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Joining up workforce strategies
The integrated workforce strategy project
The integrated workforce strategy project is helping councils and their partners to tackle local workforce challenges together. The project involves action learning with seven study areas across six different local authorities:
- London Borough of Barnet
- Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council
- Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council
- Stoke-on-Trent City Council
- Wakefield Metropolitan District Council
- Walsall Metropolitan District Council
The study areas are drawn from children’s services and adult social care. These services were chosen because many councils are already practising integrated working in these areas.
The project started in June 2007 and the first study activities began in November 2007. Each study lasts for eight months. The project is investigating what works and what doesn't, recognising that there is no simple ‘one size fits all’ solution. It is also looking at what types of support are most helpful.
The findings will be used to design appropriate future support for councils and their partners.
What's new?
Senior managers’ checklist for joining up workforce strategies
Here is a short checklist for busy senior managers which uses the learning from the project so far. It suggests some 'dos and don'ts' for joining up local workforce strategies successfully.
Read the interim report (PDF, 24 pages, 1064KB)
If you have read this report, we would be grateful if you could take the time to complete a very short questionnaire. This will help us to improve the information we are providing.
Download the evaluation questionnaire (Word doc, 38KB)
Funding and Support
Nationally the project is being funded by:
- Department of Health
- Department for Communities and Local Government
- Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF).
The DCSF funding is being channelled through the Children’s Workforce Development Council and the Children’s Workforce Network, both of whom have been jointly supporting and advising the project.
Regionally the project is being supported by the regional improvement and efficiency partnerships for Yorkshire and Humber, West Midlands and London.
Events
During the project, regional learning exchange events will be held in each of the three regions involved in the project. A national event will take place at the end of the project to highlight best practice and encourage further learning. Watch this space for details of these events.
Publications
Here you will be able to keep up to date on the learning from the project as we capture it, including:
- in-depth experience and case studies showing the challenges and benefits of integrated workforce strategies
- practical models and approaches to cross-agency workforce planning
- project reports, highlighting key learning and practice in the study areas.
TOMORROW'S PEOPLE: BUILDING A LOCAL GOVERNMENT WORKFORCE FOR THE FUTURE (from the SOLACE briefing)
This Audit Commission report looks at the recruitment and retention pressures currently facing councils in the light of demographic and other changes. It assesses the potential risks to key services of councils failing to properly plan their workforces and it evaluates the progress councils have made.
http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/reports/NATIONAL-REPORT.asp?CategoryID=&ProdID=DB2DAF5B-EC45-463b-8D0D-B535EDE28A80&fromREPORTSANDDATA=NATIONAL-REPORT
Consultation on the new Equality Framework for Local Government (from the IDeA website)
The Equality Standard for Local Government (ESLG) has helped to make equality an integral part of service delivery. To reflect recent demographic changes and emerging thinking on the nature of equality and diversity, we are developing a revised Equality Framework for Local Government (EFLG).
This new framework will complement the National Improvement and Efficiency Strategy and the work of the Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnerships (RIEPs) in improving performance on equality and diversity.
We have now produced a draft version of the framework for consultation, and invite you to respond by 10 September 2008. We are particularly interested in the experience of authorities who have implemented the ESLG.
Equality Framework for local government – consultation document (PDF, 73 pages, 374KB)
How to respond to the consultation
You can respond to the consultation using our online questionnaire.
Respond to the consultation – on the Survey Monkey website
The questions are also listed below. If you need any of the material in another format please contact Liz Gardiner: elizabeth.gardiner@idea.gov.uk
How to discuss the issues
An ongoing discussion is taking place on the Equality Standard Community of Practice. The community is open to local government practitioners and partners.
To join the community and contribute to the discussion, register on the website – it only takes five minutes. Once you’ve registered, search for the Equality Standard Community of Practice from the list of all communities.
Register on the Communities of Practice website
Consultation questions
Using a web-based survey tool allows us to compile the results more efficiently. However, the tool does not allow you to view all the questions before answering. Here is a list of the questions specific to the Framework.
Do you agree with the move to three levels: Emerging, Achieving, and Excellent?
Do you consider that each of the levels is appropriately pitched?
Do you find it useful that the Framework highlights areas of work which will count towards compliance with:
- existing public duties
- customer care excellence
- good practice on community cohesion.
Do you consider that the Framework now provides greater synergy with other areas of policy and practice?
Do you agree that the Peer Challenge should be required for validation of reaching the Achieving and the Excellent level?
Do you agree with the definition of equality used in the Framework which emphasises equal life chances for all (see page nine of the Framework)?
Do you consider it appropriate that the Framework anticipates a generic equality public duty which may be introduced in the forthcoming Single Equality Bill?
The Framework does not include human rights. At this stage we thought this might be just too much for authorities to take on. However, the developing equality standard in the NHS does include human rights and we seek your views on whether it would be appropriate for the new Framework to do so.
The fifth area of change management – 'Knowing Your Communities – Equality Mapping' – will reflect the importance of the place shaping agenda. Do you agree with the inclusion of this?
Do you consider the Framework reflects the new place shaping role of local government, the importance of partnership working, local strategic partnerships and local area agreements?
Do you think that the evidence that can be used for self assessment will also provide evidence for the new Comprehensive Area Assessment?
Authorities who have reached levels one and two will be classified as Emerging. Those that have achieved level three will be treated as Achieving. Authorities at level four will be classified as Moving Towards Excellence and those at level five as Excellent.
Do you consider that the Framework successfully represents a move away from a prescriptive top-down process towards a more proportional approach where local authorities can use the Framework to determine their local needs and priorities?
Do you find the case studies showing how very different authorities might be measured under the new Framework to be helpful?
We do not intend to produce detailed prescriptive guidance. However, are there areas where you would find more guidance useful?
What are your views on the indicators?
Should there be any additional indicators?
Should any of the indicators be amended?
The 'How was this done?' column is not intended to be a mandatory list of actions, but rather guidance on what sort of evidence could demonstrate achievements against the Framework. Do you find this helpful?
Any other comments
If you have any other comments or questions please contact Liz Gardiner: elizabeth.gardiner@idea.gov.uk
2008 Public Sector Awards
The Guardian is inviting nominations for the 2008 Public Services Awards. This year the panel of judges will select another 15 award winners who can demonstrate outstanding vision and dedication to their sector. The award's are open to national and local organisations or, as the Guardian says, “passionate individuals”. For more information please visit http://society.guardian.co.uk/publicservicesawards
Future Care and Support System
On Monday 12, Gordon Brown and Health Secretary Alan Johnson launched a public debate about the future of the care and support system for England, which will run from May until November. The debate builds on the current transformation programme set out in Putting People First, a cross government commitment in partnership with local government, the NHS and the social care sector to the transformation of social care. The plan is to develop a long term solution for care and support that delivers what people want well into the future – it aims to find an affordable, fair and sustainable way of delivering and funding a first class care and support system for the 21st Century, so that looks straightforward enough then.
Visit www.careandsupport.direct.gov.uk to download the document that sets out the scope for the debate and to feed in your views – the findings of the debate will be used to inform the development of reform options for a Green Paper in 2009.
A Guide to Sourcing
Against a background of tighter public finances and ever-increasing public expectations, we are working with Eric Bohl to produce a Guide to Sourcing. The guide will provide SOLACE Members with a route map to decisions on shared services, outsourcing and insourcing. With case studies covering the latest developments, the guide will focus on the key issues, benefits and risks of the different models of service design. If you would like to take part in the study, either by contributing a case study, giving your views, or if you would like to sit on an informal sounding board commenting on the work as it progresses, please email eric.bohl@8020i.co.uk.
Local Better Regulation Office draft strategy 2008-2011
The Local Better Regulation Office has published its draft strategy for 2008-11, outlining how it plans to deliver increased economic prosperity and community well-being. LBRO's plans will have a particular impact on regulatory services - trading standards, environmental health, licensing and fire safety - but will also read across to other departments. Copies of the draft strategy can be downloaded from www.lbro.org. More information is available from Loris Strappazzon on 0845 873 6236. The consultation is UK wide.
New assessment shows English councils' performance continues to improve
 The majority of councils are delivering a high level of services to local people, with four out of five offering a 3 or 4 star standard, according to the 2007 Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) results published today. Most councils are not only achieving a high standard in their administration, but are also improving their services, with three-quarters rated as improving well or strongly.
Two councils jumped two stars: Lambeth and Stoke-on-Trent, which was last year's lowest achieving council. Others have demonstrated the continuous improvements that councils can make, even when starting from a low base, with Bedfordshire, Hackney and Sefton improving their star rating in each year of CPA - The Harder Test.
Read the CPA 2007 press release
Read more about the 2007 CPA results
Find your council's CPA score for 2007
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