Planning Practice Guidance

The Department for Communities and Local Government has published National Planning Practice Guidance which recognises the importance of local infrastructure planning in the development of healthy communities. The guidance supports the National Planning Policy Framework and now includes a section on health and wellbeing. This guidance sets out the government’s planning policies for England and how these are expected to be applied by local authorities. A significant development in the guidance is the recognition of the important role the planning system can play in facilitating social interaction and creating healthy, inclusive communities. Local planning authorities should ensure that health and wellbeing, and health infrastructure are considered in local and neighbourhood plans and in planning decision making.

A good practice guide for school food initiatives

This Guide was developed through extensive consultation with schools, community groups, health professionals and suppliers who are currently involved in providing food in school. Research was also conducted on approaches in Northern Ireland and in other countries. Finally, we consulted with Government and social partner stakeholders at national level to get their views as to the main issues to be addressed.

A good practice guide for community food initiatives

Food and nutrition are key determinants of health. What people eat, and how much they eat, influences how healthy they are, and even how long they live. Food poverty arises when people lack the money or other resources needed to eat a healthy diet. The overarching objective of Healthy Food for All is to end food poverty on the island of Ireland.

Accident & Emergency Nursing Assessment of Deliberate Self Harm. Exploring the Impact of Introducing a Suicide Education Programme and a Suicide Intent Scale into A&E/MAU Nursing Practice: A Pilot Study

A proposal to pilot nursing assessment of self harm in Accident and Emergency Departments (A&E) was developed by key stakeholders in nurse education and suicide prevention in the South East and submitted to the National Council for the Professional Development of Nursing and Midwifery in April 2002.The proposal included the introduction of a suicide intent scale. Following an initial training programme, a suicide intent scale was utilised by nursing staff in A&E and the Medical Assessment Unit (MAU),Wexford General Hospital and evaluated over a period of nine months. Four months into the study the National Suicide Research Foundation (NSRF) was invited to collaboratively prepare a successful submission to the Health Research Board (HRB) as part of ‘Building Partnerships for a Healthier Future Research Awards 2004’. The NSRF undertook independent scientific evaluation of the outcomes of the suicide awareness programme. The study is in line with priorities determined by Reach Out, the National Strategy for Action on Suicide Prevention 2005-2014 (HSE, 2005) and the HSE-South East Suicide Prevention Programme through raising nursing staff awareness of the public health issue of suicide/deliberate self harm and by improving the efficiency and quality of nursing services offered to persons who present to acute hospitals with deliberate self harm. The study findings indicate evidence to positively support nursing assessment of DSH using a suicide intent scale in terms of assessing behavioural characteristics of individual clients and their suicide risk. Enhanced confidence levels of nursing personnel in caring for suicidal clients was demonstrated by staff who participated in an education programme related to risk assessment and specifically the use of a suicide intent scale.This resource was contributed by The National Documentation Centre on Drug Use.

Good Practice Guides: Reducing young people's drinking

Actions to tackle health inequalities demand the efforts of government, statutory organisations, and community, voluntary and private sectors. This Good Practice Guide to reducing young people's drinking is one of a series designed to capture information about health inequalities and highlight evidence-based interventions and key actions for improvement across sectors.This resource was contributed by The National Documentation Centre on Drug Use.

Cognitive behavioural skills for practice a model for delivery in the Irish mental health service.

This publication outlines a model of delivery for introductory level Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) training in the Mental Health Service, HSE South (Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford). This model has proved useful in guiding the development of four introductory programmes during 2009 and 2010. As a result of this experience, we have amended and updated our programme delivery strategies. We see this process as organic and ever changing, thus these reflections are a snap shot of our current thinking which we have no doubt will evolve as we proceed with future programmes. This booklet will act as a guide for our upcoming programmes in 2010 and 2011 and we believe it may also offer guidance to others who will be involved in the delivery of CBT training within the Irish Mental Health Service.This resource was contributed by The National Documentation Centre on Drug Use.

The last taboo: A guide to dementia, sexuality, intimacy and sexual behaviour in care homes ILC-UK

The International Longevity Centre - UK��launched a new paper (Wednesday, 6th July 2011). The last taboo: A guide to dementia, sexuality, intimacy and sexual behaviour in care homes, provides care home workers and managers with information and practical advice on this complex, controversial and sensitive issue.The need for affection, intimacy and relationships for people with dementia in care homes has too often been ignored and side-lined in policy and practice. The onset of old age or a cognitive impairment does not erase the need for affection, intimacy and/or relationships. While the issues involved can be complex, controversial and sensitive and may challenge our own beliefs and value system, it is essential that we understand more about them to foster a more person-centred approach to dementia care. Care home residents with dementia often have complex care needs and trying to understand and respond to the more intimate and sexual aspects of a resident’s personality can be challenging.Aimed at care home workers and managers, the guide not only provides essential information on this aspect of dementia care but offers practical advice to support current work-based practices. Set out in an accessible and easy-to-read format, this guide includes case studies, questions, suggestions and a self assessment quiz to promote easy learning. It also provides a possible pathway for care home managers to develop a guiding policy on sexual expression in dementia.The guide for care staff is summarised in 10 key points:1. Some residents with dementia will have sexual or sensual needs.2. Affection and intimacy contribute to overall health and wellbeing for residents.3. Some residents with dementia will have the capacity to make decisions about their needs.4. If an individual in care is not competent to decide, the home has a duty of care towards the individual to ensure they are protected from harm.5. There are no hard and fast rules. Assess each situation on an individual basis6. Remember not everyone with dementia is heterosexual.7. Inappropriate sexual behaviour is not particularly common in dementia.8. Confront your own attitudes and behaviour towards older people and sex generally.9. Communicate – look at how you can improve communication with your colleagues, managers, residents and carers on this subject10. Look after yourself and remember your own needs as a care professional��The full paper is available: The Last Taboo

Health equity audit - learning from practice briefing

This briefing provides a summary of learning from three workshops on HEA, and examples of completed or near-completed HEAs to illustrate these learning points. It is recognised that this experience is evolving.

Ethnic disparities in health and health care: a focused review of the evidence and selected examples of good practice. Full report

This report arises from a project commissioned by the Department of Health's Equality and Human Rights Group to produce an evidence-based review with a national perspective that addresses (i) ethnic differentials in health and healthcare and (ii) evidence of effective NHS and other action, including seective examples of good practice to illustrate each area. Rather than aiming for comprehensive coverage, the Department suggested a document that focuses on selective topics and population health priorities drawn from the NHS plan, existing and developing National Service Frameworks, and other policy documents and which, collectively, are encompassed in the NHS's 10-point Race Equality Action Plan. The authors were not asked to review the evidence on other key areas (such ashypertension, stroke, disability, etc.), ethnic disparities in the wider determinants of health, and on some specific groups such as Gypsy Travellers and refugees and asylum seekers. Some of these topics are covered in other reviews.

Ethnic disparities in health and health care: a focused review of the evidence and selected examples of good practice. Executive summary

This report arises from a project commissioned by the Department of Health's Equality and Human Rights Group to produce an evidence-based review with a national perspective that addresses (i) ethnic differentials in health and healthcare and (ii) evidence of effective NHS and other action, including seective examples of good practice to illustrate each area. Rather than aiming for comprehensive coverage, the Department suggested a document that focuses on selective topics and population health priorities drawn from the NHS plan, existing and developing National Service Frameworks, and other policy documents and which, collectively, are encompassed in the NHS's 10-point Race Equality Action Plan. The authors were not asked to review the evidence on other key areas (such ashypertension, stroke, disability, etc.), ethnic disparities in the wider determinants of health, and on some specific groups such as Gypsy Travellers and refugees and asylum seekers. Some of these topics are covered in other reviews.

Implementation plan for reducing health inequalities in infant mortality: A good practice guide

The publication shows how to narrow the health inequalities gap in infant mortality by looking at current examples of best practice.

Quantifying the gap between policy and practice in cardiovascular risk reduction: a review of evidence from recent cardiovascular and diabetes audits in the UK

As part of CHD NSF implementation, a pilot project is being undertaken under the auspices of the National Screening Committee to test the practical implications and outcomes of implementing a systematic programme of cardiovascular risk reduction in primary care, initially identifying those at high risk due to pre-existing cardiovascular disease or diabetes. To assist in assessing the magnitude of the challenge faced by the pilot programmes, the UK National Screening Committee (NSC) commissioned a review of current practice based on recent cardiovascular and diabetes audits in the UK. This report details the findings of the review, providing 6 key recommendations for future cardiovascular audits.

Infection prevention and control. Best practice advice for nurseries and childcare settings

This booklet provides nurseries and childcare settings with comprehensive infection prevention and control advice.It includes simple, practical and easily understood guidance on the day-to-day implementation of good infection prevention and control practices, as well as specific actions to take in the event of outbreaks of infection.Areas covered include suitable childcare premises, hand hygiene, immunisation, decontamination, toys, personal items, toilets, nappy changing, laundry, food hygiene and pets.The booklet includes illustrations, diagrams, a glossary and key points to remember in each section to ensure the advice is easy for all staff to understand and pass on to others.It also provides contact details for each of the Health and Social Care early years teams in Northern Ireland.

Good Practice Guides

This series of Good Practice Guides is designed to share important information about health inequalities and some of the evidence-based measures that can be taken to reduce the stark differences in health and wellbeing within populations.