The biweekly efficiency and improvement bulletin is produced by the South West Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnership (SW RIEP).
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If you wish to include efficiency or improvement articles in the next bulletin, or add your name to the circulation list please email karen.ball@southwest-ra.gov.uk
Building Capacity for Overall Improvement - SW RIEP Funding available
Capacity Support
As part of its Capacity Support programme, SW RIEP will provide up to a maximum of £20k to support Councils with preparation for inspections and the new CAA performance framework, including how Councils can best present themselves and their evidence. Depending on take up, SW RIEP expects to fund approx 5 Councils during 2008/09.
Download additional information and a bid (PID) application form from the following link:
http://www.southwestiep.gov.uk/programmes/improvement/buildingcapacitycsr07.htm
For further information contact:
Stephen Fletcher – 07773775904, Stephen.fletcher@idea.gov.uk
Overview & Scrutiny Support
As part of its Overview & Scrutiny Support Programme, SW RIEP is providing funding for all scrutiny chairs to have attended the regional Overview and Scrutiny Leadership Academy, ‘Confidence and Ambition’, run by the Centre for Public Scrutiny (CfPS) - a bespoke 2-day programme. Two Leadership Academy courses aimed at Scrutiny Chairs will run, with 16 places available on each. The closing date for nominations for the first course is31 December 2008.
Download additional information and a bid (PID) application form from the following link:
http://www.southwestiep.gov.uk/programmes/improvement/buildingcapacitycsr07.htm
For further information contact:
Ann Penwell – 07917557366, a.penwell@dorsetcc.gov.uk
Scrutiny Reviews
Scrutiny Reviews are also available via the Centre for Public Scrutiny over the course of the next 12 months. One review per quarter worth over £5,000 will be offered, using the Centre for Public Scrutiny's Evaluation Framework.The deadlines are 31st December 2008 for the Improvement Programme Board taking place 08 January 2009; 31 March 2009 for the Improvement Programme Board 14 April 2009; 30 June 2009 for the Programme Board 07 July 2009, and 30 September 2009 for the Programme Board 12 October 2009.
For further information and to register your interest contact:
Ann Penwell – 07917557366, a.penwell@dorsetcc.gov.uk
Peer Support and Mentoring schemes
SW RIEP will fund a limited number of accredited peers for Peer support, Mentoring, coaching and buddy schemes for key managers and councillors e.g. the use of IDeA accredited member and officer peers to provide advice and guidance. There is funding in 2008/ 9 for approximately 10 Councils to each have 15 days at £350 per day.
Download additional information from the following link:
http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=433262
For further information and to register your interest contact:
Paul Clarke – 07899965730, paul.clarke@idea.gov.uk
Peer Review or Peer Challenge
Every Authority will have the opportunity to partake in a free Peer Review or Peer Challenge during the 3 year period of this strategy - a subsidy is available up to a maximum of £20,000 for Unitary and County Councils and £10,000 for Districts.
For further information and to express your interest contact:
Ann Penwell – 07917557366, a.penwell@dorsetcc.gov.uk
Leadership & Development
Under its ‘Leadership & Development’ strand, SW RIEP will provide funding of up to £20k for 10 authorities in 2008/ 9 towards Top Team Development, with a focus on building the capacity managerially and politically. Closing date for applications is 31December 2008. Please note that decisions will be made at the SW RIEP Improvement Programme Board, 08 January 2009.
Download additional information including how to apply for this support from the following link:
http://www.southwestiep.gov.uk/programmes/improvement/buildingcapacitycsr07.htm
For further information contact:
Ann Penwell – 07917557366, a.penwell@dorsetcc.gov.uk
Innovative and sustainable solutions public procurement
The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills are inviting expressions of interest to fund projects where public procurement is used to deliver innovative and sustainable solutions. The programme will provide the support and coaching needed to enable organisations to identify and take to completion a specific Forward Commitment Procurement project.
For further information contact:
Clare Bewster (SW Councils) – 01823270101, clare.brewster@southwest-ra.gov.uk Expressions of interest should be submitted by 30th January 2009
Proclass Launch – 18th November 2008, Taunton
Proclass is the procurement classification standard for local government following its adoption by eight of the nine Regional Centres of Excellence in 2006.Proclass continues to be backed by the RIEPs.
This event is suitable for all local authorities and any public sector organisation that wishes to understand more about ProClass as well as other classification and coding structures.
The programme will help attendees to:
- Use ProClass properly and have confidence that it is the right choice.
- Hear about authorities which have tested and proven ProClass and its recommended methodologies
- Learn how to use ProClass to support corporate goals of effective collaboration, improved shared services and realistic business case development
- Understand the opportunities to influence and benefit from the ProClass community
- Network with other authorities who are trying to achieve the same things
Download additional information and book your place online from the following link:
http://www.southwestiep.gov.uk/Events/Eventproclass181108.htm
For further information contact
Gillian Brindle - 01305 757230, g.brindle@dorsetcc.gov.uk
Local Area Agreements Conference – 20th November 2008, London
The pressure to turn the potential of your LAA into a delivery vehicle for improvement, combined with the major policy transitions your LAA must navigate, means getting reliable guidance is crucial.
New Local Government Network and Local Government Chronicle are presenting this year's LAA forum which will be centred on refreshing, refining and refocusing your LAA to achieve better outcomes and assessments.
Hear from a range of speakers and gain guidance on how your LAA must adapt to the twin pressures of achieving your performance indicators while transforming itself inline with the Government’s vision.
Attend this conference to hear authoritative guidance and learn more about:
•Evolving your LAA to meet the challenges of refreshment and delivery
•Driving performance centred-change management through your LAA
•Integrating your LAA into your MAA to tackle regional challenges
•Expanding the possibilities for LAA-centred service delivery
Download additional information and book your place online from the following link:
http://www.emapconferences.co.uk/laa2008/index.jsp
Customer Focused Transformation Network Conference - How to Achieve Service Transformation through Culture Change - 12th December 2008 Exeter
“The Hard things are Easy; the Soft things are Hard; the Soft things are more important!
Are the “way things get done around here”, the existing assumptions, beliefs or culture hindering your transformation agenda? Don’t miss our next Customer Focused Transformation Network conference which will focus on culture and the role of culture in delivering service transformation.
Come to our conference and listen to the collective voice of experience from within and outside our region, share the lessons learned from successful and not so very successful stories of organisations who tried to address culture as part of their service transformation programmes. Walk away with some great input on “How did they approach it? What were the keys to success? What would they avoid if they had their time again?”
This conference is targeted at Members and Officers involved in designing, leading, driving, sponsoring, engaging with or influencing any complex change programme.
Download additional information and book your place online from the following link:
http://www.southwestiep.gov.uk/Events/
EventSWCustomerfocusedtransformationnetwork121208.htm
For further information contact:
Anita Tadayon - anitatadayon@yahoo.com
Children’s Services: Understanding & Preparing For The Comprehensive Area Assessment In Practice – 17th February 2008, London
As a children’s services professional from April 2009 the new Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) will affect you.
Find out what will be expected of your service, understand the mechanics of the review itself and guarantee complete clarity around precisely how you will be assessed.
This conference will assist you in:
- Clarify the new inspection regime parameters
- Understand Ofsted scoring systems
- Recognise partnership responsibilities porting and planning processes
Hear inspectorate insight into how the CAA will move away from JARs and APAs and how this will affect preparation for assessment. What implications will the reduced safeguarding inspection have on children at risk in your area? Make sure your local authority and its partners can make a smooth transition to the new inspection regime.
Download additional information from the following link:
http://www.haymarketevents.com/conferenceDetail/305/understanding-comprehensive-area-assessment-will-affect-you?aid=EMMM&cid=1703309URL1
Commissioning alternative provision guidance for LAs and Schools
This guidance makes suggestions for alternative provision for children. It offers advice on engaging providers to meet general needs and to meet the needs of individual pupils who may require specialised provision.
Download additional information from the following link:
http://publications.everychildmatters.gov.uk
How to be Successful in Commissioning Children's Services
This guide brings together a selection of children’s services case studies from the Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnership’s, the Centre for Procurement Performance (DCSF) and the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA). The case studies focus on commissioning and service development, and show how outcomes for children, young people and families are being improved and more effective ways of working established. Each one draws out the benefits of a particular approach, the critical success factors and the lessons learned.
Download additional information from the following link:
http://www.commissioningsupport.org.uk/resources/emerging-practice/?id=30
For further information contact:
John Lees – 07920 501589, j.lees@dorsetcc.gov.uk
Toolkit for Local Transport Highways Efficiency Gains
The Highways Efficiency Liaison Group of government, local government and industry representatives, has produced a Toolkit to help local highway authorities identify and claim efficiency gains.Advice is offered on cashable efficiency, valuing service improvements for non cashable efficiency gains, and efficiency from use of capital expenditure.A specific inflation figure to be used for highways is quoted, which is different to that for most other services.
Download additional information from the following link:
http://www.highways.gov.uk/business/documents/
Key_Issues_relating_to_Working_with_Local_Authorities_on_Efficiency.pdf
