Developing a National Service Improvement Network Donald Gaudoin

Service Improvement Network Concept... bringing practitioners together to discuss operational issues and to share existing practice and innovation with the aim of improving performance and efficiency

Service Improvement Network Concept The proposed Network will: Analyse and compare performance data and processes in search of efficiencies and best practice Allows members to share issues and identify solutions through experience and knowledge Encourage collective agreement and collaboration

Background Long tradition of benchmarking & performance networks in the sector 46 current National & Regional networks (identified by HMEP) Pressures on budgets & travel restrictions putting these networks under pressure There remains the potential to bridge skills shortages & knowledge gaps.

Service Improvement Groups Not new, a CSS Service Improvement structure existed Some of the Regional Groups still exist but not all function effectively Regional Groups reported to a National Group National Group ceased several years ago, briefly revived last year

HMEP ‘Connecting Organisations’ - one of nine projects in HMEP annual plan Originally conceived by NHT/APSE as the ‘Good Practice Network’ To create a Network of organisations that share innovation and practice HMEP may provide funding – but it will only be for Maintenance activities

What is proposed To establish a Service Improvement Network based on a proven model (MSIG) by: Reinvigorating the existing regional networks (SWHSIG, SEASIG & NEPIN) Establishing new networks in regions of the country where none exist Creating a National Group to coordinate the Regions and share Good Practice & Innovation nationally.

Established in 1997, today’s membership is 22 Authorities Run by a Steering Group that provides strategic direction Comprises 12 Task Groups that meet regularly and have their own terms of reference Facilitated by a full-time co-ordinator Dedicated website that is heavily populated and well used Midland Service Improvement Group Overview

What is proposed Take the MSIG model as a starting point Share what is good and make it better Create a mechanism to share good practice and innovation Coordinate activities to develop an effective Network So that ‘the sum is more than the parts’

Key issues will be: How to identify ‘what is good’ How to make good practice material readily accessible We intend to follow a similar approach to that adopted by the NHT Network What is proposed

Case Studies Current Practice & Innovation Case Studies Current Practice & Innovation Peer Group Review Knowledge Gathering Good Practice Materials Assessed by Service Improvement Groups Research Appraise Performance Data Website Document Feedback Contextual Data Practice & Process Data Practitioners

Flexible, secure, resilient web capability for…. Electronic Data Gathering Database Creation & Management Data Analysis & Reporting Data Publication Website Creation & Management NHT Survey NHT CQC NHT VFM Govt Data Good Practice Database Good Practice Database Graphical & Tabular Reports VFM ratings Graphical & Tabular Reports VFM ratings Formatted reports Local Data Interactive Websites eContrack – creating a Good Practice resource Web based functionality to support the development and maintenance of of Good Practice material, both national and regional.

Working with TAG We hope that TAG share our vision for a National Service Improvement Network and see the value it would bring. We would like TAG to: become a partner and to help define the proposed operational model - including setting appropriate terms of reference and initial priorities for the Network as it starts to evolve. place a representative on the National committee that we intend to establish to oversee the operation of the Network as a whole. help promote the benefits of membership and encourage TAG members to become involved in the proposed Network at a local level.

The History… Established as the ‘Midlands Regional Best Value Group’ in founder members Support Officer role introduced 2002 Renamed the Midlands Service Improvement Group (MSIG) in September – website launched Today membership is 22 Authorities

Member Authorities… Member Authorities… …… Nottinghamshire County Council Rutland County Council

Steering Group … Run by a Steering Group, chaired by Mike Ashworth (Derbyshire CC) Comprises a representative from each member (with sufficient seniority to make decisions and influence change in their authority) Provides strategic direction Provides a forum for discussion Receives report from Task Group Chairs

Task Groups… Accessibility & Smarter Choices Casualty Reduction Civil Parking Enforcement Development Management Highways & Asset Management Traffic Signals Lands Charges Street Lighting Streetworks & Temporary Activity Third Party Claims Traffic Engineering Winter Maintenance Frequency – 2 to 4 times a year Representation from each member Terms of reference Structured agenda Meeting Minutes Presentations Task Group meetings …

MSIG Officer Role… Attends, co-ordinates and facilitates meetings Acts as a link between Task Groups Co-ordinates exchange of information Provides support and guidance Helps identify efficiency savings Collects and collates comparative data Shares information through administration of MSIG website Encourages collaboration Represents the region – NHT/HMEP/MHA

Website…

Website… Heavily populated and a well used resource Secure site - logon & password to access Separate areas for Steering & Task Groups Task Group pages hold the following: Agenda, meeting papers & meeting minutes Contact lists Action Plans & Efficiency Logs Presentations, Case Studies etc Comparative data Technical Documentation Discussion Board