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The implementation and guidance around the use of the PSIF is flexible to suit each organisation’s culture and experience e.g. some organisations have started their PSIF journey by completing fully facilitated assessments; using online checklists; templates; or using a Corporate Management Team assessment whilst others pilot the PSIF within a service area. There are numerous options on how to implement PSIF and all are equally valid and realise benefits dependant on that particular organisation.
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Yes, the PSIF can be used to examine themes, using the red threads that are contained within the framework. Red threads can be used to assess the following themes: Communicating with Employees; Communicating with Customers and Partners; Impact on the Community; Customer Focus; Governance and Accountability; Managing Knowledge and Information; Managing and Developing Employees; Process Improvement; Partnership Working; Sustainability; Equalities; Efficiency; and Benefit Realisation.
There is also a separate accompanying framework that is focused on a corporate self-assessment.
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The PSIF community already consists of local authorities, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, non-profit departmental bodies and third sector organisations. Tailored PSIF frameworks have also been used by Community Planning Partnerships (CPPs) throughout Scotland, both at Board and Thematic level. We would actively welcome enquiries from any public or third sector organisation, both within and beyond Scotland.
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The PSIF is subject to constant review by our partner organisations and the team within the Improvement Service who monitor its relevance and effectiveness for each participating organisation on an annual basis through the Review Events and formal framework review exercises.
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Yes, this is very common and helps to ensure buy-in within organisations.
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Organisations who have used the PSIF for a number of years report a variety of benefits including a consistent approach to performance management and improvement planning across the organisation, a more proportionate response from scrutiny and inspection bodies and external recognition. Annual reviews of PSIF by those using the framework show consistently high levels of support and satisfaction with the PSIF model.
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The PSIF clearly links to other existing frameworks in use within the public sector in Scotland, reducing duplication of effort. The PSIF has been mapped with those frameworks used by audit, inspection and regulatory bodies. These bodies have also agreed to accept evidence towards future inspections via the PSIF framework reducing duplication of effort and time within local authorities.
The PSIF operates as a partnership with a learning and sharing forum hosted online and via a schedule of regular networking and learning events. This provides a meaningful and open forum to share good practice, experience and lessons learned and offers the opportunity for further benchmarking.
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The sharing of best practice and benchmarking is actively encouraged amongst PSIF practitioners. There is an informal benchmarking network in the partnership which encourages sharing and learning from benchmarking data and processes.
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Organisations will receive support from the IS PSIF team throughout the process, including regular progress meetings with an officer from the IS PSIF Project team.
The PSIF question set is accompanied by a standard set of materials and supporting systems to ensure a common language and approach for PSIF organisations.
Through involvement with the PSIF community, you will also have the opportunity to network, benchmark and share best practice with the other organisations that are implementing PSIF. This is achieved through:
- An annual PSIF Learning Event which focuses on specific issues for the PSIF community, wider links with national initiatives or other frameworks and bodies and practical implementation guidance.
- The PSIF Knowledge Hub, which enables PSIF practitioners to communicate online with the rest of the PSIF community and to benefit from the learning from past and current PSIF organisations, in a secure and private environment.
Phone: 07824 473467