Public Service Improvement

Developing solutions to achieve service improvement

All organisations are facing the challenges of operating in a modern world. Local Authorities and other organisations such as those in the social housing sector however, are facing ever greater pressures each year to implement new initiatives and policies set by Central Government. The present economic downturn adds to these pressures.

Simultaneously, they are challenged by the need to prioritise and the need to respond to the demands and concerns of the local community.

Sometimes these competing tensions seem impossible to satisfy however we are working with a number of clients in these challenging areas, developing solutions to deliver change and sustainable improvement.

The Efficiency Agenda

As the economic downturn bites doubt is beginning to surface as to whether organisations can achieve the required efficiencies required by Government. Evidence is growing, for example, that local success is being undermined by defensiveness and resistance to corporate initiatives.

Continuous Improvement

Despite a decade of change management development recent performance management outcomes show that many organisations still contain substantial pockets of under performance that are hindering corporate success and leading to significant customer dissatisfaction.

Shared Services

The wish to move to a more shared service approach across traditional boundaries is often undermined by sectional interests or by timidity and fear of change.

Multi-Area and Local Area Agreements

Developing effective partnerships both locally and with national government is a pre-requisite to achieving cross-agency improvements at a grass roots level. Progress appears patchy and strong community leadership is needed in order that shared objectives can be achieved.

External Assessment

The CAA provides further challenge to Local Councils and their partners to demonstrate their effectiveness. Ability to self-assess and implement effective change management solutions remains under detailed scrutiny and must be continually addressed. Similarly the Housing  sector  is facing the challenge of inspection and assessment and being required to focus on change and improvement.