Copy of `SocietyGuardian - glossary of society`

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SocietyGuardian - glossary of society Category: People and society Date & country: 14/09/2007, UK Words: 527

Trustee
A member of the governing board of a charity which is legally responsible for overall management and decision making. Trustees are obliged to act in the best interests of the charity, to make sure it sticks to its charitable purposes. Can be personally liable for the under performance or illegal acts of a charity.

Trustee Act 2000
Introduced in 2001, the act imposes conditions of duty on trustees to manage charity money as if it was their own. Also governs the payment of fees and expenses to trustees.

Tupe
The transfer of undertakings (protection of employment) regulations 1981, pronounced 'too-pee', which protects workers' terms and conditions when the employer they work for changes. Usually relates to conditions of workers when their jobs are privatised or transferred to the private sector.

Two-tier local government
A system under which county and district councils work together to deliver the full range of local government services. The smaller district councils tackle issues such as housing and tourism, while their larger county council delivers in areas such as education and social services.

Two-tier workforce
Created when a private company takes over the running of a public service. Workers previously employed in the public sector have their terms and conditions protected by law but new joiners currently have no such defence. An agreement in February 2003 between the government and unions seeks to abolish aspects of the two-tier service in local government by guaranteeing wages and conditions 'no less favourable' than the public sector for new staff hired by contractors. But it does not apply to staff who have already been hired on lower wages, or to staff in the NHS or the civil service.

UK Home Care Association (UKHCA)
An association of independent domiciliary care providers set up in 1989.

Unallocated case
A case that requires the attention of a named social worker or other key worker but has no allocated worker, most likely due to staff shortages.

Unison
Giant public sector trade union that represents more than 1m workers in the local government, health, community and voluntary sectors. Has taken critical line on the government's plans for modernising public services and opposes initiatives such as the private finance initiative.

Unit manager
The manager of a residential home or day centre.

Unitary council
A local authority that delivers the full range of local government services itself, rather than splitting them between county and district councils. Usually covers urban or other built up areas.

Universal bank
The government plans to create this new institution to offer financial services to the 3.5m people without bank accounts.

Urban taskforce
Group of policy experts put together by the government and chaired by the architect Lord Rogers of Riverside. The taskforce's influential 1999 report helped shape the urban white paper.

Victoria Climbié inquiry
This public inquiry set up by the health secretary, Alan Milburn, was charged with finding out why child protection services failed to prevent the murder of eight-year-old Victoria Climbié despite having 12 chances to save her. Led by former chief inspector of social services, Lord Herbert Laming, it is expected to publish its recommendations in February. This was the first 'tripartate' inquiry into the death of an abused child in Britain, as it has investigated the role of social services, the NHS and the police with regards to the Children's Act, the NHS Act and the Police Act. It is also known as the Laming inquiry.

Volunteer
Usually refers to a person who gives a portion of their time, or a period of time in a year, to an organisation as a worker or helper without payment. NGOs and charities sometimes compensate for volunteers' travel and related expenses.

Vulnerable children
Disadvantaged children who would benefit from extra help from public agencies to allow them to make the most of their opportunities in life.

Waiting list
The number of people waiting for inpatient treatment on the NHS.

Waiting time
The length of time people wait for treatment on the NHS, normally meaning the period between a GP referral and an outpatient attendance, or the time that elapses between being put on the waiting list and the date of admission.

Walk-in centres
Nurse-led drop-in centres managed by the NHS that provide minor treatments, self-help advice and information on the NHS, social services and other local healthcare organisations.

Ward
Every local authority in the country is divided into a number of smaller districts known as wards - there are 8,414 in England alone. They form the constituencies for local elections, returning up to three councillors each. The government is also focusing much of its regeneration work on wards which are compact enough to allow money to be targeted at the worst pockets of deprivation.

Weak council
Category in the local government league table system for councils that generally provide low standards of service and have limited ability to improve their performance. They often have unclear priorities which do not reflect the needs of local people. They will face close government monitoring. Of the 150 larger councils, 22 were ranked in this category in 2002.

Weighted capitation
NHS funding is distributed using a 'weighted capitation' resource allocation formula that aims to target resources at the most needy areas. Using basic indicators of need, the formula sets a target allocation for each health authority and each year ministers decide how quickly authorities should be moved towards this target.

Whistleblowing
The disclosure by an employee or professional of genuine concerns about crimes, illegality or negligence, miscarriages of justice, danger to health and safety or the environment, and the cover-up of any of those, whether committed by the employer or a fellow employee. Whistleblowers have legal protection under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998.

White paper
Statement of policy issued by the government. White papers often form the basis of new legislation, and are usually preceded by a consultative green paper.

World Health Organisation
An international non-governmental organisation, created in June 1946, which aims to promote health and healthcare worldwide. It coordinates international health initiatives and work on the prevention and control of disease; promotes improved hygiene, housing, nutrition, sanitation and working conditions; advises governments on strengthening health services; and promotes biomedical and health services research.

Youth court
A magistrates court sitting for the purpose of holding trials for children and young people other than those relating to the most serious offences. They replaced juvenile courts following legislation in the Criminal Justice Act of 1991.

Youth justice board
Set up under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, the youth justice board advises the home secretary on the operation and performance of the youth justice system. Its work includes monitoring the youth court, youth offending teams and secure accommodation and disseminating good practice.

Youth offending team
First introduced in 1999, youth offending teams bring together staff from social services, the police, probation, education and health to work together to keep young people aged 10 to 17 out of custody. The teams are monitored and coordinated nationally by the youth justice board, and are accountable to council chief executives.