Liberated mission driven relational public services
Reforming the public sector, using relational place based locality working.
What are liberated relational services?
Good services are those that are focused on a mission driven purpose, rather than simply fixing single issues, they utilise strengths inherent in our communities and relational working. To be effective, these services are designed around what matters to citizens. They focus on a relational way of working where we allow the local government to mobilise itself to work with people at a local level, allowing people to decide where and how to begin their journey back into balance. It is less about 'delivering services', and more about understanding and working with people to help them to get back in control of their lives.
This can be achieved through techniques that recognise the complex systemic nature of supporting people.
This is not new, groups like Mutual Ventures, Vanguard, New Local and Public World in the UK have been working with these approaches for years.
And probably its most important point: this way of working is not about government alone, it is in-fact a way to link central government, policy, civil service, local government and communities together, through a belief in how we wish to live and work. For example, Sweden and Denmark have a person and family oriented mission that is inherent in the roots of its society. Everything that they do, has this at its heart.
This can be achieved through techniques that recognise the complex systemic nature of supporting people.
This is not new, groups like Mutual Ventures, Vanguard, New Local and Public World in the UK have been working with these approaches for years.
And probably its most important point: this way of working is not about government alone, it is in-fact a way to link central government, policy, civil service, local government and communities together, through a belief in how we wish to live and work. For example, Sweden and Denmark have a person and family oriented mission that is inherent in the roots of its society. Everything that they do, has this at its heart.
"The unifying goal for public services should be to enable citizens to be, and remain, in charge of their own lives.
This implies a profound shift in our thinking and practice. It requires an approach to mobilise the citizen’s energy, resilience and hinterland in the drive to secure personal autonomy – the process known as co-production.
Co-production is a collaborative process enjoining the citizen and practitioner. It thus requires the rehabilitation of the public service workforce from its current subsidiary and problematic status. Practitioners should become co-authors of public service improvement."
Sir Peter Housden, Permanent Secretary of the Department for Communities and Local Government.
This implies a profound shift in our thinking and practice. It requires an approach to mobilise the citizen’s energy, resilience and hinterland in the drive to secure personal autonomy – the process known as co-production.
Co-production is a collaborative process enjoining the citizen and practitioner. It thus requires the rehabilitation of the public service workforce from its current subsidiary and problematic status. Practitioners should become co-authors of public service improvement."
Sir Peter Housden, Permanent Secretary of the Department for Communities and Local Government.
Collaborative relational working with community, locality and place
This is the impact that we have seen in public services using these proven approaches:
- Multi-service hubs and focus on localities . Engaging with community groups.
- Strength based community based person centred services, helping people to take responsibility.
- Whole service design, where digital supports, rather than narrows your service workflow.
- Collaborative working across services, reducing silos between departments.
- New ways of working within local authorities, that are focused on a culture of learning and applying relational working principles.
