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We publish news from the Improvement Service as well as other news relevant to local government improvement in Scotland. We welcome contributions from Scottish local authorities and partner organisations. If you have a story you would like to share, contact us.
Improvement Service Shortlisted for LARIA Research Impact Award
The Improvement Service’s Social Return on Investment (SROI) analysis of the embedding of welfare rights advisors in medical practices has been shortlisted for the ‘best use of local area research’ award in the Local Area Research and Intelligence Association (LARIA) Research Impact Awards.
myaccount to continue to support Scottish Government’s ambitions for digital public services
2018 will be a big year for this multiple award-winning service, as we look to build on myaccount’s strong foothold in local government and health. In the first quarter of the year, more online public services “powered by” myaccount will launch – Parents Portal, NHS Scotland’s Health and Social Care Portal (as a proof of concept) and South Lanarkshire Council.
Improvement Service appoints interim chief executive
The Improvement Service has appointed an interim chief executive, initially for eight months, to succeed Colin Mair, who retires at the end of this month. Sarah Gadsden, currently Director of Strategic Development and Collaboration within the Improvement Service, was chosen by the Improvement Service Board.
Getting organised for the impact of General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
The EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) comes into effect on 25 May 2018. In common with other organisations, the Improvement Service is working hard towards ensuring it complies with the new regulation.
Money Advice Performance Management Framework (MAMPF) Annual Report 2016/17 Published
The Money Advice Outcomes (MAO) project team have published the Money Advice Performance Management Framework (MAPMF) annual report for 2016/17, alongside individual reports for each local authority. All 32 Scottish local authorities submitted data returns regarding the money advice services they delivered or funded during the 2016/17 financial year
Councils continue to perform well despite sharp reduction in spend
Scotland’s councils continue to perform well for their communities in terms of service delivery despite a sharp reduction in their finances according to the latest Local Government Benchmarking Framework report.
Turning Volunteer Participation Upside Down event
As part of the Improvement Service's Leading Practice Conference Programme, join Volunteer Scotland, the Improvement Service, Argyll and Bute Third Sector Interface and Argyll and Bute council on their journey to realise how volunteers and public services can collectively improve outcomes for their communities.
North Lanarkshire Council wins Verint EMEA Digital Engagement Award
North Lanarkshire Council has won the prestigious excellence in Digital Engagement Award at the Verint EMEA 2017 awards at a ceremony held in central London.
Dundee regeneration conference materials available
The IS and Dundee City Council hosted a regeneration conference in Discovery Point, Dundee on 8 November 2017, as part of the IS Leading Practice conference programme.
Colleagues from Dundee City Council and partner organisations shared their stories about Dundee’s journey to transforming a city, focusing on both economic and community regeneration.
Funding agreed to extend welfare advice within healthcare model
The Scottish Government has provided funding for a Welfare Advice Service Facilitator to help embed welfare rights and money advisors within GP practices and primary care services.
Community Planning Portal improvements
A refresh of the Community Planning in Scotland Portal has been completed to incorporate resources supporting health and social care partnerships.
SLAED Economic Development Activities Update
The SLAED Indicators Report for 2016-17 was published on 24 November. The report provides consistent data and evidence on what councils throughout Scotland are delivering as local economic development organisations. This is the fifth year that the SLAED Indicators Report has been produced and it assists in ongoing monitoring of performance and resource allocation within councils.
Volunteers sought to trial change framework
The IS is now trialling its Change Framework, an online resource which provides tools, templates, reports and good practice to help support change projects.
Money Advice Service conducting first mapping of financial capability provision for children and young people
The Money Advice Service is conducting the first ever mapping of financial capability provision for children and young people, as part of its work to help better coordinate financial education in the UK.
Improvement Service scoops prize at 2017 UK IT Industry Awards
The Improvement Service has won the Big Data/Analytics Project of the Year Award at the 2017 UK IT Industry Awards.
TellMeScotland unveils new website
Tellmescotland, Scotland’s national public information notices portal, has been relaunched with a new look and improved functionality.
Partnership aims to boost digital services for young people
A partnership to increase the development of digital services available using the Young Scot National Entitlement Card (NEC) has been agreed between Young Scot and the Improvement Service.
Aberdeen seeks directors to lead transformation
Aberdeen City Council is seeking four new directors to oversee transformation of the council's operating model.
IS to offer support for early learning and childcare expansion
The IS has been awarded funding from Scottish Government to be an integral part of the Early Learning and Childcare Expansion (ELC) Delivery Support team and is in the process of recruiting six regional ELC Expansion Change Management Programme Managers, two ELC Expansion Business Analysts and an ELC Expansion Knowledge Management Project Officer.
Data Hub nominated for IT award
The National Entitlement Card Migration Project has been shortlisted for the 'Big Data/Analytics Project of the Year' awards at the UK IT Industry Awards 2017.
Parent views of school engagement and an online portal
Research detailing parents' views of schools' communications and the development of an online portal has been published
Scottish Financial Capability Week 2017
The Scottish Financial Capability Week will take place from 13-17 November 2017 aiming to raise awareness about the stubbornly low levels of financial capability across Scotland, and encourage organisations to work together to address this issue and help people make the most of their money.
Spatial Hub takes shape
The Improvement Service Spatial Hub, which provides a single point of access to local authority spatial data in a consistent, quality-assured format, is now becoming a reality
Card migration project shortlisted for national award
The National Entitlement Card Migration Project has been shortlisted for the ‘Most Innovative Transport Project’ at the National Transport Awards.
Digital mapping for healthier and greener communities
Ordnance Survey (OS) has published a free interactive digital map identifying accessible recreational and leisure green space in Great Britain, which can be used through the popular leisure planning and map app, OS Maps.
Youth Practice Outcomes Framework: Early Adopters’ Programme
The Money Advice Service (MAS) is leading and coordinating the Financial Capability Strategy for Scotland, which aims to improve people’s ability to manage money well and their ability to handle periods of financial difficulty. Children and young people, and young adults are two key themes within the strategy.
Free online 'Compassionate Care' course
The Scottish Improvement Science Collaborating Centre is offering access to its free online course, Compassionate Care: Getting it Right, beginning on 17 July 2017.
IS awarded funding to support CEDAR groups
The Improvement Service has been awarded three years funding from the Big Lottery Fund to provide strategic support to CEDAR (Children Experiencing Domestic Abuse Recovery) groups working in eight local authority areas across Scotland.
myaccount scoops award for citizen engagement
myaccount, the simple and secure sign-in service for accessing eligible online public services in Scotland, won the Citizen Award at Holyrood’s 2017 Connect ICT Awards.
First advice agencies accredited under new Scottish National Standards process
The first four advice agencies to receive accreditation under the Scottish Government’s new quality assurance model have been announced.
Money Advice Outcomes team backs #talkmoneyworries campaign
The Improvement Service’s Money Advice Outcomes Project is supporting the Money Advice Service campaign #talkmoneyworries and the call for family and friends to spot the signs that people close to them might be experiencing problem debts.
Improvement Service a winner at the Scottish Transport Awards
The National Entitlement Card (NEC) migration project was named winner of the 'Excellence in Technology and Innovation' award at this year's Scottish Transport Awards.
2017 SURF Awards open for applications
The 2017 SURF Awards are now open for applications. The annual awards recognise best practice and innovation in community regeneration.
Building a Local Government Associates Framework - information events
The Improvement Service is commissioning an Associates Framework to support change programmes in councils and community planning partnerships (CPPs).
We are now planning two information events to give out more information about the framework and the types of skills, knowledge and experience we'll be looking for. The events will take place in Edinburgh on 15 June 2017 and Glasgow on 21 June 2017.
IS projects in Connect Awards shortlist
Two IS projects have been shortlisted in this year's Connect Awards.
Barriers to community engagement in planning study published
The Scottish Government has published a study on the barriers to community engagement in the Scottish planning system.
International e-health prize for 'My Diabetes My Way'
My Diabetes My Way, an online platform for people with diabetes, has been recognised internationally, winning the eHealth Adoption Award at eHealth Week 2017 in Malta.
Nominations open for Scottish Public Service Awards
The Improvement Service (IS) is supporting this year's Scottish Public Service Awards, run by Holyrood magazine.
The Improvement Service (IS) is the national improvement organisation for local government in Scotland.
Our purpose is to help councils and their partners to improve the health, quality of life and opportunities of all people in Scotland through community leadership, strong local governance and the delivery of high quality, efficient local services.
Through a series of principles, the IS works to promote improvement in local government and among its partners to support them improve outcomes and reduce the outcome gaps within populations and within areas.
The IS delivers a range of products and services that support CPPs to build their capacity to deliver the public service reform agenda.
The IS has a non-partisan role to support all elected members in Scotland.
- Economic Outcomes Programme
- Linking Community and Spatial Planning
- Improving Outcomes in Money Advice
- Organisational Development
- Outcomes, Evidence and Performance Board
- Roads Collaboration Programme
- Spatial Information Service
- Tackling Violence Against Women
- Welfare Advice Service Facilitator
- Workforce Planning
- Self-assessment in Community Planning Partnerships
- Third Sector Interface Self-assessment and Improvement
As well as news from the Improvement Service other news relevant to local government improvement in Scotland. is also published. The Improvement Service welcomes contributions from Scottish local authorities and partner organisations. If you have a story you would like to share, contact us.
The Improvement Services produces a series of newsletters on a range of subjects, including myaccount, elected members, tellmescotland as well as the main IS newsletter. Subscribe on this page.
See past issues of the IS newsletter
Find out about all the events and activities organised by the Improvement Service or of interest to Scottish local authorities here. If you would like to add an event to this calendar, please contact info@improvementservice.org.uk
You can quickly browse events from the calendar opposite, or go to the events page for full details of all events.
