News Summary of Collaboration and Shared Services from 17th December 2015

This is your last collaborative working news and update for this year! Thank you for your contribution to SSA’s work and sharing this newsletter with your colleagues so that they can stay up to speed with the collaborative transformation sector.

Almost 800 people have attended our taught and facilitation sessions this year, confirming that public sector collaboration does require a professional level skill set. Our tool boxes are in use in over 500 public sector organisations and we have over 200 online tools, templates and techniques to support practitioners and leaders.

So, until we meet again on the other side of the Christmas and New Year holidays, here is your 60 second summary of collaborative working news and jobs…

************

Devolution

Northumberland County Council - Have your say on Devolution

Residents in Northumberland are to have their say on plans for a combined authority for the region. Northumberland County Council has launched a consultation on the proposals for the devolution of powers from central government to the new North East Combined Authority (NECA). Read more >>>

Devolution for South West ‘would create jobs’

District councillors have discussed the first steps of the proposed Heart of the South West (HOTSW) devolution bid, which could eventually see EDDC, alongside 16 other South West local authorities, gain more autonomy from Westminster. Read more >>>

Call to bring Cambridgeshire alongside Suffolk and Norfolk in ‘devolution revolution’

Cambridgeshire councils should consider teaming up with counterparts in Suffolk and Norfolk to create an “Eastern motor”, the communities secretary has said. Read more >>>

As Scotland and Wales demand greater devolution Northern Ireland is handing power back to Westminster

On Wednesday 18 November, members of the Northern Ireland Assembly filed through the division lobbies for the vote that will define the 2011-2016 term of the devolved legislature. Read more >>>

Cllr Phil Davies standing down as chair of Liverpool city region Combined Authority

The chairman of the Liverpool city region Combined Authority is standing down from the role - just weeks after a devolution deal was signed. Read more >>>

************
Local Government

Majority Of Local Councils Now 'Share Services'

Tight budgets sees almost all local councils in the UK sharing services including IT and other services Nearly all local councils in the UK are sharing services with their fellow authorities as the pressure on the public purse string continues to be tightened. Read more >>>

************

Outsourcing

New data laws will have implications for outsourcing contracts

Successful outsourcing projects have always relied on a clear and commercially reasonable allocation of risks between the parties for all aspects of the relationship. Read more >>>

Outsourcing care - can the sums add up?

It was a contract which was centre stage in the debate over outsourcing in the NHS in England. Read more >>>

************
Health and Social Care

New £1.5million health centre officially opens in Highland village

A brand new health centre was officially opened in a Loch Ness-side village yesterday. The £1.5million Drumnadrochit Health Centre is located just off the A82 Inverness-Fort William road, just a few yards from the ageing and cramped health centre it has replaced. Read more >>>

Funding for East Riding Child Mental Health Services

NHS East Riding of Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has been awarded £600,000 to transform child and adolescent mental health services in the area. Read more >>>

Wales budget: health and education among the winners, but councils face losing £88million

Health services in Wales will receive almost £300million extra next year, but councils will lose around £88million from their budgets. Read more >>>

Why the NHS needs social workers on board

As chief social worker for adults in England, I meet many social workers and see at first hand the positive difference their practice makes to improving people’s lives. Read more >>>

************
Blue Light Transformation

Cheshire fire and police chiefs join forces to share a new HQ

Cheshire fire and police chiefs have today agreed to join forces and share a single headquarters. Read more >>>

************

Education

Jisc issues tender for second shared services datacentre in north of England

Education network provider issues tender for second shared services datacentre, while warding off DDoS attack. Read more >>>

Receive this Shared Service News Summary into your inbox every week. Just register on our website.