Search results for: "label/Local%20Government"

Gasp! Shock! Outrage!

15 April 2009 //
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It looks like Parliament (at least a small part of it) is starting to get the ball rolling on improving govern­ment language! Not that they swear *all* the time, but as you are all no doubt aware, they really may as well do, for the amount of sense they make.

A Parliament Select Committee (that is, a group of people who look at one topic in partic­ular) is looking for your examples of bad use of language in govern­ment material. They just want a para­graph or two to illus­trate the case — I don’t think they’re ready for entire leaf­lets circled in red pen!

Email one or two short examples to pasc@parliament.uk. It could be some­thing on your tax return, your pass­port applic­a­tion, a confusing bit in the jobseekers allow­ance (or whatever it’s called now) guid­ance, or even some of the more obscure bits from the consulta­tions I’ve been translating!

Here’s a (rather too long) example, with editors notes in red to start you off:

From Care Matters: Time for Change

Improving the role of the corporate parent the corporate what, now?, as part of children’s trusts who?, is key to improving the outcomes what kind of outcomes? for chil­dren in care. It is with the corporate parent that respons­ib­ility and account­ab­ility for the well­being and future prospects of chil­dren in care ulti­mately rest. A good corporate parent must offer everything that a good parent would, including stability. It must address both the diffi­culties which chil­dren in care exper­i­ence and the chal­lenges of parenting does this mean corporate parenting, or the other sort? within a complex system of different services. Equally, it is important that chil­dren have a chance to shape and influ­ence don’t they mean the same thing? the parenting they receive. To improve the role of the corporate parent we are:

  • Expecting every local authority to put in place arrange­ments is that the same as arran­ging them, or do they just hire the room and hope someone turns up? for a ‘Children in Care Council’, with direct links to the Director of Children’s Services and Lead Member what’s one of those?. This will give chil­dren in care a forum to express their views and influ­ence is the council required to take their views into account? the services and support they receive;
  • Expecting every local authority to set out its ‘Pledge’ isn’t that a kind of polish? to chil­dren in care. The pledge will cover the services and support chil­dren in care should expect to receive;
  • Making clear that the Director of Children’s Services and Lead Member for Children’s Services Oh right, so this lead member is also part of children’s services should be respons­ible for leading improve­ments in corporate parenting are they account­able to anyone?;
  • Disseminating Government funded corporate parenting training mater­ials does this mean actual training, or just leaf­lets?, developed by the National Children’s Bureau, to help author­ities to ensure that effective arrange­ments are in place locally;
  • Introducing an Annual Stocktake is this Tesco now? of the outcomes for chil­dren in care. This national minis­terial what does minis­terial mean event like a confer­ence, or some­thing? will review progress for chil­dren in care with key stake­holders what are stake­holders, again? and repres­ent­at­ives of local govern­ment, health services and young people in care; and
  • Introducing a three year programme of propor­tionate propor­tionate to what? inspec­tion, led by Ofsted, of how local author­ities are improving outcomes for chil­dren in care.

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The new NHS: a patient’s point of view

27 July 2010 //
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The govern­ment has put out a paper on what they want the NHS to look like in the future. Here’s a summary of things you might like to know about what they’re claiming will happen, from a patient’s point of view.

  • It will still be free! That’s not going to change.
  • You’ll be able to have any GP you want. But keep in mind that if a lot of people pick one GP, it’ll prob­ably be more diffi­cult to get an appointment!
  • The NHS has to be very careful about money, and when they find a cheaper way to do things this could mean some changes to who you’re looked after by, how you’re looked after, where and when. Anyone who treats and care for patients will need a licence to make sure they’re safe and good quality, and you should be able to move smoothly from your old service to a new one.Your doctor should talk you through any changes.
  • When you need help or treat­ment your doctor can’t provide them­selves, they’ll give you more choice over what happens to you next. Doctors already offer some choices, but there’ll be a lot more around by April 2011. In return though, you’ll have to take respons­ib­ility for going to your appoint­ments and keeping up with treatments.
  • Local doctors and medical staff, the people who see you all the time, should have a lot more say in the treat­ments avail­able in your area.
  • Your doctors won’t be working towards targets so much anymore, they’ll be rewarded for high stand­ards more instead. This might mean you have to wait longer for some things, but it should mean you get better care too.
  • You, your family and carers should be asked how you feel about your treat­ment more often, this will be an important way for medical staff to tell whether they’re doing well.
  • Starting with your GP records, you should have more access to what’s written down about you. The govern­ment will also look at what records need to be kept exactly.
  • They want to give patients better access to research studies, drug and treat­ment trials.
  • They want all day, every day access to urgent medical help, including a GP service that works outside normal working hours.
  • You’ll have a local place for you to go, called HealthWatch, if you need help making decisions about your treat­ment, or need support with a complaint.
  • If you use social care services, your local authority will be respons­ible for making sure things run smoothly and the NHS and your carers are talking to each other prop­erly. They’ll look after what goes on locally to help people improve their general health, and along with doctors, they’ll also have a say about what services your local area pays for.
  • They govern­ment knows they’re not there yet with long-term care and support, so if you have a chronic or long term illness there’s more to come by the end of 2010.
  • And finally, they want people to be able to do more online, including talking to their doctors. They’ll release more on this by the end of 2010.

If you notice any glaring errors in this list, please leave a comment or email me! And if you want to give any feed­back to the govern­ment about their plans, what you think about them and what the best way to do them would be based on your exper­i­ences, email nhswhitepaper@dh.gsi.gov.uk by 5 October 2010.

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Plain English guide to the Localism Bill

25 January 2011 //
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Actually did this last week, but haven’t had time to breathe, let alone post since then!

Basically, the Government has released it’s own plain English guide to their big Bill on local govern­ment and how they’d like to see it change.

I’m glad there are people out there attempting this sort of thing, but unfor­tu­nately their version was a victim of some of the classic plain language traps — the writer may have been overly familiar with the Bill’s jargon (it’s hard not to be affected by it when you’re surrounded on all sides!), and it could have cut out some of the flowery language that doesn’t really mean anything.

So I did a new one. Hopefully, it’s easier to understand.

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