LG Inform workshop 2

LG Group InformImproving services through information

WelcomeMandy James

National Advisor – Local Performance

16 February 2011 www.local.gov.uk/inform

AgendaWelcome and update on LG Inform Mandy James

LG Inform prototype demo & feedback Sarah Jennings

Reporting and Metrics Jonathan Evans/ Philippa Lynch

Future of LG Inform: Productivity Juliet Whitworth

Next steps Mandy James

LG Group Inform

Prototype demonstration & feedback

Sarah Jennings

Head of Online Communications

16 February 2011 www.local.gov.uk/inform

LG Inform – login screen

LG Inform – dashboard

LG Inform – browse reports

LG Group Inform

Reporting and metricsJonathan Evans/ Philippa Lynch

Knowledge and Information Manager / Adviser – Data and Information

16 February 2011 www.local.gov.uk/inform

LG Inform: Follow on from last workshop and feedback

• Thank you for your feedback and the example reports.

• What we have to show today:

• Example layout / structure of some reports (an ‘in detail’ report for a single metric; a summary dashboard; a two column report incorporating a narrative and charts)

• Proposed supporting reports – content and format (sector dashboard; local authority workforce; single metric view)

• Content of the shorter proposed sector dashboard – including potential locally input metrics

Summary of learning council feedback

Metric variety and choice

Comparable data

Classification, structure and

themes

More nationally published data

Fewer ‘local’ collections

Well defined ‘local’ metrics adopted by all

Addition of sector developed

metrics

Data at lower geographies e.g.

wards

Pre-populated reports and dashboards

A recap on where we are going (principles…)

• We are providing

• One place to access commonly used data sources

• Sufficient choice / breadth of coverage to support sector information needs – allow for tailoring to individual needs

• Ready made reporting and analysis tools to avoid duplication of effort – but building in scope for tailoring and personalisation.

• A selection of ready made reports that authorities can access these reports to simply view the information, and / or save and adapt their own version.

Example ‘in-detailed’ metric view

Question – to what extent are we addressing your reporting requirements?

Example sector dashboard

Priorities for the future…Feedback from the first session highlighted:

• The need to include financial data. Some metrics will be included in themes / service specific reports as appropriate, however there is a wealth of financial data out there – for example the Revenue Outturn reports. What published financial data do you find useful, what aspects of this would you like to see featured in a report?

• The need to include volumes / activity data. We propose to include this in a separate report – i.e. not part of the sector dashboard. What are the key activities you want to see addressed?

• Developing productivity metricsThis is the holy grail which we shall aim to pursue. It will take time, but we will work with councils to identify and develop useful sets of metrics to unpick and understand productivity.

• Continue to discuss on the Community of Practice.

Current priority: Refining the sector dashboard and local collection

• Focus for next few weeks is making sure that the functionality and the agreed content for the first reports is right – taking into account today’s discussions.

• In particular we want to make sure that the sector dashboard provides a credible showcase of what Inform can offer for the sector.

• What’s in?

• What’s out?

• Which metrics can we identify as suitable for testing out more timely and / or more frequent local reporting?

• Before we get into the discussion…..what do you see as the core purpose of the sector dashboard?

LG Group Inform

Future of LG Inform: Productivity

Juliet WhitworthHead of Commissioning and Research

16 February 2011 www.local.gov.uk/inform

Background

• Desire expressed by sector to look at services in a more sophisticated way

• Some ‘productivity’ metrics in LG Inform

• No quick and easy way to create such measures

• Plan to develop appropriate ways of thinking about productivity

Planned approach

• Desk research for each service on what productivity means

• Creation of a draft guide that brings this information together

• Consultation with officers’ groups or individuals

Example

How productive

is the spend on

the workforce?

How many (FTE) people do we employ

for the money?

Working on the right priorities

Quality of work

Do we offer the right rates of pay?

Have we got our grade mix right?

How well does what people are working on match local needs?

Is there good morale and motivation?

How many hours work do

we get?

How many hours are people contracted for?

How much annual leave, and other types of leave, do we provide?

How much sick leave is taken?

How much time does our £ buy?

What do we achieve in that time?

Much more here!

Agency / overtime??

More here?

LG Inform Productivity series:Adults’ Social Care

More explanation of how the information has been arrived at…how it might be used…etc

Case studies of successful assessment strategies from real councils

Link to best practice in assessments e.g., as compiled by ADASS

Online forum to post questions and collaborate with colleagues

Profiles and contact details of relevant experts

Planned service areas

• Adult social care• Children's services • Waste• Finance• Workforce and skills• Corporate services (IT, HR and property

management)• Leisure and cultural services

Pros and cons of approach

• Starts to help authorities think about more sophisticated ways of looking at their performance data

• Identifies some robust, comparable indicators• Allows councils to measure their own productivity

year on year• Possibility of a ‘safe area’ for data that is not directly

comparable• But ultimately, detailed cost work unlikely to be

properly comparable

Questions

• Can you live with the approach?

• Does output sound useful?

• Are first service areas the right ones?

LG Group Inform

Next Steps

Mandy JamesNational Advisor – Local Performance

16 February 2011 www.local.gov.uk/inform

Next steps

• Metrics development

• Productivity workshop

• User testing

• Innovation & Improvement conference 22nd March

LG Group Inform: Find out moreLG Inform web page• www.local.gov.uk/inform

LG Inform CoP• http://www.communities.idea.gov.uk/c/9045727/home.do

Knowledge Hub• www.local.gov.uk/knowledgehub

Claire Tomlinson or Mandy James• claire.tomlinson@local.gov.uk or mandy.james@local.gov.uk

Buddy list

Mandy James mandy.james@local.gov.uk Tel. 020 7296 6834

Durham Essex Lewisham

Claire Tomlinson claire.tomlinson@local.gov.uk Tel. 020 7664 3270

Dorset Hampshire Stockport

Chris Bowron chris.bowron@local.gov.uk Tel. 07789 373625

Barnsley Kettering

Juliet Whitworth juliet.whitworth@local.gov.uk Tel. 020 7664 3287

Chief Fire Officers Association