1. FrAmework for Multi-agency Environments
Readiness Assessment Tool (RAT)
(Introductory notes)
This presentation provides a quick overview of the FAME Readiness Assessment Tool.
The Framework for Multi-Agency Environments was launched in April 2003 as an e-government project funded by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) as part of a national strategy for local eGovernment. By implementing a series of 6 pilot, multi-agency projects FAME developed a framework for multi-agency information sharing and working that helps improve the provision of efficient, effective and holistic multi-agency services.
This short presentation puts the RAT into context and explains how it can help you.

2. FAME Toolkit Generic Framework How-to-Guide Readiness Assessment Tool
The FAME toolkit is an interactive web-based document that will enable future users to make sense of, and benefit from the FAME Programme. Three FAME models have been developed to help multi-agency partners embarking on and improving the provision of efficient, effective and holistic multi-agency services. The models explain the Generic Framework, provide a practical How to Guide to implementing multi-agency information sharing, and offers a tool for assessing the readiness of an organisation or group of organisations.
These are accessible from the FAME website:

3. Readiness Assessment Tool
What is it?
A tool to help you capture information about your organisation
A checklist of the areas you need to consider when embarking on Multi-Agency Working (The Generic Framework)
A way of measuring your readiness in each of these areas
You will already know or have access to the information you need to use the R.A.T.
The RAT is a structured self-assessment for your local authority and partners to review the current situation of multi-agency partnership working, highlighting what has been achieved and what still needs to be done.
Used in the formative stages of building a multi-agency service, the RAT considers each of the 9 areas of the FAME Generic Framework, and through a series of questions, helps you to assess your readiness in each area.
As an example, one of the elements of the Generic Framework is Information Sharing. The RAT has a series of questions about Information sharing that help you work out how ready you are to establish the necessary Information Sharing Protocols amongst the agencies involved in the multi-agency service.
Using the RAT ensures that all the key areas required to implement a Multi-Agency environment have been addressed. By providing this in a readily accessible format it also minimises the learning curve involved in project start-up.
As with all the other FAME products, the RAT is used in conjunction with other information on the FAME website, for example the How-to-Guide, and the Generic Framework white papers.

4. The 9 pieces of the Generic Framework
Legal Powers
and
Responsibilities
Governance
High Level
Scoping
Statement
&
Business Case
The 9 pieces of the Generic Framework
Identity
Management
Information
Sharing
Infrastructure
Messaging
Events &
Transactions
Federation
Sustainability
The Generic Framework has been developed by FAME and identifies the particular areas and issues you need to consider when implementing Multi-Agency working.
In order to set-up a Multi-Agency service you will need to have considered each of these areas, and put in place the necessary protocols, processes or systems to handle them.
The role of the RAT is to assist you to identify what work needs to be done to complete the 9 pieces of the framework.

5. How do you use the RAT?
The Generic Framework lists the 9 areas you need to consider in order to implement Multi-Agency Working
The RAT lets you assess your readiness in each of these areas on a scale of 0 “The issues has not been addressed yet” – 4 “Yes, We can be confident we have achieved this”
It also lets you document the supporting evidence of that assessment
You use it on your own, or if possible, in a workshop with appropriate colleagues
In essence the RAT is simple to use:
You look at each area in turn, and using existing information about your authority/agency specify your state of readiness on a scale of Having given a figure you then need to provide evidence to support that figure, and also identify what needs to be done to move from where you currently are to “4- Yes, We can be confident we have achieved this”.
You may be able to complete the RAT on your own, but it is more than likely you will need input from colleagues and partner agencies. However you will working with information you already know e.g. Do you have an Information Sharing Protocol in place with agency X
The process of completing the RAT helps you to identify your strengths and weaknesses in each area. Simply trying to decide what figure between 0 & 4 you use will make you start to consider the issues involved, and your current state.

6. The starting point: 1 set of questions for each part of the Generic Framework.

7. This is a small section of the RAT to show the type of questions that are asked. This comprehensive set of questions minimises the effort needed to identify the key issues that need to be addressed in establishing multi-agency working.
The questions ask, not only, how ready are we, but also how do we get from where we are, to where we want to be. They also ask for timescales and how we will be able to do it.
By bringing the answers to these questions together in one place, they also act as a repository for the overall project.

8. This shows the “Radar” chart that is generated to show the current position.
However the use of the RAT can be an ongoing process, and the output here will change as we address the issues and requirements of each of the 9 elements of the framework.

9. Conclusion
The RAT is a tool to be used in the preparatory stages of the project
It helps to assess the current position of an Authority/Agency/Multi-Agency Grouping
It is using information you already have, and gathering it together and organising it to help give a clear picture of current position, and what needs to be done.
You can use it again and again as the project moves along to maintain a picture of how ready you are.
By providing a validated framework it ensures that there are no costly omissions.
The outcome of completing a RAT with your multi-agency partners will show you:
Strengths and areas for improvement on each of the 9 FAME Generic Framework building blocks.
A score showing how your local authority is rated in the preparedness.
Evidence to support the initial business case for multi-agency working.
Please see accompanying document regarding the two RAT facilitated workshops taking placed in the North and South of England – in brief they are:
NORTH – Newcastle – 2/3rd February 2005
SOUTH – London – 8/9th February 2005
Please make a point to visit the FAME web where you can register to attend either of these events.
The use of the RAT and Generic Framework are essential to the creation of a multi-agency environment. The RAT has been developed by FAME to enable you to answer the question, ‘How ready is my local authority to implement multi-agency working?’ Used as an invaluable checklist, it will also help you to identify what you need to do to complete the preparation needed.
We have a FAME team that can answer any RAT questions prior to your meeting at which you intend to give this short presentation, but in the first instance if you have a question please call Julie Vindis, FAME Communications Manager on / – and she will advise the appropriate person to handle your enquiry.