Category: Publications
Many of our projects have resulted in publications for wider dissemination. This section lists some of these documents; others can be found in postings on individual projects. We are in the process of updating this listing and associated resources.
Challenges in determining value for money in partnership working have come up repeatedly in our work through Improvement and Efficiency West Midlands (IEWM) with local authorities and Local Strategic Partnerships. We have delivered workshops on the subject, along with a
digest of on-line material on VfM, especially relating to research and tools which aid assessment of cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit (download
pdf 177 KB).An earlier briefing for IEWM provides background on the theme of
VfM in partnership working (download
pdf 176KB)
Permanent link to this article: https://www.educe.co.uk/?p=260
Problems with data sharing continue to be raised as a serious obstacle to developing effective, joined-up services to tackle worklessness at local level. Adverse consequences can include poor targeting of services, weak referral systems, duplicated provision and difficulties in determining value for money.This guide on
Good Practice in Data Sharing (
840 KB), published by Local Government Improvement and Development (now Local Government Association) in May 2010:
- sets out the ways in which shared data can contribute in tackling worklessness
- illustrates what can get in the way of data sharing – and what lies behind this
- draws distinctions between different types of data sharing, and the importance of personal consent
- explains the legal basis for data sharing around worklessness, including that affecting what DWP can and cannot share
- highlights good practice and explores data sharing as partnership in action.
This was one of two How To guides produced by Educe for LGID, part of the series funded by DWP and CLG following the Houghton ‘Tackling Worklessness’ Review (TWR). It drew on the CLG/DWP Data Sharing Pilot Programme (a TWR project) and earlier work by Educe on Data Sharing for Neighbourhood Renewal. It was written to complement the DWP guidance on
data sharing and worklessness and on
data sharing and social security data. Note also that DWP are now making small area benefits data available (reducing the need for data sharing requests) – see their page on
Output Area data.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.educe.co.uk/?p=257
Educe produced the
‘How To’ guide on the Future Jobs Fund (
331KB) for IDeA (now part of the Local Government Association) to help local authorities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises bid for and develop effective programmes. FJF was a recession response, linked to the recommendations of the Houghton ‘Tackling Worklessness’ Review, providing for the creation of 170,000 jobs (120,000 for young people and 50,000 for older adults in unemployment hotspots).The initial draft of the guide was circulated in late 2009 as organisations prepared bids and developed their plans, with a final version published in March 2010. This provided the background to FJF, advice on what makes a good bid and a good programme, and summarised success factors for delivery (eg, on engagement and publicity, programme design and management, and linking FJF and Apprenticeships). It also highlighted ‘top tips’ and practical things to watch out for.The Coalition Government subsequently closed FJF to new bids. However, contract holders delivered FJF into 2011. While much of the guide is FJF-specific, the content also includes lessons of wider relevant to the design and implementation of employment programmes.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.educe.co.uk/?p=252
Case studies for the Partnerships and Places Library, developed by IDeA (now part of the Local Government Association) – intended to enable ‘sharing learning and innovation to transform localities’. These have included:
- Dorset Performance Management Partnership
- Implementing a reward target in Derby: children’s physical activity
- Manchester Economic Development Services Framework
- Manchester: tackling worklessness amongst social housing tenants
- Enable, Nottingham (learning and skills consortium in the voluntary and community sector)
- Flight of the Flamingos, Wolverhampton (partnership development programme aimed at middle managers)
- Lewisham: putting people first (an effective model for driving service improvement and efficiency savings, now being used in a partnership setting, a joint local authority/NHS centre for children with learning difficulties and their families)
- Salford Spotlights (locality action planning)
- Hull Youth Enterprise Partnership
More recent case studies were published on the Work Together site, which the Local Government Association trialled as a precursor to their Knowledge Hub:
- Social Innovation Lab for Kent (SILK)
- Oldham Reducing Teenage Pregnancy Through Information Sharing
- Green Flag Thematic Study: Improving Economic Prosperity During the Recession
- Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea’s Virtual School
The case studies were part of our work for IDeA/Local Government Improvement and Development under a framework contract for ‘Sustainable Communities’ and ‘Policy and Performance’. The Library also contained updated versions of case studies we originated for the predecessor site, Renewal.net – such as B&Q Bolton recruitment policies.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.educe.co.uk/?p=182
Learning to Deliver – support for LSPs and LAAs in the West Midlands
As part of our work for the Learning to Deliver programme (Improvement & Efficiency West Midlands), we produced a series of topical briefings relevant to the work of partners in LSPs. These included:
Five Steps to Better Outcomes ( pdf 583KB): a guide to delivery planning, assisting local partners in making a success of Local Area Agreements, working out how best to achieve community outcomes. These were produced between 2008 and 2010 for Improvement and Efficiency West Midlands.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.educe.co.uk/?p=131
Local authorities in the East Midlands have been spending considerable time collating datasets for strategic assessment and service improvement. Responsibility for collation is typically spread across a range of services in councils (and partners) creating the risk of duplication. Data managers and their teams have been carrying out large amounts of work to repackage nationally available data for local needs.Analytical capacity has been stretched by such demands and available data are not always used to the full. Research and intelligence has not always been joined up where and when it matters – within local authorities and across partners.Derrick Johnstone was commissioned by the East Midlands Improvement and Efficiency Partnership to undertake a scoping project to:
- clarify common needs for improved access to, and use of data, including the use of tools such as MOSAIC, ACORN and OAC (ONS) and the resources of regional and sub-regional observatories
- identify the potential for further pan-regional collaboration, including ways of developing and making better use of regional and sub-regional R&I infrastructure
- assess models for joint use and acquisition of Customer Insight packages, along with potential savings through joint procurement arrangements
- identify priorities for learning and sharing good practice, to inform the future work of the Improvement and Efficiency Partnership
The report provided the basis for regional consultation, and led to the East Midlands Customer Insight and Research project, on which Derrick acted as an advisor. This project had two strands: one to developing skills and networks relating to research and analysis; the other a series of sub-regional demonstration projects applying customer insight and research methods in seeking to raise aspirations and the reduce the numbers of young people who are NEET (not in education, employment or training).
Permanent link to this article: https://www.educe.co.uk/?p=240
