As part of the wider Shared Services agenda, the Diagnostic Pathway will allow councils to identify significant areas for improvement in their organisation models and the distribution of activities amongst their workforces, freeing up resources for front line service delivery. Each council is benefiting from the release of funding from John Swinney, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth and are using a variety of methods and partnerships to achieve their project and longer term aims.

Following a series of initial briefings in October and November 2007, the Shared Services Team within the Improvement Service have also carried out a number of detailed training sessions in December supporting councils in the completion of the Diagnostic Tool. Paul Dowie, Director of Shared Services, stated "Feedback from these sessions has been overwhelmingly positive and all councils have used the opportunity to find the answers to their searching questions and practical real-life challenges."

The Improvement Service are now undertaking a series of dedicated meetings with each council to provide direct and meaningful support for the project team, their colleagues and stakeholders. There will be further training in the form of "Questioning Techniques" and "Process Mapping" guidance in the month of February to assist the practitioners in councils with the initial stages of the Diagnostic Pathway.

The Improvement Service also wish to offer a warm welcome to Simon Marshall who has joined the team as a Project Manager and will be able to provide further practical and personalised support to all councils in Scotland.

Contact: Susie Thomson , Diagnostic Pathway Programme, Improvement Service on 01506 775558.

Shared Services Diagnostic Team Structure