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Principles Index . Briefings
Home . Revitalise Our Services Index
 Principles
to Revitalise Scotland's Public Services
Capacity
and InnovationIntroductionIn April
2003 UNISON Scotland launched its manifesto for Scotland's public services,
Revitalise our Public Services. The centrepiece of that manifesto
was our principles for public service renewal. In this series of briefings we
expand on these principles setting out our positive agenda for the revitalisation
of Scotland's essential public services. Why Capacity
and Innovation?Revitalising public services requires
innovation so new ideas and improvements to the way services meet the needs of
people are developed. The public service organisation (PSO) must also have the
capacity to allow innovation to occur, otherwise no amount of innovative thought
will actually translate into better services at the frontline. Innovation requires
challenging the assumption that public services are based on a "one size
fits all" approach. This process requires an element of risk taking, so it
is necessary to end the blame culture to enable innovation to take place without
recrimination. Building CapacityCapacity
building is about creating resources that are flexible and sufficient to allow
for the development of new services and new methods of delivery. People : Staff
capacity issues are an essential part of the innovation equation. Innovation requires
a management culture that is open, enthusiastic and encourages participation at
all levels. Staff need to feel valued and confident to contribute and participate
in decision making. This is recognised in the Executive's Partnership Agreement
statement: "we want frontline staff to be empowered". The training and
development proposals in the partnership agreement are a key element and require
to be adequately resourced. Structures: Structural
capacity issues need to be developed in terms of providing resources (eg ICT,
equipment, buildings), implementing new legal frameworks, or democratic structures
as appropriate. The Power of Well Being is addressing structural capacity in local
government, and should give councils opportunities to act in the best interests
of their local communities removing previous restrictions. There is more to do
in creating the physical, social and ideological capacity to allow innovation
throughout public services. Developing a culture where staff are encouraged and
valued is crucial. Funding: PPP/PFI does not
provide the flexibility and capacity for innovation so is not able to revitalise
and modernise public services effectively. PFI failures are well publicised. PFI
costs more, lacks flexibility, undermines accountability and transparency and
has created a two tier workforce exploiting mainly low paid women workers. The
PPP Staffing Protocol has to an extent addressed these issues. But PFIs divide
teams, dent staff morale, and do not allow for staff development and training
that is required for innovation. For effective reform public services have to
be funded from sources which do not conflict with developing capacity and innovation,
nor with the principles of accountability, participation, quality and fairness.
Some of the changes require amendments to Treasury rules
and the reform of off-balance sheet incentives inherent in the current block grant
system and Departmental Expenditure Limits. UNISON welcomes progress made in Scotland
including the removal of Section 94 capital borrowing restrictions, and proposals
to extend this to social housing. However, capital grants need to be provided
on a genuine level playing field basis to give PSOs real choice between funding
sources. Developing InnovationInnovating
in public services is the way we modernise and revitalise public services to improve
service delivery and meet the needs of service users. Service
Provision The three elements of the Local Government Act — Best Value,
the Power to Advance Well Being, and Community Planning — are levers that
should be used to drive forward innovation in service provision. Best Value should
be about providing quality services, ensuring fair employment, accountability
and equality. It involves a sharing of best practice between PSOs ensuring that
effective ways of working are shared and promoted. Community Planning has the
potential to innovate as stakeholders develop new ways to meet the needs of local
communities. To be successful this has to be open and democratic. In health, proposals
to abolish Trusts the remaining vestiges of the internal market should assist
service innovation if the process successfully harnesses ideas of local communities
and frontline staff. UNISON members are already involved
in delivering a range of innovative services. Examples include free swimming for
under 18s and over 60s, free fruit in schools, waste recycling schemes, childcare
and nursery provision, lifelong learning via workplace-based projects, and Joint
Future. Information Sources To innovate PSOs
need to draw on information from a range of sources, sharing best practice and
new ideas. By encouraging staff and user involvement and a culture of cooperation
rather than excessive use of expensive private consultants. Ideas from other sectors
are there and should be drawn upon to innovate and revitalise. Administrative
Systems and Information and Communications TechnologyPSO
administration has to be flexible and responsive to meet changing needs, and the
21st Century Government agenda can play its part in developing capacity
and innovation. Public services have to embrace ICT changes, but to do so resources
and training have to be provided at all levels. Funding for new ICT is needed
to avoid the social exclusion of people who are unable to participate and use
services. Staff have to be trained to develop and facilitate ICT services, whilst
acknowledging that some people will want to maintain contact with a "real
person". Whilst call centre technologies have a role
the Executive's inadequate guidelines on this issue are a good example of
what happens when policy is developed without involving all the key stakeholders. ConclusionDeveloping
capacity and innovation is the way forward to revitalise Scotland's public
services. Without the people, structures and funding capacity innovation will
fail to develop. So it is imperative that we develop capacity to enable innovation
to flourish to revitalise public services in Scotland. ContactsDave
Watson -
d.watson@unison.co.uk @
The P&I Team
14 West Campbell St
Glasgow G26RX
Tel 0845 355 0845
Fax 0141-307 2572 top | 
Scotland's
public service union 
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