The biweekly efficiency and improvement bulletin produced by the South West Centre of Excellence (SWCoE) on behalf of the LIFT SW Partnership (GOSW, IDeA, SWLGA, SWCoE).
If you wish to include efficiency or improvement articles in the next bulletin please email swce@dorsetcc.gov.uk.
Add your name to the circulation list by emailing swce@dorsetcc.gov.uk
New courses in support of Business Transformation
The LIFT SW Partnership is pleased to announce the launch of a new range of heavily subsidised Skills Development training courses for the region.
The four new courses added to the skills development portfolio are:
- 1 day overview course on Fundamentals of Lean Systems Thinking - delivered by Vanguard - only £84 per delegate.
- 1 day overview course on Rough-cut ABC in Support of Business Transformation - delivered by Value Adding - only £41 per delegate.
- 1 day overview course on Managing Successful Programmes (MSP) delivered by Aspire - only £84 per delegate.
- 2-day SPRINT course - SPRINT is a change and innovation method centred around Business Process Reengineering (BPR). It was developed specifically for the public sector and is widely used by local authorities around the country - only £167 per delegate.
These courses will run from October 2007 onwards for a maximum of 12 people per session and will be repeated at venues in Bath, Taunton and Plymouth.
Download additional information and book your place online from the following link:
http://www.swce.gov.uk/skillsdevelopment/
For further information contact:
Claire Morecroft - 01305 755490, c.morecroft@dorsetcc.gov.uk
Supplier Adoption for P Cards
To further support the use of p-cards within the region, LIFT SW has allocated funds to undertake the adoption of key suppliers who are currently not able to accept payment by Visa card.
If your authority is using or planning to use purchase cards and you would like to suggest suppliers for adoption please contact:
Gillian Brindle - 01305 757232, g.brindle@dorsetcc.gov.uk
Contract Opportunities
Wiltshire County Council and the districts are about to undertake a tender for Household Food Digesters (similar to compost bins but take cooked food and non vegetable waste). They are looking at ensuring that the OJEU notice is open to other Local Authorities.
For further information contact:
Symon Doliczny, Strategic Procurement Project Officer, Wiltshire County Council - 01225 713262 or 07771 721329,
symondoliczny@wiltshire.gov.uk
LIFT South West Business Transformation Network Event - 1st October 2007
The LIFT South West Business Transformation Network Event will take place on the 1st of October, 10.00 to 16.00 at Taunton Racecourse, with what promises to be an action packed day setting the scene for customer-led business transformation, and the role of the network.
The network will inspire and inform the Transformational agenda for the region as a whole. Keynote speakers will include Steve Smith and Dean Collier, from Clarks Shoes Supply Chain Management Team, who will provide a private sector perspective, Sir Chris Clarke, OBE, FRSA and John Rogers of the Wiltshire Partnership Programme.
The conference will set the scene for what transformation really means for local authorities and look at how to organise the delivery of a truly transformational programme across the South West.
A number of working sessions will be run to help delegates learn about the latest thinking on Asset Management and Client Access Management and address some of the barriers and enablers to change in the context of transformation.
The event is a must for all change leaders, change agents and improvement executives in the region, and for anyone who is interested in understanding business transformation and what it can mean for the South West.
For further information contact:
AnitaTadayon - 07885 363 408, anitatadayon@yahoo.com
LIFT SW Strategic Savings Event, 30th October - Exeter
Releasing cashable savings through increased efficiency and better buying is the watch-word for CSR07, which is targeting around 9% savings over the period 2008/09 to 2010/11 for local authorities. The LIFT SW 'Strategic Savings' event on 30th October 2007 at Sandy Park, Exeter, is focussed on showcasing practical projects that have already delivered gains for local authorities in the South West and nationally. The projects cover major authority spend areas including goods and services procurement, construction, adult and children's services and the two key themes of sustainability and the third-sector.
The event is targeted at local authority managers, elected members and anyone who is tasked with delivering efficiency gains without impacting service delivery
For further information contact:
Gillian Brindle - 01305 757232, g.brindle@dorsetcc.gov.uk
Workforce issues in shared services
In partnership with the IDeA, the LGE has developed a new web-based resource that provides practical guidance on the workforce implications of setting up shared services.
The resource provides information and guidance on a wide-range of issues, such as:
- workforce planning
- TUPE and staff transfers
- information and consultation on redundancy
- recruitment for the new services
- variation of employment contracts
- flexible working
- managing a reduction in the workforce
Download the resource and additional information from the following link:
http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=6328944
LAA and LSP improvement support programme
All local areas have to agree a new local area agreement (LAA) by June 2008. This is a major challenge for elected members, council officers and local and national partners. The IDeA is developing a support programme to help local authorities and local strategic partnerships (LSPs) negotiate and deliver excellent LAAs. The LAA and LSP improvement support programme is available on a regional and sub-regional basis, or to individual councils and partners.
Download additional information from the following link:
http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=7209966
How SMEs can become successful contractors
Local government has made huge strides in procuring and delivering construction projects in recent years. The principles behind Rethinking Construction have been successfully embedded in many projects as local authorities have taken advantage of framework arrangements to bring home projects to a higher standard, in a shorter time and at less cost.
But has this desire to raise standards and deliver efficiencies been at the expense of small and medium sized enterprises? Not if local authorities consciously build in strategies for smaller businesses to take advantage of framework arrangements, either directly or via the supply chain, says a report by LGTF.
The report showcases how SMEs can benefit from framework arrangements, with case studies detailing how several local authorities and SMEs have successfully adapted to the changing environment.
Download the report from the following link:
http://www.emce.gov.uk/documents/workstreams/How%20SMEs%20can%20become%20successful%20framework%20contractors.pdf
Care Services Efficiency Delivery – Demand Forecasting and Capacity Planning - Anticipating Future Needs Toolkit
The Care Services Efficiency Delivery Programme (CSED) have developed an Anticipating Future Needs Toolkit, using the IPC methodology, for use by local authorities and PCT colleagues to enable effective and consistent consultation in all localities.
The Toolkit provides councils with a proven, consistent methodology for consultation on the future care needs of older people in the local community. This is a key element of Joint Strategic Needs Assessment as set out in the Department’s Commissioning Framework for Health and Well-Being.
Download additional information from the following link:
http://www.csed.csip.org.uk/workstreams/demand-forecasting--capacity-planning/anticipating-future-needs-toolkit.html
