News Summary of Collaboration and Shared Services from 3rd September 2014

September 2014 eh?  Still technically summer with plenty of sunshine and yet my local Debenhams is selling Christmas cards and wrapping paper!

Talking of which, Debenhams is a good example of a shared service (co-location) that maybe the public sector could learn from. They provide an environment in which individual organisations can share the cost of a presence to reach the people they need to reach. This was very common in the 1960 new towns where they built “public sector campuses”. For example in Crawley (near Gatwick) the Council, Police, FE College and Courts were created on the same campus.

If you are not aware of the 2014/15 work being done on shared public estates have a look back at this article we drew attention to in August. There is money on the table to encourage shared estates.

 

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Highway Code Of Shared Services

Do you remember the case of the bus drivers in London who were TUPEd across to a new employer an hour away and went to tribunal to complain of constructive dismissal? In public sector collaborative working, employees could be re-located to one of the partner’s offices to work, so following the outcome of this case is important – and here it is… (you may want to add this to your Highway Code Folder )

Additional travel time for transferred workers was not "substantial change" to their "material detriment"

A change in the working location of somebody who has changed employer through TUPE will only be grounds for a constructive dismissal claim if that change is "substantial" and causes "material detriment" to the worker. Read more >>>

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Local Government

It is a reality that shared service working is about duplication of effort. The public sector is powered by employing people and therefore it is the reduction of employed people that usually happens. However, sometimes a bit of innovation and lateral thinking can minimise the people losses and still save money…

Council’s shared service scheme saves cash but one person loses their job

A scheme to share officer time and services with other local councils will save Fenland District Council around £660,000 over five years. Read more >>>

This is interesting news from Manchester about how they are approaching the wicked “night-time economy” problem across their region. There could be some good collaborative working being developed here that you could flag up to colleagues in councils, police, town centre management, ambulance, voluntary sector and other players….

Greater Manchester ready to debate historic alcohol strategy

Council leaders in Greater Manchester are poised to approve a landmark cross-region alcohol strategy as part of efforts to improve local health. Read more >>>

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Health

Case studies of where collaborative working has been successful are often the evidence that can tip the argument for, or against, a project. Here are five in-depth case studies from the NHS on service integration you may be able to draw on...

Better Care Fund: 5 case studies to inspire service integration

The road to health services integration can be a bumpy journey – but a vital one that delivers clear results. NICE have published five case study projects to inspire you to join-up care. Read more >>>

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Blue Light Collaboration

Derby FRS recently put a team of their project leads through our Harnessing Collaborative Leadership programme. Part of that focused on new ways of collaborative working when they move into their new HQ shared with the police. News came of a similar move in Hants this week…

Hampshire's police and fire services will share HQ in Eastleigh

Hampshire’s police and fire services are expected to save £600,000 each a year by sharing headquarters in the first deal of its type in the UK. Read more >>>

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International

For members of our Northern Ireland community, you may be interested in what your Shared Service Agency is doing internationally…

Estonia and Northern Ireland concluded agreement on developing e-services

The agreement was signed on Wednesday by Jaan Priisalu, the Director General of the Estonian Information System’s Authority and by Paul Wickens, the Head of Northern Ireland’s Enterprise Shared Services Agency. Read more >>>

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