Health and Safety Executive Health and Safety Executive Easier Access to Services Programme (EASe) Presentation to Small Business Trade Association Forum - 9 th October 07 Mike Owens – EASe Programme Manager

EASe – topics for today Purpose Brief overview of existing services Drivers for change How EASe is organised Possible scope and timetable Questions

EASe – Programme Purpose EASes purpose is to review HSEs general* contact arrangements with its customers To create (where necessary) a more coherent/ integrated overall design to ensure the services are of high quality, provide choice of channel for the customer and are sustainable. To determine who is best placed to provide those services and retender contracts where appropriate. Using current projects, and any new ones that need to be commissioned, as the well-spring of innovation * Excluding enforcement and permissioning

Current public-facing services HSE Infoline (RIDDOR) Incident Contact Centre HSE Books Workplace Health Connect (Pilot)

But also … Network of 28 HSE Local Offices (see HSE website) spread throughout the country. Walk-in, phone or write - though for most needs HSE Infoline preferred route

EASe – internal drivers Existing contracts nearing the end of their life High quality services but multiple contracts more expensive to manage and co-ordinate Economy/efficiency/effectiveness always an issue in the public sector Ongoing internal analysis tells us we can improve services – especially targeting/coherence Need to find new approaches to rejuvenate reductions in accidents and ill-health

EASe - external drivers Political – Governments desire for public sector transformation and reform – encapsulated by the phrase user-centric services Economic – HSE needs to achieve more with the same or less - also poor health and safety has a negative economic impact on business Social – consumers (rightly) demand excellence, convenience and coherence in public services Technical – ongoing improvements in the web and contact centres can be exploited more

EASe – The Varney Review Service Transformation: A better service for citizens and businesses, a better deal for the taxpayer Grouping service delivery around common service themes – that are meaningful to the citizen and businesses Engaging citizens and businesses in the design and delivery of public services Improve direct.gov and businesslink.gov so they become the primary information and transactional channels … reducing the number of departmental specific websites

EASe – understanding your needs We need your (ongoing) help to ensure: the services delivered through EASe are the services needed services address all sectors of the economy services are easy to access - but also easy to understand and apply services make a real difference to health and safety in the workplace … for which proper evaluation will be needed

EASe – how it will work EASe is a Programme Programme management may be defined as co- ordinated organisation, direction and implementation of a portfolio of projects and activities that together achieve outcomes and realise benefits that are of strategic importance Source: Office of Government Commerce – Managing Successful Programmes

EASe – possible scope

EASe – illustrative timeline Mar 08Jun 08Sep 08Dec 08Mar 09Jun 09Sep 09Sep 07Dec 07 Phase 1 – Requirements Definition and Service Design Now until May 08 Phase 2 – Sourcing and Purchasing April 2008 to May 2009 Phase 3 – Transition and Implementation May 2009 – October 2009

EASe – Programme Board Vivienne Dews – Chair - Director Finance and Resources HSE Colin Douglas – Director Communications HSE Patrick McDonald – Director Science and Analytical Services HSE Heather Bolton – Head Operational Policy and Support Division HSE Jenny Easterbrook - Head Cross Cutting Interventions Division HSE Elizabeth Hodkinson – Head Cross Cutting Interventions Division HSE Gordon MacDonald – Head Business Services Division HSE Wendy Rimmer – FOD HQ Steve Bailey – Head of Procurement Function HSE Keith Dalton – Representing Local Authorities and LACORS