Officer-led conversation on public sector reform

This conversation aims to bring together leaders from across local government and Community Planning Partners to develop a collective roadmap towards public sector reform, while identifying new and different ways to identify and tackle inequalities.

In addition to the senior leaders working together, a group of volunteers will inform dialogue by focusing on two key areas of research and evidence going forward: Public Sector Reform and Collaboration, including relationships and culture.

A national research proposal has been approved to undertake a robust analysis of Public Sector Reform and Collaboration from both a national and international perspective to understand:

  • What models of reform exist for local government, working within and across organisations?
  • What is the strength of evidence about their effectiveness in improving services and outcomes for people and communities?

The work on Public Sector Reform is going to look at how community planning partners, not just local government, can move away from communicating and co-ordinating with each other to fully integrated systems as envisaged by the Christie Commission but not yet delivered. Best practice within Scotland, UK and internationally will also be identified, to build an evidence base of what works, especially models which take a different approach to preventing and poverty and inequalities.

With regards to Collaboration, this work will examine how we can improve and develop relationships to maximise effective working across local government and the wider public sector, while creating the conditions, the relationships and the culture to ensure there is capacity for organisations to deliver on the outcomes of these constructive discussions. There will also be an effort to identify examples of collaboration powers or legislation that exists to support integrated services.