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Learning through Sharing - the Beacon Council Scheme experience

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A presentation to the:Northern Ireland Best Practice Scheme

Ruby Dixon (BA hons, MA, MBA)Head of ProgrammesBeacons and Services

Belfast16th June 2005

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The Aims of the Scheme

• To support Best Value authorities to improve their services by:

• Publicising best practice

• Identifying lessons underpinning this best practice

• Providing access to experienced practitioners

• Influencing Government policy and national guidance

Excellence and innovation around:

• Outcomes

• leadership (vision and strategy)

• Community and customer engagement

• Action

• Partnership

• Equality and Diversity

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Who is involved in the Scheme?

Government

Financiers and Sponsors

The Advisory Panel on Beacon Councils

Advisors

Professional Bodies

Voluntary Groups

Trades Unions

Private Sector

Media

Partners

Out team, administers, disseminates

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Who is the ultimate client?

People and Communities

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Its’ a big Scheme that is developing…

Since 1999…

• Six rounds

• 59 Themes

• 1,235 applications

• More than 50% of authorities have applied in the last two rounds alone

• 3,357 attendees at IDeA-sponsored round 4 learning events

• IDeA spend £1million on it; ODPM spend £5million

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Beacons, shining a light on good practice

Themes nominated by Government and through Public consultation

Best Value Authorities Invited to Submit Applications

Independent Panel Shortlists Authorities

Short-listed Authorities Visited and Interviewed

Successful Authorities awarded beacon status

Learning Exchanges - Theme Launch Events

15-month Programme of sharing knowledge

Some current Round 6 themes: Affordable housing; Healthy communities; Effective Environmental Health

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Role of the IDeA

Responsible for:• Supporting the Advisory Panel• Administering the applications process; and supporting the assessment

process (Since September 2004)• Co-ordination of national sharing and dissemination of best practice• Managing the individual themes, working with authorities to develop

events, materials, sharing of key improvement messages (including learning exchanges and open days)

• On-going monitoring and Annual report

Values Fit: IDeA’s Business Plan objectives 1, 2, 3 and 4 (Leadership, Building Corporate Capacity and self regulation, Improving Services)

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IDeA Beacons dissemination• The Role of IDeA theme Consultants (40-50 days per year)

– Ensuring the greatest impact of Beacon authorities– Improving services and life chances for people and communities

• How do theme consultants do this? By:– Supporting the assessment and recommendation of Beacon authorities– Enthusing, supporting and promoting Beacon authorities in their efforts to

disseminate best practice– Establishing and maintaining effective working links with significant national bodies,

government departments, voluntary groups and others – ideally to effect policy– Sharing learning, e.g generate peer-to-peer interactions (beacons accredited peers)

Sharing information Shaping behaviour

PublicationsInfo packs, Website, Articles, ExhibitionsVideos, NewslettersCR Rom

Events/ActivitiesWorkshops, SeminarsConferences, Learning Exchange, Open DaysInteractive toolkit, Site and ‘Seeing is Believing’ visits

TailoredPeer2peer support,

Mentoring,Secondments, buddying,

Networks, TwinningAction learning

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An illustrative Case Study- Supporting the Rural Economy

• Round 4 theme – 8 authorities awarded status and development of good practice in rural facilitation emerged from two beacons

• Led to peer mentoring schemes (ODPM Capacity Building Programme)– Beacons nominated officers with rural regeneration expertise to create mentoring

teams for improved service delivery– Independently evaluated by University of Newcastle – ‘has laid excellent foundations’

and ‘air of excitement’ for this ‘groundbreaking method of self-help. Further funding secured from DEFRA, ODPM to advance the project

• Rural Facilitation Toolkit – a practical way for authorities and regional agencies to to learn modernising lessons

– Assessed by Local Government Association as useful lobbying tool and guide for relationship building

– Formed the basis for Government’s Rural Strategy 2004, new approach to policy and delivery

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Focus on effectiveness – Does the Scheme Work?

Data from independently commissioned (Warwick) research

• 83% of local authorities feel it informs best practice• 75% feel it encourages networking• 79% of those who attend a Beacon event have subsequently made a

change in their own Council

‘Our view is that the Beacon Council scheme has been an important improvement lever in raising standards and promoting, coherent outcome focused service

delivery.’ Lewisham LBC

 ‘The Beacon scheme helps to identify those authorities that can demonstrate

thorough and workable solutions.’ Hampshire CC

But… learning was at lower level than expected

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Learning is a two-way streetKey enablers of inter-organizational knowledge transfer :

 

©Hartley and Rashman, Local Government Centre, Warwick Business School.Hartley, Rashman and Radnor, Warwick Business School, University of Warwick

Originating organisation

Enabling processes Recipient organisation

Conceptual framework Relevant context Organisational framework for learning

Systems to identify and promote good practice

Reciprocal knowledge exchange and dialogue

Capacity to share and receive knowledge

Designs for knowledge transfer

Customisation of knowledge and choice of transfer methods

Capacity and resources to adapt and implement learning

Distinguishes knowledge requirements

Trust, collaboration, challenge and common perspectives

Effective internal communication systems and networks

Experience of learning exchange and networks

First hand person-person transfer

Evaluation models and focus on outcomes

Resources and methods for knowledge transfer

Respect for diversity Champions and distributed leadership

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The Future of Beacons ReviewOctober 2004-March 2005)

IDeA supported the Advisory Panel with this review

Strengthening dissemination• increasing the role of government• revising funding arrangements• reinforcing the need to consider dissemination as part of the assessment process• supporting authorities to learn (preparedness, capacity, conditions for learning)

Beacons and improvement• Closer links between Beacons and CPA, inspectorates• Government involve Beacons in developing national policy

Other recommendations• Scheme to do more to promote equalities and diversity• Review timings of application and assessment process• Beacons website (not IDeA website)

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The day job…• Round 5

– Annual Report of improvement messages to be published in July• Round 6

– Theme Guides and Learning Exchanges June/July– Open Days and on-going beacons co-ordinator support

• Round 7 – Application Brochure to be published at end of month– IDeA consultants to be identified assessment process on-going through to March 2006

• Round 8 – Theme recommendations, selection and development

• Round 9 – Theme consultation and recommendations

Implement the recommendations of the reviewAnd… tea to be drunk, leave to be taken!

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Advantages of Beacons approach

The 6 motivators for participation in Beacons from point of view of learning 1. Fact finding2. Hearing about new ideas/innovations3. Networking opportunities, and receiving challenge from peers4. Specific improvement issues – BV (51%), CPA (35% or particular issues (28%)5. One in four says they want to demonstrate commitment to improvement publicly at events6. Small majority admitted that participating allowed them to get away with paying lip service to

modernisation and improvement!

Plus• Seen favourably against inspect - voluntary, people choose to participate and is based on

culture of motivation rather than judgement obsession• Peer support for self improvement, and sector self regulation• Appeals to different learning styles

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Useful Contacts

• IDeA Beacons team Enquiry Line: 0207 296 6587

Beacons@idea.gov.uk• ODPM beacons info Enquiry Line: 0207 944 4759

Beaconsinfo@odpm.gsi.gov.uk• IDeA website contains frequently asked questions on the

Scheme

www.idea.gov.uk/beacons• Copies of the application brochure will be available on line from

the end of June from the ODPM website:

www.odpm.gov.uk/beaconcouncils

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Recommended Round 7 themes

• Culture and sport for ‘hard to reach’ groups (DCMS)• Delivery of Quality Services through better Procurement (ODPM)• Early Intervention - Children at risk of poor outcomes (DfES)• Tenants driving service improvements (ODPM) • Positive youth engagement (in the community and democratic process) (HO)• Road Safety (DfT)• Strategic Service Delivery through partnerships (ODPM)• Rural services – empowering delivery (DEFRA)• Valuing People (DH)• Waste and recycling (DEFRA)

• And Recommendation of 12 themes for Round 8 –E.g.Valuing the Voluntary Sector; Supporting Settling Communities, Electoral Services, Financial Inclusion and tackling indebtedness

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Ruby.dixon@idea.gov.ukJune 2005

Supporting improvement in

local government