Brilliantly put justification of the need to drive large-scale transformation in the public sector and how to bring people with you through that change. We're working on our equality and inequalities training at the minute. It's inspiring to see that radical change in legislation often comes about through the tireless and passionate work of frustrated people and communities driven by the need for change to improve their lives, whether that be with the Disability Discrimination Act, the Equality Act, the Public Sector Equality Duty and more. Positive transformation has always happened at the helm of communities and organisations coming together as partners to develop meaningful ways of making things better. I think that's at the heart of what we champion here at Stand.
Senior Consultant at The King’s Fund (all views here are my own not those of The King's Fund)
We urgently need a radical shift of focus in the conversation we have about public sector innovation and transformation. For many years, those driving change have got together and talked about the various models and approaches that underpin the very impressive range of innovations now happening on the frontline. But all of that conversation has failed to fundamentally shift the overarching system. Indeed, every genuine innovator I have ever spoken to (and I’ve spoken to a lot) says the same thing: what they do is hindered, and even flat out prevented, by a system that is still overwhelmingly hierarchical, change averse, and subject to stubborn inertia. Sadly, few have any faith that a new Government is likely to understand the problem clearly enough to make much difference. So, if we are serious about system change, we need to start talking far more openly about how we deliver that big, all-encompassing shift rather than focusing solely on innovation in the specific locales and service areas in which we are situated. What might that mean? I think history is clear on what works. Those who want change must come together, work out a shared vision of generalised reform and then press for it as determinedly as possible. In effect, creating a movement within the public sector for system transformation. When you look back at the massive social shifts that have happened over the last fifty years in gender, sexuality, race and disability, they all began with those who were fed up with a failing, oppressive status quo literally getting together and asking how they could effect change en masse not just in isolated pockets. To be clear, this does not mean adopting one model and demanding it is applied everywhere. We know that does not work. Instead, it means pressing for a system that genuinely supports and validates those working for a shift in how services work. It means demanding a radical break with the stifling hierarchy and the ‘we know best’ mindset that prevents public services valuing the insight and assets that frontline workers, citizens and their communities can bring to service design and delivery. It means forcing politicians and national leaders to stop praising particular examples of innovation while simultaneously making system-wide decisions that strangle them. There couldn’t be a more important time to do this. Without profound change, we know that services will continue on their current path of decline until we reach a point where millions are simply abandoned by the state to their fate in a country increasingly devoid of care, support and solidarity. In short, shifting the focus of our conversation is a matter of the utmost urgency. #innovation #localgov #healthcare #community Cathy Presland MPhil FRSA Dr Jess Steele, OBE Samira Ben Omar Andy Knox Andrew Bennett Mark Spencer Cormac Russell Dominic Campbell Katie Kelly Alex Fox OBE Will Brett Laura Finucane Kelly Anne Sharp - Executive Voice Coach Trish Finegan