Improvement Network – Case Study

January 23rd, 2010

Overview

The Improvement Network website is a joint initiative sponsored by the Audit Commission, Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA), Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA), Leadership Centre for Local Government and NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement.

The website aims to help lay the foundations for successful partnership working in and across local areas, through building capacity for public sector managers and practitioners by providing resources, tools and practical examples of cross-sector improvement.

Improvement Tools

GoodPractice has worked in partnership with the Improvement Network since 2006, to deliver its dedicated online toolkit, the Improvement Tool. The Improvement Tool content is continuously updated and has been developed to support the partnership agenda and to deliver a positive impact on working practices.

There are currently over 10,500 users working in local government, police and health sectors utilising the website’s Improvement Tool. The tool provides free resources on a range of management topics that build capacity in public sector managers within core skill areas that facilitate the delivery of sustainability, value for money and service improvement.

With a strong focus on value for money in the public sector, the Improvement Tool is constantly evaluated for both the impact delivered and the outcomes achieved.

Here are just a few recent examples of how the Improvement Tool is making a positive impact across the public sector:

  • Cambridgeshire Primary Care Trust used the Improvement Tool to help problem-solve and empower participants during a workshop with a range of health practitioners. Read more here
  • The HR Team at Wiltshire Police Force are making the most of free access to the Improvement Tool to support change management and continuous improvement. Read more here
  • Organisational development staff at Nottingham City Council wanted access to help with business improvement techniques, and were able to implement some new change management approaches through using the Improvement Tools. Read more here
  • A user at the Department for Work & Pensions tackled change management and budgeting issues with the Improvement Tools. Read more here