Society daily 07.06.12

Sign up to Society daily email briefing Today's top SocietyGuardian stories • Nick Clegg backs benefit cuts for better-off pensioners • Legionnaires' disease cases rise • CT scans warning after study claims too many could lead to brain cancer • I believe exercise can help people beat depression • Unpaid jubilee jobseekers: Downing Street dismisses criticisms • US healthcare system a haven for many, but sick Americans are often jilted • Drug-resistant gonorrhoea has spread across the world, say health officials All today's SocietyGuardian stories On the Guardian Professional Networks • The team behind Barnet's Safer Families Project explains how early intervention and joint working are essential to helping women who have experienced domestic abuse • Why childcare co-operatives are looking to expand and challenge private equity-backed nursery chains • High levels of unemployment and the recession mean there are plenty of potential volunteers but charities must do more to attract the best candidates • Why there should be a strong commitment to training and development in the NHS reforms • Whether housing associations agree with government plans to stimulate the housing market or not, new ideas are welcome • As new thinktank Guerilla Policy launches, its chief executive explains they're striving for a punk attitude without the nihilism On my radar ... • The Department of Health, the first organisation to support staff in 'spinning out', is joining forces with the Cabinet Office mutuals team to expand staff rights to set up social enterprises and mutuals across all government departments. It is hoped the move will promote innovation and more efficient, personalised public services. Meanwhile, New Philanthropy Capital is running some interesting research into the role of charities in public services commissioning. In a recent blog Mike Wright, development director at KeyRing, discusses his views on the commissioning process . He says that local authorities are being increasingly prescriptive, which is actually stifling innovation in service provision: "... I am seeing procurement exercises with ever longer lists of required outcomes coupled with ever more prescriptive inputs. As well as what we should do, more local authorities are directing what we should be – part of a consortium, specialists, generalists. Most mention a desire for 'innovative solutions', while allowing no scope to propose anything new. The combined resources of local authorities and providers required to undertake these exercises is enormous and seeing them miss the chance to be the catalyst for better ways of working hurts on many levels." Other news • BBC: GP surgeries scored out of 10 on NHS Choices website • Children & Young People Now: Olympics could provide 'watershed' for family-friendly workplaces • Telegraph: Unborn babies could be tested for 3,500 genetic faults • Independent: The Debate – should body image lessons be introduced in schools? • Inside Housing: Group to ensure vulnerable gain from green deal • Public Finance: Public sector pay rises by just 0.6% Guardian Public Services Awards 2012 - Entries open until 13 July Enter the Guardian Public Service Awards to showcase your teams' innovative approaches. The awards are designed to reward creative achievements and contributions that have helped to establish more effective and best practice across public services in a tough spending climate. Enter today to ensure you get the recognition you deserve. Events and seminars Identifying, measuring and demonstrating social value Tuesday 12 June, Kings Cross, London The Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 highlights the need for the public sector to ensure suppliers can demonstrate social, economic and environmental concerns are at the heart of public sector contracts.This seminar looks at the importance of measurement and assessment techniques, embedding social values through tendering and contract management, and a variety of evaluation and monitoring tools. Scrutiny: making an impact Tuesday 26 June, Kings Cross, London This interactive seminar challenges traditional approaches to scrutiny, demonstrating in-depth questioning techniques and exploring the use of video evidence. It also considers the difference between a finding and a recommendation, how to word recommendations so they can't be ignored and work through good practice to evaluate each scrutiny process. Making the most of social media for social housing Friday 29 June, Kings Cross, London This overview of social media channels will show you how to use them to maximum effect, with clear, practical examples of ways to save money, improve your communications and form a social media campaign SocietyGuardian blogs Patrick Butler's cuts blog Sarah Boseley's global health blog SocietyGuardian on social media Follow SocietyGuardian on Twitter Follow Patrick Butler on Twitter Follow Clare Horton on Twitter Follow Alison Benjamin on Twitter SocietyGuardian's Facebook page SocietyGuardian links SocietyGuardian.co.uk Guardian cutswatch - tell us about the cuts in your area Public Leaders - the Guardian's website for senior managers of public services The Guardian's public and voluntary sector careers page Hundreds of public and voluntary sector jobs SocietyGuardian editor: Alison Benjamin Email the SocietyGuardian editor: [email protected]