Publications by Abbi Hobbs

Innovation in adult social care

Monday, 16 May, 2022

The UK Government’s 2021 People at the Heart of Care white paper identified innovation as key to delivering “outstanding quality” in adult social care in England. This POSTnote gives an overview of innovation in adult social care. It provides a summary of the types of innovation in the sector and evidence on key barriers to and facilitators of innovation. It also presents lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic. It focuses on England but includes examples from all four UK nations.

Conversion Therapy

Thursday, 16 December, 2021

The UK Government intends to prepare legislation in the new year to ban ‘conversion therapy’ (CT) in England and Wales, for introduction when parliamentary time allows. This POSTnote outlines data on CT and reviews the quality of available research evidence and the impact of CT. It summarises UK stakeholder perspectives on a CT ban and outlines key challenges for policymakers to consider.

Impact of COVID-19 on Early Childhood Education & Care

Wednesday, 27 October, 2021

This rapid response presents current research on the impact of the pandemic on the ECEC sector in England and the impact of changes in access to ECEC on pre-school children.

Impact of COVID-19 on Early Childhood Education & Care

POSTnote

Early Childhood Education and Care

Thursday, 26 August, 2021

Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) refers to education and childcare provided in regulated settings from birth to the start of primary school. This POSTnote summarises the evidence on the association between ECEC and children’s development in England and the key factors that affect this. It also covers the impact of government-funded ECEC places on families and the sector, and stakeholder perspectives on public policy priorities.
Horizon scanning

Inequalities in education, and attainment gaps

Thursday, 29 April, 2021

Educational inequalities emerge in early childhood and effects continue throughout a person’s life. How might school closures and disruption widen inequalities?
Horizon scanning

The impact of remote and flexible working arrangements

Thursday, 29 April, 2021

Flexible working could increase wellbeing and productivity, but benefits are not equally distributed throughout the population and could increase inequalities.
Horizon scanning

Economic inequality and recovery

Thursday, 29 April, 2021

GDP and income inequality both influence population health. How might the COVID-19 outbreak widen economic inequalities in the long-term?
Horizon scanning

Upskilling and retraining the adult workforce

Thursday, 29 April, 2021

Upskilling and retraining adults is key to addressing future challenges and benefits productivity, health and wellbeing, social justice and communities.
Horizon scanning

The impact of early childhood education and care on children’s outcomes, and the sustainability of the sector

Thursday, 29 April, 2021

Early education and care can have positive and long-lasting impacts on children’s outcomes. What are the impact of changes in Government policy and COVID-19?
POSTnote

Distance learning

Tuesday, 20 April, 2021

Distance learning is a way of studying without the learner being physically present in a classroom. It can be fully remote or ‘blended’ with in-person learning and is now usually underpinned by the use of digital technologies and resources. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a rapid switch to distance learning. This POSTnote provides an overview of current trends in distance learning, evidence on key challenges and opportunities and potential future developments.
- POSTnote
- Education
Rapid response

COVID-19 vaccines and virus transmission

Thursday, 01 April, 2021

COVID-19 vaccines have been deployed in the UK since December 2020. This article examines the impact of COVID-19 vaccines on transmission of the virus. It also considers the potential implications of vaccine-induced protection for easing lockdown restrictions and debate about potential introduction of immunity certification or a vaccine passport scheme.
Rapid response

COVID-19: July update on face masks and face coverings for the general public

Friday, 24 July, 2020

While there is some evidence for the use of face masks and face coverings, it is weak and highly situational. Face masks are no substitute for social distancing. Hand hygiene and good respiratory etiquette, remain the best ways to limit the spread of coronavirus.
Rapid response

Light switches and clusters: social distancing strategies for COVID-19

Thursday, 07 May, 2020
Rapid response

Face masks, face coverings and COVID-19

Wednesday, 29 April, 2020

This article goes over the types of masks that exist. It explores how effective are they at preventing transmission of coronavirus, according to the latest research. It reviews the advice on masks and face coverings from public health organisations, and presents official guidance from several nations. This is part of our rapid response content on COVID-19. You can view all our reporting on this topic under COVID-19.
POSTbrief

Research for Parliament: Preparing for a changing world

Wednesday, 28 August, 2019

This document builds on POST's previous publication, Topics of Interest 2018 (POSTbrief 27). The subjects are listed under under six category headings based on the drivers of change identified in POSTnote 500: demographic change and healthcare; social and cultural trends; geopolitical and governance challenges; environmental pressures and climate change; resource security and sustainability; and technological advance.

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