Collaboration Programme set to Transform Local Government Approach to Digital Care
A group of local authority partners has agreed to undertake a unique digital transformation programme being run by leading transformation agency Rethink Partners, and the Local Government Association (LGA).
Rethink Partners will be delivering an exceptional programme in order to support 11 local councils, to realise their ambitions for care technology, adopting digital tools and solutions in adult social care.
Following on from the earlier Care Technology Support Programme, which Rethink Partners and the LGA ran in early 2021, the initiative will see councils being supported by the LGA and Rethink Partners to strengthen digital capability in local government.
The programmes being offered include ‘Strengthening Sector Capability’ where councils will receive direct bespoke support from Rethink Partners on all aspects of care technology, “Digital Leadership, with 2-2-1 mentoring and “Digital Platform”, which is a resource centre for everyone to access.
The Strengthening Sector Capability segment will bring together three councils to co-produce tools and content to share with the sector and develop a community of practice. Local councils taking part in the Strengthening Sector Capability programme include Birmingham City Council, Telford and Wrekin Council, Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Dudley Metropolitan Council. Lincolnshire and Cornwall council have also agreed to take part.
Rethink Partners’ Digital Leadership Programme offers exclusive access to Rethink’s exemplar leadership. Their collective experience of working directly with councils has revealed that councils who make the most progress have effective senior leaders championing and engaging with the work, alongside effective digital programme leads / commissioners. We are therefore offering a digital leadership programme that works both with senior leaders as well as those delivering the work at the front line. This programme includes coaching sessions for leaders/aspiring leaders within councils and an ongoing programme of support in addition to structured content and sessions.
The Digital Leadership programme includes Norfolk County Council, Hampshire County Council, Gateshead Council, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council and Nottinghamshire County Council.
The Digital Platform is an open-access website that will pool together all of the information from the masterclasses and other resources, both from Rethink Partners’ extensive collection of thought leadership articles and external sources that will help councils expand their knowledge of implementing digital care technology and making lives better.
Abby Vella, Digital Lead at West Midland Adult Social Services, said: “It’s great to be part of this exciting new programme with Rethink and LGA. We’ll be working hard to create a masterclass and best practice for the sector. Digital access and inclusion for all is something I’m really passionate about and this is just another building block for local authorities around the country.”
To find out more about the masterclasses, please visit www.lga.rethinkpartners.co.uk
