News Summary of Collaboration and Shared Services from 4th June 2014

It’s been a quiet week on the news front, but big on the job front. If you are looking for either consultancy or PAYE vacancies there are nine below.

But let’s look at some of the news that bubbled up this week…

 

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Local Government

Here is some recommended reading. This high level business case for four councils in the Oxfordshire area will provide you with a guide to laying out your high level business case. What I really like is the exit strategy statements as we don’t often come across them…

Four councils set out plans for ‘most radical joint working’ in local government

Four councils are proposing to launch a jointly-owned local authority company to transform the way they run services and save more than £55m over the next ten years. Read more >>>

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Central Government Shared Services – in Australia (!)

What have the Aussies ever taught us? (…apart from cricket, Fosters and a sunshine lifestyle…). Actually they have taught us very little about shared services. In fact their state based shared services (losses of $300mAus) have been almost as disastrous as the UK central government shared service (losses of £1bn+). So, as a result of the failure of their state based centralisation of services, they have decided to centralise everything even more tightly (doh!)…

Govt lays groundwork for shared services, job cuts

The Department of Finance has laid out its draft vision for a streamlined and efficient government back office, in a plan that will set the ball rolling for federal government shared services and further reductions in the public sector workforce. Read more >>>

Our new Collaborative Leadership Across Communities toolkit, is focused on community engagement and therefore this Northern Ireland piece of work should be of interest to you, if you have been on the Collaborative Leadership Across Communities seminar…

‘Sharing’ on the agenda in Greater Whitewell

A survey carried out as part of our Shared Communities Programme has highlighted a desire for ‘sharing’ in the Greater Whitewell area. Read more >>>

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News Summary of Collaboration and Shared Services from 28th May 2014

It has been a quiet week, but the three items below each tell an important story.

Local Government

Tisk, tisk! This article seems to be suggesting there has been a furtive development of shared services between the two councils. If true, and not just a bending of the truth by upset employees, you have to conclude that there is a lack of skills in collaborative working within the organisations. In the SSA Highway Code we recommend that the leaders of the organisation: Announces that they are running out of money and one of the solutions could be collaborative working with a partnering organisation. That gives the freedom to explore shared services openly…

Islington and Camden council chiefs accused of cover-up over plans to merge legal departments

Leaked documents reveal Islington Council is considering merging with other boroughs in a radical shake-up of how public services are delivered. Read more >>>

Does anyone want to challenge this headline? I thought places like Kent and the East Midlands had already done this…however, it still seems strange that in 2014 local authorities are not connected up to enhance their collaborative working…

London unites local authorities on Public Services Network

London is the first region to connect all of its local authorities to the Public Services Network (PSN) through the London Public Services Network (LondonPSN). Read more >>>

This is a bit of a non-story, as Worcester have not been asked by Malvern and Wychavon if they want to have a ménage a trois leadership. However it still illustrates the un-popularity of shared  council CEOs. The potential number could be about 170, however there are less than 30…

We won't be sharing a boss with Malvern and Wychavon, says Worcester City Council's leadership

The leader of Worcester City Council has ruled out sharing a chief executive with Malvern and Wychavon - saying he does not want to get involved in the surprise talks. Read more >>>

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News Summary of Collaboration and Shared Services from 21st May 2014

Hi everyone,

The Public Sector Transformation Network has sponsored a NLGN review of the Total Place/Pooled Budgets (or other trending names for these projects) called Break On Through. It opens with the statement that, “Service integration is the most exciting game in town…” . If you are doing the work, it probably feels more like one of the most complex games in town. Based on this report, if you are a recognised SSA or SS(PRAC) and you are looking for new areas of work, these projects are desperate for your skills. Here is a snip from the introduction:

“Government has made it clear that taking forward integrated working must be done locally; but progress and pace of change to date has been slow. Councils and their local partners are facing a series of barriers which are preventing them from acting…

…People believe that most of the barriers that areas are facing are overwhelmingly local and, more often than not, are about local relationships and leadership. The majority of these barriers cannot be busted by anyone except local partners themselves painstakingly building stronger relationships with one another.” 

The report concludes that better (collaborative) leadership and strong trust and vision are required to overcome the barriers to integration. They need some collaborative leadership skills development too.

Break on Through: Overcoming Barriers to Integration
Service integration is the most exciting game in town for local public services, providing a path to improved outcomes for communities and reductions in the cost of delivery. Government has made it clear that taking forward integrated working must be done locally; but progress and pace of change to date has been slow. Councils and their local partners are facing a series of barriers which are preventing them from acting.

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Health & Social Care

 

Here is more evidence that social care is maybe experiencing the same collaborative challenges as those outlined in the NLGN report above. Again, if you are a recognised SSA or SS(PRAC) and you are looking for new areas of work, integrated care may welcome your skills…

NHS: Authorities using funds to keep services afloat rather than transform (Report)

A new report from the health policy consultancy MHP Health, reveals that local authorities are using funds from the NHS to keep existing social care services afloat, rather than transforming services and delivering more integrated care. Read more >>>

Pioneering integrated project could expand across UK

A pioneering integrated care project for people with long-term conditions based in west Cornwall could be rolled out across the UK. Read more >>>

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Further/Higher Education

 

It may be helpful to know that HEFCE have updated their website with new materials on HE Shared Service working.

Shared services - HEFCE

The Higher Education Funding Council For England (HEFCE) has published a number of shared service projects and case studies on its website. Read more >>>

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