and how to apply for them, you can read this introduction to delinked payments. We originally …

Understanding biosecurity

Our recent survey of 2,000 people, led by Forest Research and OnePoll, looks at people's experiences of the countryside and green spaces in England. It explores their understanding of pests and diseases and ways to limit the spread.

Delinked Payments: updated guidance

We recently updated the guidance for delinked payments on GOV.UK. The guidance sets out whether you’re eligible for delinked payments, how they’re calculated and when you’ll receive them. In this post, I’ll provide an overview and links for you to find out more.

Hertfordshire County Council: key local achievements of the Supporting Families Programme

The Supporting Families Programme is based on the principle of a whole family approach, providing support to all members of the family, including children, parents and grandparents. The programme’s holistic approach helps families to address and overcome multiple challenges they …

International Nurses Day: celebrating our values, strengths and ambition

This month sees the annual celebration of International Nurses Day on 12 May, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth. In difficult and uncertain times, celebrating social care nursing's amazing contribution to the health and wellbeing of our communities is more important than ever.

Learn new skills by signing up to GSE Science and Engineering courses

The new GSE Courses have now launched.   Access the courses   Civil servants can access the courses using these links:   Civil Service Learning: Understanding and Accessing Science and Engineering Advice    Civil Service Learning: Communicating Science and Engineering Advice Crown, public …

Digital Assurance – making digital services better 

Being an Assurance Manager means being at the heart of every digital activity in the department, learn more about the role.

FSA update to stakeholders on imports

FSA Chair Professor Susan Jebb shares news on the government’s recent publication of the draft Border Target Operating Model (BTOM).

Shared parental leave at HMRC: Sam's story

About me  I’m Sam and I work in HR at HMRC. My role is in our employment policy team working with a fantastic set of colleagues to ensure our employment framework is up to date so the department can do …

Celebrating success at DDaT Fest

A chance to meet new colleagues and learn something new at our first in-person away day

Tree Health Pilot: improvements and progress on the ash dieback offer

The Tree Health Pilot tests different ways of slowing the spread of tree pests and diseases as well as building the resilience of trees across England. In this post, I’ll update you on the work to improve the Pilot’s ash dieback grant offer. Changes have been made to eligibility, guidance and the application process. 

Taking a place-based approach to tackling hepatitis in prisons

Prisons are complex settings in which to deliver healthcare, and people in prisons and under probation service supervision have higher levels of health and social care needs than others in the community.

This is due to multiple overlapping factors such as adverse childhood experiences, a history of poor housing and a lack of engagement with healthcare.

Climate change, plants and plant pests

Learn more about how climate change is responsible for changes in nature’s calendar, the rise of plant pathogens and pests and what APHA are doing to protect the UK border, from one of Defra’s Plant Health Scientists, Dominic Eyre.

Six Months of Delivery

From our landmark plans to deliver a cleaner, greener country, to the billions of pounds made available to improve nature and support communities, businesses and food producers across the country – we’ve been busy delivering on our commitment to leave …

Coverage on the Public Accounts Committee report on Defra IT

Today, we are looking at coverage following the publication of the House of Commons’ Public Accounts Committee report on Defra’s IT infrastructure.

Flooding in Devon and Somerset

An update from the Environment Agency on flooding in Devon and Somerset.

We’ve removed 98% of gsi-family domains from the public sector

An important update on work to remove gsi-family domains from the public sector including what to do if you believe you still have an active domain.

The role of research in adult social work

Those of you who are regular readers of my blogs will know one of my priorities continues to be the importance and value of social care research in social work. So, I am delighted to host this guest blog from social workers who have fellowships with the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). It’s so inspiring to have their contribution.

Part II: One Year On, Changing the Conversation

Last time I talked about progress against our strategy through the eyes of users. This is obviously very, very important - we exist to serve our users. Today I’m going to talk about a number of things that will seem …

Nursing Times Awards: we're so glad we entered last year

Entering the Nursing Times Awards social care category last year was a motivating experience for Oakleaf Group care colleagues. If your team or service is doing great things in the social care sector, nominate them for the Nursing Times ‘nursing in social care’ award today. Entry closes Friday 12 May!

Summer exams are starting

As we emerge from the Coronation celebrations and a welcome extra Bank Holiday, all those involved in exams – students, parents, teachers and exams officers, as well as all of us here at Ofqual – are looking ahead to the …

Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme – media fact sheet

All vaccines being used in the UK have undergone robust clinical trials and have met the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s (MHRA) strict standards of safety, effectiveness and quality. As of 30 April, more than 146 million Covid vaccines …

From personal trainer to PE instructor

What makes a great prison officer? It might not be what you think. Our prison officers come from a wide range of backgrounds. But the one thing they have in common is wanting to make a difference. Officer Worrall decided …

Addressing the need for seed: How we’re tackling the demand for quality trees

Seed sourcing is an essential part of tree production and a secure, diverse supply of tree seed is key to creating healthy, resilient woodlands. The Seed Sourcing Grant will be reopening later this spring to support production of tree seeds.

Lancet article defines road map for UK lung cancer screening programme

The Lancet has published an article setting out the priorities for the effective implementation of targeted lung cancer screening in the UK.

Have your say on marine plans in your area

The Marine Management Organisation's (MMO) Marine Planning team would like your support in collecting data to inform the monitoring and reporting of England’s marine plans. Surveys are one way we can understand the use and impact of marine plans. Information …

What happens during a food business inspection? We asked an Environmental Health Practitioner

Food hygiene inspections are an important part of owning a food business. In our latest blog, Jo, an Environmental Health Practitioner from South Derbyshire, talks about her role, what to expect from an inspection if you are a food business owner, and why she loves her job so much.

Transport and logistics: from apprentice to mentor

The transport and logistics route review report was published on 2 May. Koli Begum completed an apprenticeship with the Go Ahead Group in June 2021, before going on to become a driver and apprentice mentor in the organisation. Hear from …

How we're making it easier to get an NHS GP appointment

The Health and Social Care Secretary is committed to making it easier to get a GP appointment and he has today set out how we will improve access to this vital front door to the NHS under a new plan. …

Intellectual property for King and country

The Coronation is not only a historic event, it means big business for some, with flags, bunting and souvenirs flooding the shops. But exactly what are the rules around Royal-related intellectual property?

Cambridge beats Weatherfield to Coronation Street top spot

More than 1,000 streets in England and Wales have Coronation in their name. So where do you pay the most for the royal appellation? And where might Ken Barlow's street rank?

Welcoming the Muscat Manifesto - Putting Antimicrobial Resistance at the Top of Global Agendas

Today I want to reflect on the Muscat Manifesto and how it showcases international commitments to accelerate One Health Actions on antimicrobial resistance. It was presented at the Third High-Level Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) hosted by the Sultanate …

Welcome to the cross-Government Secure by Design approach

Learn more about Secure by Design which has been cemented as a necessity in both the Government Cyber Security Strategy and the Transforming for a Digital Future: 2022 to 2025 roadmap for digital and data. Both strategies reinforce the need of embedding cyber security into the delivery of digital services - at every stage.

Supporting Families working in partnership: A family journey

Family Details  Mum Jo (21) and Dad Mike (22) have a daughter Leah (10 months) and a son Stuart, who was born several months after the work started.  There is a large extended maternal family who supported the parents and …

Celebrating the Coronation with libraries and archives

How libraries and archives are joining the Coronation celebrations

Egg-shaped stars and Wolf-359: The UK night sky in May

May brings a meteor shower, a conjunction of the Moon with Mars and Venus, and a chance to see the core of our Milky Way Galaxy. 

The companies register: the coronation years

As the nation celebrates the coronation of King Charles III, we take a look at how the Companies House register looked in past coronation years of our 179-year history. From the Edwardian era to Queen Elizabeth II, find out how the company register has changed over time

The death of Free, a Natural England tagged hen harrier

Stephanie Bird-Halton, Director, National Delivery, Natural England Hen harriers are currently extremely rare in England due to illegal persecution and nest disturbance, primarily in areas associated with grouse shooting. Natural England satellite-tracks hen harriers in order to investigate patterns of …