Developing Performance Measures for working in partnership
One of our large clients had recently extended its partnership arrangements with two private companies to provide highway services commissioned by a large County Council to carry out a programme of fundamental reviews. We were asked to use our local authority expertise to carry out a series of challenging and strategic reviews. The methodology developed by Spirals was based around the following areas of investigation:
• What is the service trying to achieve?
• How has the service set about delivering its priorities?
• What has the service achieved to date?
• What does the service plan to do next and why?
• Is there any overlap/duplication with other services?
• Service specific areas e.g. size compared to others and current issues
Engagement
The client had been implementing its programme of Best Value reviews. However, in some cases the management team felt these were taking too long and were using too many resources. The client wanted to try a different approach of relatively quick reviews to shape possible future work.
The reviews needed to fundamentally challenge the service but be carried out quickly. Spirals put forward a proposal for its work based on a mixture of workshops and desk top analysis. All information was cross referenced and validated by Spirals to provide follow-up areas of investigation.
Result
For each service area Spirals produced a report based around the key areas of investigation above. The report included our key findings.
The fundamental reviews provided key information for the authority to determine whether or not any further investigation was required. Spirals was able to provide external challenge to deliver a programme of relatively quick reviews that fundamentally challenged the current services. Spirals continues to provide a range of services to this County Council.
Ref: 00017