The biweekly efficiency and improvement bulletin is produced by the LIFT SW Partnership (GOSW, IDeA, SWLGA, SWCoE).
PLEASE DISTRIBUTE TO INTERESTED COLLEAGUES
If you wish to include efficiency or improvement articles in the next bulletin, or add your name to the circulation list please email swce@dorsetcc.gov.uk.
Nominations required for exclusive MBA module places - Developing Supply Strategy Course - April 2008
In conjunction with Bath University Business School, the LIFT SW Partnership and the South East RIEP have developed a high profile programme aimed at developing capacity in strategic sourcing in participating organisations.
Up to 10 people from South West Local Authorities have the opportunity to join colleagues from the South East on the course beginning on 27th April 2008. This is an intensive course that requires a high level of commitment, but provides strong individual and organisational benefits, plus it is an excellent opportunity for networking and shared learning.
Download further information and find out how to nominate yourself or a colleague from the following link:
http://www.swce.gov.uk/skillsdevelopment/devsupplystrategy.htm
For further information contact:
Gillian Brindle - 01305 757232, g.brindle@dorsetcc.gov.uk
New Transformation Skills Development Programme Courses
LIFT SW are pleased to offer some NEW additions to our Skills Development Public Course Syllabus:
Fundamentals of Change Management - This is a one day interactive workshop designed for anyone responsible for or involved in the successful design, management and implementation of organisational change.
Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) Foundation Course - This is a three day, certificated exam course that builds on our one day overview course and is aimed at anyone involved in, or responsible for change programmes who wishes to gain a qualification, e.g. programme leaders, business change managers, programme office staff and operations executives involved in change programmes.
All our public courses continue to be offered monthly in three locations around the region - Taunton, Bath and Plymouth. They remain heavily subsidised and prices are even lower than in 2007.
Download additional information and book your place online from the
following link:
http://www.swce.gov.uk/skillsdevelopment/
For further information contact:
Natalie Aldrich - 01305 757236, n.aldrich@dorsetcc.gov.uk
Second Wave of On-site Funding for Skills Development courses - Get Your Bid in Now!
LIFT SW would like to remind authorities that the closing date for the second wave of bids for on-site delivery of business transformation courses is fast approaching. Councils are invited to bid by 15th March 2008.
The On-site courses on offer include:
- 1-day fundamentals of lean systems thinking course (public course also available)
- NEW 3-day lean practitioner course offered on-site to a specific local authority looking at a service re-design opportunity
- 1-day Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) overview course (public course also available)
- NEW 3-day Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) foundation course (public course also available)
- 1-day Rough-Cut Activity based costing course (public course also vailable)
- NEW 1-day Change Management course (public course also available)
- NEW Pilot 2-day leadership development programme, aimed at director level
There is a simple bidding process in place for prioritising on-site course deliveries.
Download additional information on the cost, content, bidding and prioritisation process as well as an application form from the following
link:
http://www.swce.gov.uk/skillsdevelopment/
For further information contact:
Anita Tadayon - 07885 363408, anitatadayon@yahoo.com
Understanding Agency Staffing Seminar - 12th March 2008, Taunton
LIFT SW Partnership is hosting a seminar with support from OGC to help authorities understand and manage their use of agency staff. This event is specifically geared for both Procurement and HR colleagues, please forward this invitation internally. The seminar will include sessions on:
- how to understand the agency workforce
- how to reduce your dependency on agency staff
- how to ensure you're getting the best value for money
- how to reduce the legal risks associated with using agency staff
- what other local authorities in your region and nationally are doing
- what collaborative deals and best practice are available
- what belongs in an agency staff policy
- how to get free advice and support, including devising your strategy
- how to get cashable savings back for your local authority!!
This is a full day event with lunch provided and is free to public sector attendees.
For further information contact:
Gillian Brindle - 01305 757232, g.brindle@dorsetcc.gov.uk
Last Few Places - Change Management in Action - Industry Visit Opportunity - 14th March, Street
Places are still available for change management leaders, practitioners and enthusiast to join a short but focused round table discussion and action learning visit to Clarks International (http://www.clarks.com ) on Friday 14th March 2008. Fresh from sharing their learnings on their "Fusion" programme at our 1st October Transformation conference, Clarks International extended an invitation to host up to 15 executives from South West Local Authorities to join some of their executives on-site and get under the skin of their learnings.
Download additional information from the following link:
http://www.swce.gov.uk/Events/changemanagementinaction.htm
For further information contact:
Anita Tadayon - 07885 363408, anitatadayon@yahoo.com
Somerset Waste Partnership Conference - 4th April, Bridgwater
The Somerset Waste Partnership has delivered the first multi-authority service delivery partnership in any UK two-tier area; it has created an innovative shared political governance arrangement and procured a groundbreaking contract for the entire County. This conference will look in details at the governance of the partnership, the procurement of the joint contract, the cost sharing between the councils involved and how trust was built up and maintained between authorities.
Speakers include:
- Beth Childs, Head of Local Authority Waste Funding, DEFRA
- Cllr Nigel Woollcombe-Adams, Chair of the Somerset Waste Board
- Sonia Davidson Grant, Corporate Director, Somerset County Council
- Joe Papineschi, Eunomia Research and Consulting
- Stephen Sears, Chief Executive of ECT Recycling
The conference will cost £125 per delegate and has been subsidised by the LIFT SW Partnership.
Download additional information and book your place on the conference from
the following link:
http://www.swce.gov.uk/Events/Somersetwastepartnershipconference040408.htm
For further information contact:
Paul Chiplen - enquiries@somersetwaste.gov.uk
Contracts Databases
The LIFT SW Partnership website provides access to three contracts databases containing information on open contracts and frameworks for local authorities to buy into.
RCE Procurement Programme Contracts Database - Provides authorities with the opportunity to access existing deals rather than going through the full procurement process. Contact details for each framework are provided and should be the first point of contact.
OGC Contracts Database - Signposts current and future OJEU compliant frameworks and contracts available to public sector purchasers.
PASA eCatalogues Database - If your Procurement is Health related, this contracts database gives access to full contractual terms and conditions and a menu of prices across a range of suppliers.
Download additional information from the following link:
http://www.swce.gov.uk/workstreams/procurement/contractdatabases.htm
For further information contact:
Gillian Brindle - 01305 757232, g.brindle@dorsetcc.gov.uk
LIFT SW Procurement Newsletter
The LIFT SW Procurement Programme has now published the second edition of its Procurement Newsletter.
Download the newsletter from the following link:
http://www.swce.gov.uk/news/Newsletters/procurementnewsletters.htm
Waste Facilities Mapping
Regional and sub-regional waste facilities maps are now available to be viewed and downloaded from the LIFT SW partnership website. Each Waste Disposal Authority has a map dedicated to the sites being utilised.
Regional maps by facility type are also available.
Download additional information from the following link:
http://www.swce.gov.uk/workstreams/environmentalservices/wastemapping/
For further information contact:
Hamid Kennedy - 01305 755494, h.kennedy@dorsetcc.gov.uk
Advanced Award for Elected Member Champions
A group of ten Councillors from the South West region are the first to participate in the new Advanced Award for Elected Member Champions qualification designed and run by South West Employers. The group started with a welcome session and will study both independently and collaboratively over the next few months on a distance learning programme designed to support the work and role of Member Champions. The programme offers the pportunity to learn flexibly, enabling the learning to take place around the busy schedules and commitments of the Elected Members. Tutor support is built into the programme and a key element is the development of a learning set amongst the candidates - viewing each other as a source of knowledge and support will help overcome any challenges and will assist individuals to successfully achieve this level 3 qualification. The programme is due to complete in June 2008.
For further information contact:
Faye Edwards - 01823 425277, training@southwest-ra.gov.uk
Professional Award in Local Governance
A group of eleven Councillors are currently studying the Professional Award in Local Governance qualification offered by South West Employers. The group comprises Councillors from 3 neighbouring authorities who are attending 4 training days and 2 tutorial sessions to study this level 4 qualification. The course provides a development programme for local government Members that will support their roles, develop understanding of their strategic remit and provide an accredited award. The qualification comprises of 4 core modules plus two tutorial sessions. The modules can also be attended individually, for those not aiming towards the recognised qualification. The course started in January and is due to finish in June.
The modules covered are:
- Local Governance & Personal Capability
- Leading Policy
- Leading Service Improvement
- Leading Communities
For further information contact:
Faye Edwards - 01823 425277, training@southwest-ra.gov.uk
Business Process Improvement (BPI) National Conference - 8th April,
Birmingham
West Midlands RIEP have organised a national conference on BPI and the new BPI framework agreement which is free for local authority colleagues. Following plenary addresses from Paul Downie (CLG) and Barry Quirke (LB Lewisham), delegates can choose to attend four of the 20 available workshops. Workshop presenters include representatives from CLG, LIFT SW, various councils, and several suppliers - including three of the companies that LIFT SW has recently procured for our subsidised training courses (Aspire Europe, Vanguard, Grant Thornton), and the company currently delivering NVQ training in Business Improvement Techniques to SW Councils (NA Consultants).
Download additional information and to book your place online from the
following link:
http://www.wmcoe.gov.uk/index.php?page=27&iID=627
Councillors at the heart of their communities - 25th April, Bristol
Following on from the successful Transforming your Communities conference held in Bristol, the LIFT SW Partnership and the West of England Member Development Partnership are pleased to invite South West Councillors to attend Councillors at the heart of their communities being held at the BAWA onference Centre, Bristol, 10am - 3.30pm.
This event will be hosted by South Gloucestershire Council and chaired by Cllr John Calway, Council Leader. Key Speakers will include:
- Dame Jane Roberts, Head of Councillors Commission - The Role of
Councillors in a Healthy Democracy - Mark Ingleby, author and ex Councillor - The Creative Councillor: Driving
Change on the Back Benches - Cllr Paul Robathan, South Somerset Council - Neighbourhood and Community Champions: The Role of the Elected Member
- Robert Dalziel, Institute of Local Government Studies - Local Petitions
and Calls for Action - Rhion Jones, Consultation Institute: Creating a culture of participation
and community consultation
The following workshops will be facilitated by high profile Councillors and expert officers:
- The Role of the Councillor in the Rural Community
- Dealing with the Hidden Urban Challenges in the "Prosperous" South West
- Engaging and Involving Young People
- Innovative Engagement
This conference is free for South West Councillors and will cost £50 for Local Government officers wishing to attend.
For further information contact:
Lynne Yockney (South Gloucestershire Council) - 01454 863084,
Lynne.yockney@southglos.gov.uk
Government Connect Regional Seminars - 19th March, Exeter
Government Connect will be hosting a Regional Seminar in Exeter on 19th March which will provide a forum to communication and debate on the Government Connect Programme and its role in supporting service transformation.
Aimed at IT Managers and Security practitioners, Local Authority Service Heads and Transformation Leaders, the focus of will be:
- Government Connect Secure Extranet (GCSx) - How can I use GCSx. Hear from "Live" Local Authorities
- Cross Government Working - DWP, DCSF updates
- Help with your Code of Connection and technical implementation
Download additional information and book your place online from the
following link:
http://www.govconnect.gov.uk/news/upcoming-events/regional-seminars/
