Public Service Reform Community Development – At the Centre of the Action 22 November 2011 Alan Johnston Deputy Director, Public Bodies and Public Service Reform

Context Well-recognised fiscal, demand and other pressures Christie Commission (June 2011) recommended key objectives for reform: –services built around people and communities –services working together effectively –prioritise prevention, reduce inequalities, promote equality –improve performance and reduce costs

Christie and community development Christie identified a key objective of public service reform as being to ensure that: “public services are built around people and communities, their needs, aspirations, capacities and skills, and work to build up their autonomy and resilience.” “People’s needs are better met when they are involved in an equal and reciprocal relationship with professionals and others, working together to get things done.” NESTA/nef Christie recommended that in developing the proposed Community Empowerment and Renewal Bill, the Government should also “explore the potential of the Bill to promote significantly improved community participation in the design and delivery of services.”

The Government’s response SG Programme for Government; Government Economic Strategy; Draft Budget published September 2011 Renewing Scotland’s Public Services – set out SG’s approach to and priorities for public service reform, in response to Christie Clear choice not to pursue across-the-board structural reform – instead intensified focus on optimising operation of delivery systems

“Our vision encompasses a Scotland where people collaborate, with Scots empowered to take responsibility for improving their own lives. This requires the creation of a renewed sense of community and personal responsibility, maximising the opportunities presented by our greatest asset – our people.” Renewing Scotland: the Government’s Programme for Scotland “an unrelenting focus on improving outcomes for people and communities across Scotland” John Swinney, Renewing Scotland’s Public Services

Four pillars: a decisive shift towards prevention greater integration of public services at a local level driven by better partnership, collaboration and effective local delivery greater investment in the people who deliver services through enhanced workforce development and effective leadership a sharp focus on improving performance, through greater transparency, innovation and use of digital technology

Prevention Commitment to building prevention into the design and delivery of public services Action: –continuing Change Fund for older people’s services –introducing new Early Years and Early Intervention Change Fund –introducing new Reducing Reoffending Change Fund

Integrated local services Commitment to supporting effective place-based partnership and integrated service provision Action: –supporting continuous improvement of CPP approach –improving scrutiny of CPP activity –integrating health and social care –developing Community Empowerment and Renewal Bill –introducing legal duty to work together to place the child at the centre of service delivery planning

Workforce and leadership Commitment to enhancing the capability of the workforce and supporting leadership collaboration Action: –driving workforce development within and across sectors; –through Scottish Leaders Forum, building collaborative leadership capacity and improving flexible development opportunities

Improving performance Commitment to ensuring public money is spent wisely to achieve better outcomes and value for money Action: –embedding an open and rigorous performance culture through new improvement framework –extending Scotland Performs –reforming police and fire services –developing digital public services

PSR co-ordination Challenge is to ensure that action on public service reform is: coherent comprehensive effective

Challenges How to make sure that service design and delivery properly involves individuals, families and communities? Focus on place – but how best can integration of services go more ‘local’? Workforce development – how to build skills in community development? How best to achieve transparency and accountability?

Alan Johnston Deputy Director, Public Bodies and Public Service Reform