POLITICAL ACTION

One hundred and fifty English local authorities and all authorities in Wales have the strategic lead for education of children and young people. They have a legal duty to take action to ensure that every child fulfils his or her educational potential.

The LGO are the final stage for complaints about councils, all adult social care providers (including care homes and home care agencies) and some other organisations providing local public services. They are a free service. They investigate complaints in a fair and independent way - They do not take sides.

They are able to investigate some school related issues in which the local council is usually the responsible body.

Commissioning is the process of assessing needs, planning and prioritising, purchasing and monitoring health services, to get the best health outcomes.

Services are commissioned by CCGs and NHS England on a local, regional and national basis.

The Involvement Hub supports patients, carers, staff and the public who want to find out more about participation – both how to do it and how to get involved.

It is a source of information and resources which will help people to develop their knowledge, skills and confidence to get involved in the design and delivery of health services. The site also includes examples of good practice and links to learning and involvement opportunities.

Children's Commissioner, Anne Longfield promotes and protects the rights of children, especially the most vulnerable, and stands up for their views and interests.

Sally Holland has been the Children’s Commissioner for Wales since April 2015.

Her job is to tell people why children’s rights are so important, and to look at how the decisions made by public bodies in Wales, including Welsh Government, affect children’s rights.

The Education Committee monitors the policy, administration and spending of the Department for Education and its associated arms length bodies, including Ofsted.

Westminster Forum Projects (WFP) has its origins in the UK national Parliament, but its work now extends to policy decided in UK devolved Parliaments and Assemblies, the Oireachtas, and the European Commission and Parliament.

WFP currently offers 16 influential, impartial and cross-party forums

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOI) and Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR) introduced a right to information held by public authorities which came fully into force in 2005. However, like all rights, it should be used responsibly by those who exercise it.

Here, FOI Man, a public sector employee with several years’ experience of advising on and answering FOI and EIR requests, outlines the best way to make sure you get the most out of both regimes without creating unnecessary burdens on public authorities.