Civic Partnership pilot case studies

We are running a pilot programme of up to 8 case studies centred on public sector and voluntary and community sector (VCS) partnership and service delivery in Kirklees. We are looking for a service orientated study, the learning from which will help:

• Explore barriers and enablers to improved public sector commissioning and VCS service delivery
• Identify new ways of working that will increase the outcomes and benefits for the public
• Develop and lead to new commissioning and delivery arrangements between the public sector and VCS

The studies will focus on Local Area Agreement (LAA) priority themes, particularly cross-cutting issues. Pilot activity will enable us to test new ways of working and to do this pilot organisations will actively engage in reflecting on the processes of securing and delivering public sector contracts and drawing together, evaluating and building on the learning from this experience to create new commissioning and delivery systems.

Who are we looking for to develop the case studies?

• This invitation is addressed at both VCS organisations and public sector agencies who have previous or current experience of public service delivery - or who might have ambitions to deliver public services in the future.
• Applicants could be single agencies or VCS organisations, joint commissioning bodies or a collaboration of individual organisations or emerging consortia. Cross sector partnerships or collaborations are welcome
• Successful applicants will receive funding to carry out a detailed study into a public service issue or theme which can lead to future changes for better public service delivery
• £64,0000 is available to fund up to 8 pilot case studies - the allocation per study is to be agreed

Participants must have a current or previous track record with statutory sector agencies in Kirklees - or can meet the Council’s standard grants criterion.

Why participate?

Invest to Save projects have a very high profile. The Kirklees Civic Partnership is being seen as an extremely important way for the Government to learn how to encourage new and joined up working between the public sector and VCS. They generally attract a wide interest, but there are three main audiences for the learning from our pilot case studies:

• Decision makers in Kirklees and similar Local Strategic Partnerships across the country, looking to adopt / modify the learning from the studies to their area. In Kirklees this will also include the LPSB’s
• Local, regional and national policy makers and ministers, looking to see if the outcome of the case studies should influence the development of policy and;
• H. M. Treasury, Cabinet Office / Office of the Third Sector looking for generic lessons

So, not only will successful case studies have the chance to explore an issue that could benefit their business operation – they have the chance to influence and shape the way future services are delivered in Kirklees, giving them a leading edge in their field.

The funding for the pilot case studies is not about filling gaps in funding, meeting on-going revenue needs or shoring up organisations in financial difficulties. It is about learning lessons that might lead to new approaches to service delivery

Breaking down the barriers

Two of the Civic Partnership’s projects to identify better ways for the VCS and public sector to work together in Kirklees are underway.

The Partnership Academy

Eight people from voluntary and community organisations in Kirklees have now been selected to take part in The Partnership Academy from the end of September 2008. They will be joined by eight public sector managers (two from NHS Kirklees and six from Kirklees Council). You can find out more details from Trudi Wright, the Civic Partnership Project Manager who confirmed to the Kirklees Partnership Team

 “We were delighted by the skills and enthusiasm of the people that put themselves forward.  I know it’s a cliché, but it was a very strong field.”

The sixteen members of the Partnership Academy will buddy up across sectors and work together on this important learning and development programme. The Kirklees Partnership will be kept updated on a regular basis on practical progress being developed within the Academy.

“They will be investigating the knotty issues, trying to unpick them and find solutions,”  Trudi confirmed “as well as developing their skills they will be gathering data to back up the learning and suggestions that will be put forward at the end of the year.” Updates and details of projects and tasks will be posted here at www.kirkleespartnership.org/civicpartnership as will master classes and other events that will be open to a wider audience.

Pilot case studies

So far six topics have been chosen to act as case studies of what works and what doesn’t when the public sector commis­sions services and the voluntary and community service delivers them.

The topics are:

• Better access to advice – can a single assessment and referral model work in Kirklees? This will involve CAB, SHAP, Kirklees Law Centre, Chas Housing Aid and PERS
• Managing buildings better – community buildings are an important asset and a hot topic, how best to look after them on a budget. Fresh Horizons
• Localising Connexions – the difference for young people. Kirklees Children and Young People Service.
• Delivering credit union services through Kirklees Information Points. Kirklees Libraries & Information Service and Castle & Minster Credit Union
• The support needs of the voluntary and community sector. Kirklees Safer Stronger Communities
• The opportunities and constraints around a consortium approach to delivery of children and young people’s services – V6 (Beaumont Street Studios, Lifeline, Communities United Project, National Children’s Centre, Northorpe Hall Trust and SHAP, Single Homeless Accommodation Project)
  

Information on further case studies that might be explored will be posted on the website.

For further information contact:

Trudi Wright
Civic Partnership Project Manager
Telephone: 01484 518457 / 07980 911 654
email: trudi.wright@kirklees.gov.uk .

Lessons learnt – have your say

The Civic Partnership is all about learning how to be better. The Icarus Collective will be consulting widely to develop a clear picture of the state of partnership working in Kirklees, what works, what doesn’t, where the duplications are and where are the gaps.

So watch out for focus groups, telephone interviews and particularly an online questionnaireon the Kirklees Partnership website. For more information contact Richard Sorton at Icarus on 0845 017 5516

Please note that the Civic Partnership will also be seeking to use the successful case studies to inform the modules of learning for participants within its ‘Partnership Academy’ between September 2008 and December 2009. The case studies will also be subject to independent evaluation from external consultants reporting back to the Kirklees Partnership and H. M. Treasury.