Broadcasts
September 2011
Weekly Broadcast Thursday 29 September 2011
Open public services white paper response
Socitm's response to be submitted tomorrow...
Socitm has prepared its response to the Open Public Services White Paper. This will be submitted before their deadline tomorrow.
The White Paper sets out how the government intends to improve public services by putting choice and control in the hands of individuals and neighbourhoods, encouraging public services to become more responsive to people's needs.
Socitm's response focuses on specific proposals set out in section 7 of the paper, which covers reducing central government prescription, enabling new provision of services and accelerating the digitisation of public services.
If you would like more information on this contact: Martin Ferguson.
Weekly Broadcast Thursday 22 September 2011
Socitm has made it clear that there will be a major change in approach to the assessment of local authority websites for Better connected 2012.
This reflects our belief that the design and information architecture of future council websites should focus heavily on 'top tasks'. Indeed, we see a 'top tasks' approach as essential to developing websites that work easily and quickly for customers, and, therefore, regard the concept as a key component of achieving channel shift.
This event provided a series of presentations on what a 'top tasks' approach means for local public service websites, how top tasks should be identified, and how they can be accommodated within public sector websites.
The event also explained how the survey for Better connected 2012 will reflect the top tasks concept.
Presentations are at: Socitm.net/events
(Please note these presentations are only accessible to Insight subscribing organisations or attendees of the event)
Weekly Broadcast Thursday 15 September 2011
Socitm 2011 - £5k
travel award open for entries
Submisssions invited until October 14 for Graham Williamson learning-through-travel award
Do you know someone starting out in their career as an ICT/digital professional, working in public services or the third sector, who might benefit from a £5,000 bursary to undertake a short period of work experience abroad?
Anyone who meets the above criteria is invited to make a submission for Socitm's Graham Williamson Challenge before the deadline of 14 October.
Applicants need to write a 500 word submission about the trip or experience they propose to undertake, describing what they will gain, how it will contribute to their career and professional development, and how it might benefit current and future employers.
Previous applicants have travelled to Australia, New Zealand and the United States. Last year's winner, Jamie Kirk, works for the Improvement Service in Scotland.
Read more about the Graham Williamson Challenge and how to apply at Socitm.net
Weekly Broadcast Thursday 8 September 2011
Future Councils report unnecessarily downbeat - President
Future councils - life after the spending cuts published today by localism think tank the New Local Government Network has been criticized by Glyn Evans for its mild pessimism and for overlooking the potential of IT to create the 'transforming council'.
'We need a vision of the future of local government which sees beyond the present pain to a more hopeful future' he says. 'Planting the Flag, Socitm's strategy for ICT-enabled local public services reform provides the framework for this to be achieved and provides a counterpoint to the NLGN conclusions'.
Contribute to further development of Planting the Flag and its follow up initiative Planning the Route at Socitm 2011 and your Socitm regional meetings.
Weekly Broadcast Thursday 1 September 2011
Socitm Scotland 2011, Edinburgh, 22 September 2011
Become part of this new initiative from the very start...
Following John McClelland C.B.E. review of ICT Infrastructure in the public sector in Scotland and subsequent report, published in June 2011, Socitm in Scotland has actively engaged with John McClelland during his review of ICT in the Scottish public sector and has welcomed his findings and recommendations.
Socitm as the society for IT professionals in the public sector is now ready and keen to help in a practical sense to support its implementation, bringing to the table a range of well-developed services, like benchmarking and planning for localised public service delivery.
In order to start this process, Socitm has taken a lead by organising a conference in Edinburgh on 22 September 2011, at Our Dynamic Earth, to bring together the ICT community in the Scottish public sector and the appropriate private sector partners.
So, what better time and place for Scottish public sector ICT professionals to...
- Hear the outcomes from the McClelland Review of ICT in the Public Sector in Scotland
- Interact with CIOs who are driving implementation of range of well-developed services, like benchmarking and planning for localised public service delivery
- Join in topical debates, express your opinions and influence future policies and strategies
- Take away the latest thinking on collaboration, redesign and innovation
- Network with colleagues and peers from all sectors of local public services and benefit from each other's experiences and knowledge
- Meet with suppliers who you'll need to work collaboratively with to achieve real change in the design and delivery of services for public benefit
- Make valuable new contacts
- Hear about the work and activities undertaken by Socitm members and their partners throughout the year
- Find out how Socitm is realigning its services to enable strategic organisational change
- Become part of this initiative from the outset!
PSN Telecommunications Survey
CIOs/Heads of ICT, Finance Officers and Network Managers will be receiving an e-mail in the next week from the PSN team in the Cabinet Office containing a telecoms survey form. This will be accompanied by a letter of endorsement from Jos Creese (on behalf of LCIO Council and Socitm), and copies of recent letters sent to central government departments by Joe Harley and John Taylor. Socitm and the LCIO Council strongly support this survey which will underpin the future path for PSN in different localities.
