Shared Services are expected to play a significant role in driving up service quality and consistency across Scottish local government as well as delivering long term financial savings. A number of Pathfinder projects have been initiated and John Swinney, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, approved the release of up to £4.5million in October 2007 to give as many councils as possible the opportunity to learn from the Pathfinder projects and undertake a diagnostic into the organisation of front and back office support services. The Diagnostic Pathway Toolkit has been developed and will enable other councils to identify improvements, freeing up resources for front line service delivery.

The Improvement Service has now established the Diagnostic Pathway Programme team who are working with the 30 councils to undertake the diagnostic. A series of high level briefing meetings were held in October followed by two dedicated Practitioner Sessions in November which were both attended by over 25 councils. At these events, the Improvement Service outlined the requirements expected of councils undertaking the diagnostic, the support available from within the Improvement Service and the Toolkit of templates and guidance which has been developed to assist and guide councils through the process.

Paul Dowie , Director of Shared Services , stated 'The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive with council project team staff telling us that the information from the events and the content within the Toolkit will make a practical and positive difference in assisting them in implementing their projects and preparing their stakeholders for the months ahead.'

The Diagnostic Pathway Programme team are:

Copies of the presentations are available here and details of further support clinics scheduled in December are available on our Events Calendar.

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