Jobsgopublic News

Numerous moves have been made to improve access to volunteering.

Volunteering England has published guidance on the Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) checks that those wising to volunteer have to undertake.

Justin Davis Smith, chief executive of Volunteering England, points out that red tape "has been a barrier to volunteering for many people", claiming it is crucial that information about CRB checks and volunteering is communicated clearly both to and by public officials.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Third Sector has unveiled £2 million in monetary support to increase volunteering opportunities for those people with disabilities, while £4 million in funding will be put towards training managers, financial assistance that could help those looking for opportunities to volunteer via a regional recruitment portal.

In addition, numerous media organisations - including the BBC and Daily Mirror - have made a committee to promoting volunteering to the wider public.

At present, just under a third (32 per cent) of Britons claim they would be willing to give their free time to volunteer for a charity, research by G2 Data Dynamics reveals.

More skills framework information.

Those with jobs in housing in the east Midlands have been praised for the services they provide.

Following an inspection by the Audit Commission, Nottingham City Homes (NCH) was deemed to be offering a "good" level of service.

The arms length management organisation (ALMO) has received two stars out of a possible three - an improvement from the one-star rating it was given in March 2006 - and has been deemed as having "excellent" prospects for achieving future improvements, in news that might interest those searching for work via a regional recruitment portal.

Ann Bennett, lead housing inspector for the Audit Commission in the east Midlands, said: "NCH’’s customers, staff and board have worked hard to improve existing services and to develop new ones.

"Staff are committed to customers, with services being shaped and influenced by tenants and leaseholders."

The commission also reports the ALMO is providing easily-accessible services and is tackling levels of anti-social behaviour.

Britons looking for jobs in housing may also be interested to hear the Audit Commission recently gave Cambridge city council’’s landlord services a two-star rating.

More regional recruitment portal information.

Those working for local councils in Scotland will play a significant role in the region’’s ability to manage through the financial crisis.

John Swinney, cabinet secretary for finance and sustainable growth, reports that although the Concordat signed between local and national government a year ago has seen the network partners form more effective ways of working with one another, the current economic situation will place more challenges on them to do this.

"This government has put in place an economic recovery programme and with our local government and public sector partners we are working to deliver that recovery," Mr Swinney claims.

He adds that councils are at the "coal face" of ensuring that both businesses and households can "weather the current difficulties and emerge stronger than before".

And in comments that might interest those seeking work via a regional recruitment portal, the cabinet secretary states the Concordat has allowed councils the freedom to react to needs and priorities in their local communities.

Similar statements were recently made by prime minister Gordon Brown who unveiled plans to create thousands of public sector jobs - in addition to those in other industries - to help combat the difficulties being experienced within the wider employment markets.

More about network partners.

Those looking for jobs in the public sector via a regional recruitment portal might wish to consider the London borough of Lambeth.

Following a recent inspection by the Audit Commission’’s corporate assessment team, those working for the local authority were reported to be taking steps to help raise the aspirations of young residents and support them in getting better qualifications.

Other initiatives by the council to tackle unemployment including the creation of more local jobs - as well as improving economic activity - were also praised.

With the commission deeming the council to be performing well, senior manager Jan Hunter claimed that "councillors and senior officers demonstrate a strong commitment to securing value for money and focus well on improving performance".

In addition, the local authority was highlighted for boosting community safety and tackling crime.

An earlier inspection of Lambeth council in December 2007 saw it be rated by the Audit Commission as offering "good" community safety services.

More regional recruitment portal information.

Increasing public satisfaction with recycling services and engaging well with residents are just two of the areas that South Tyneside council has been praised for.

Those working for the local authority were deemed to be performing strongly, following an inspection by the Audit Commission’’s corporate assessment team.

Meanwhile, the council was praised for strong leadership and providing innovative solutions, news that is likely to interest those searching for work via a regional recruitment portal.

In addition, its work with network partners - consisting of those in the private, voluntary and public sectors - was also commended.

"Based on a clear understanding of what matters and why, the council and its partners have gone about delivery in a robust way," David Jennings, senior manager for the Audit Commission, claims.

Mr Jennings adds that people in the area feel safer, while educational attainment has improved.

However, this is not the first time that the region has been praised by the Audit Commission, as last June South Tyneside Homes was deemed to be offering "good" housing management services.

More regional recruitment portal information.