Category: Performance
One of the key issues affecting the efforts of local partners to tackle worklessness relates to constraints on data sharing. Following the Tackling Worklessness (Houghton) Review, CLG and DWP agreed to initiate a pilot project to demonstrate ways in which relevant data can be shared within the current legislative framework. The pilot involved Kent, Leeds and Liverpool City Region, and aimed to clarify barriers, enabling factors and ways forward.Derrick Johnstone led input by three Local Improvement Advisors (LIAs) in support of the pilot areas, also contributing as a member of an Expert Group. The role of the LIAs was to:
- broker relationships and facilitate discussions around local needs for worklessness data
- facilitate data sharing and data management to achieve better outcomes
- help identify solutions to obstacles, including ways of ensuring data security
- working with local partners, CLG and DWP to test and provide exchange protocols, data sharing principles, Memoranda of Understanding, and other tools to underpin this process
- identify lessons and good practice to be shared more widely as outcomes from the project.
The project has informed guidance on data sharing and worklessness published by DWP, and the IDeA ‘How To’ guide on Good Practice in Data Sharing (
840KB) drafted by Educe. It has also led to DWP providing working age benefits data at very small area level (Output Areas), the smallest areas for which statistical data can be supplied.
CLG have published an evaluation of the pilots, Sharing data to improve local employment outcomes ( download on CLG site).New possibilities for data sharing have since been opened up by the Sections 130-133 of the Welfare Reform Act 2012. Draft regulations have been published to extend data sharing to help identify people affected by new benefit rules, especially on housing, and families with multiple disadvantages who may require support to help turn their lives around, as part of the Government’s Troubled Families programme.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.educe.co.uk/?p=241
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
Educe were invited to facilitate a workshop for members of the West Cumbria Public Service Delivery Board (PSDB), to help ensure that it is ‘fit for purpose’ for the future and maximises its potential. The workshop sought to:
- clarify what partners really hoped to achieve through the PSDB: outcomes and service improvements for local people – and benefits for partner organisations
- consider what does the PSDB need to be good at, and how it needs to change & develop
The ground covered included priority setting, the style of meetings and agendas and the role of individual partners in making things happen.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.educe.co.uk/?p=238
Project scoping work needed to analyse the impacts, financial costs and benefits of neighbourhood management initiatives in Barnsley, to provide evidence for decision makers considering the introduction of neighbourhood management approaches in other areas. The project sought to generate better shared understanding of available data and gaps in evidence, and what needs to be done to address these. It built on initial business case work undertaken by the Kendray Neighbourhood Management pathfinder, and looked to integrate current evaluation thinking with developments in pursuit of the local government efficiency agenda. (Neighbourhood Renewal Adviser assignment for Barnsley Council and the Government Office for Yorkshire and the Humber)Download:
The assignment informed the subsequent development of a new Neighbourhoods and Community Engagement Framework, which mainstreamed the work of the Kendray neighbourhood management pathfinder.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.educe.co.uk/?p=189
Educe worked with OCSI (Oxford Consultants for Social Inclusion) on the further development of the well-regarded Data4nr (‘Data for Neighbourhoods and Regeneration’) website, under commission to the Department for Communities and Local Government. Data4nr identified and signposted the datasets available for targeting, monitoring, priority setting and performance management at a neighbourhood level, also highlighting – where possible – sources which provide equalities data. Our role has been to advise and support on user engagement in developing the site, and help feed in new material.
Data4nr was used to kick start content in the development of the Government’s Open Data site.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.educe.co.uk/?p=220
SEEDA/SEEP Review
Review of relationships between SEEDA (South East Economic Development Agency) and the 11 South East Economic Partnerships (SEEPs) to identify improvements and set up partnership agreements, in context of new core funding from SEEDA. (Project with Makesfive ltd in 2001). We were invited a year later to facilitate a review of progress and the extent of mutual benefits through collaboration.
Advantage West Midlands/ SRP Review
Review of partnership structures and relationships between Advantage West Midlands and sub-regional economic development partnerships (2002)
See also our subsequent review of SEEDA and Sub-Regional Working, for the South East England Regional Assembly.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.educe.co.uk/?p=213
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