At the start of a new year it is natural to reflect back on what has happened over the previous 12 months. After a year like 2016, what struck me is that we are all experiencing such changes in public services that there seem to be fewer and fewer certainties left. 

Those of us who work in public services are used to dealing with change and so are relatively well placed to cope with the uncertainty on the scale of the vote to leave Europe and the massive changes occurring in the United States. Nonetheless, it can be reassuring to have some ‘constants’ to fall back on which help to anchor you when all around you is changing.