Safety in numbers

The collection of data through censuses and surveys requires a high level of cooperation from the public. This, in turn, is influenced by public confidence that the data provided will be used for purposes consistent with National Statistics and anonymity and confidentiality will be protected. Angela Dale explains how access to data and confidentiality can be reconciled.     

‘Like a fish in a bowl’: parents' perceptions of child protection services

This research involved a small qualitative study focused on family experiences of child protection practice, commissioned as part of a Best Value review of child protection services in a large rural Midlands local authority. Qualitative interviews were undertaken with 18 families who had received child protection services. Findings were mixed in relation to perceived helpfulness of the processes of child protection interventions, with 50% of families reporting some positive bene?t and 22% reporting that such interventions had caused them harm. From the families' perspectives, factors that are associated with positive and negative outcomes are outlined. These include the availability of preventive services, crisis support, respite care, actual provision of services speci?ed in protection plans and an engaging style of practitioners. Conclusions emphasize the value of research focused on family perceptions of services as an important contribution to quality control and service development in child protection service provision. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The importance of lead time control in the order fulfilment process

This paper reports a study of the order fulfilment process, with a particular emphasis on internal and external lead times, in a speciality chemical manufacturer. Amongst the main findings are that the company has inadequate control of its external lead times. For example, it was discovered that there is no policy on lead times, lead timesare rarely negotiated, lead times are only reviewed once per year and when a supplier gives a flexible lead time it is always the longest one which is entered into the system. It is also pointed out that internal lead timesare affected by a number of inefficient departmental practices, amongst these are those found in the finished goods warehouse, i.e. order picking, product rotation, product shelf life, working environment, communication and performance monitoring.