Film provides update on new ways of working

“Strengthening of partnership working” and better “understanding the needs” of people in Shropshire communities, are two of the benefits of new ways of working discussed in a new video.

The development and impact of the local commissioning approach to delivering services is outlined in the 15-minute online film, by staff at the forefront of the work, councillors and other community leaders, and those supported through the work.

The approach involves partners – including Shropshire Council, town councils, parish councils, the police, fire service, health and voluntary organisations – working more closely together and with people across each community.  With local leaders at the heart of the work, it aims to get the most out of the expertise, funds and resources in each community, and make sure services are right for their needs.

The work has been piloted in Church Stretton and is currently being extended to Oswestry, Wem, Craven Arms, Whitchurch and Monkmoor in Shrewsbury.

The video provides an update on how local commissioning work has progressed since March 2013 when partners first started to gather views and information on Church Stretton.

Based on these discussions and findings, new ways of working have been explored including partners bringing their resources and expertise together to better co-ordinate how they maintain the streets, and providing additional support to help people who are unemployed to find work.

The video includes filming from an event where leaders gave a commitment to extend the local commissioning approach to the new areas, and interviews with people involved in the work, to provide further detail.

To watch the video click here.

Lee Chapman, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for local commissioning in the south of the county, said:

“This video shares how we are making changes based on information and views about what is important to each community.

“Local commissioning is a different approach, and we are learning more and more as we go along about how we can get the most for our communities.  Where an idea hasn’t met the community’s needs in the best way possible, we’ve refined it together to make sure any changes are focusing on what really matters.

“With this joint commitment to getting services right, the work is showing that a new way of working can remove duplication, make better use of time and money and support people more quickly and effectively.  We can ensure that services are custom built, as far as possible, and that those best placed to deliver them, do just that.  This, in turn, will help to ensure that services don’t cost more than they should.

“We will now use what we have learned as we continue to review and expand the work in Church Stretton, as well as work with more communities across Shropshire, in our next phase of work.”

For more information about local commissioning go to shropshire.gov.uk/commissioning.