NEWS

Single Outcome Agreements available on the IS site
Almost all authorities' SOAs now available to download.

Local authority recruitment portal now online
The National Recruitment Portal for Scottish local authorities has been soft-launched with eight councils taking part in the first phase of the project.

Sharing lessons learned in planning
A case study on improving the development of planners is the first in a new drive to share good practice around development of planners.

Audit Commission study of recruitment and retention in local government
Local authorities rarely plan or manage their workforce recruitment, development and retention strategically, despite it accounting for half of all service spending, according to a recent study by the Audit Commission. The Audit Commission's 2008 national study, and the accompanying tools aim to help local government and its partners to use recruitment and retention practices to build a workforce that is fit for the future

Research activity in Scottish local authorities - update planned
In response to positive feedback to publication of a list of research activities across all Scottish local authorities in January 2008, we are planning to repeat the exercise in September.

Society awards to recognise Scottish public sector achievements
The Improvement Service is one of the sponsors of an awards programme recognising the best of the Scottish public and voluntary sectors launched by The Herald.

EVENTS

Lessons For Public Services Reform In Scotland: A Workshop For Policy Makers And Practitioners - 24 September 2008, Edinburgh
This workshop highlights the latest lessons on public services reform that emerge from the Economic & Social Research Council's (ESRC) Public Services Programme. The workshop: brings together policy makers, practitioners and academics to explore and discuss the meaning of these insights for Scottish policy and practice contexts; and provides a networking forum for the different stakeholders involved in, and affected by public services reform.

Successful Scotland: The Way Forward For Single Outcome Agreements - 30 September 2008, Edinburgh
Single Outcome Agreements are designed to transform the way in which councils report to central Government, remove duplication and bureaucracy, make better use of limited resources, introduce more flexibility and improve local services. The process next time around is required to involve the entire public sector and other local partners to create successful SOAs. If you work in local government or the wider public sector then SOAs may already be changing your working life. This event is the first major public policy conference to scrutinise the issues arising from the first SOAs, is where you will learn how you must be involved in future and is the ideal opportunity to interact with the leading figures involved in shaping the new landscape across Scotland.

LATEST PUBLICATIONS & RESOURCES

Knowledge Transfer - Sharing learning in public sector organisations (Renew Northwest)

State of the Environment Audit for Edinburgh, 2008 (City of Edinburgh Council)

Community Engagement and Community Cohesion (Joseph Rowntree Foundation)

Staff of Scottish Local Authority Social Work Services, 2007 (Scottish Government)

ABOUT THE IMPROVEMENT SERVICE The Improvement Service is devoted to improving the efficiency, quality and accountability of public services in Scotland through learning, sharing knowledge and delivering improvement solutions. It is a partnership between the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (CoSLA) and the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE). WANT TO APPEAR IN THIS NEWSLETTER? We are always looking for examples of good practice and innovation within Scottish local government and its partners. If you would like to see your work highlighted by the Improvement Service, please contact listen@improvementservice.org.uk