Yesterday the TPO team spent the day together at Ruth’s place in Peckham. Today I am back at my desk ploughing through the actions we agreed at our meeting, plus a whole load of other stuff, and I’ve found myself reflecting on just how special it is to be working with these guys (none of whom are actually, well, guys).
Today Ruth is taking part in a conversation, led by the Young Foundation and attended by a host of people we like and admire, to explore the ‘purpose and promise of social innovation and its role in tackling inequality at the heart of the new public work’.
For us, listening (and really hearing) what people have to say about their lives and the public services they use is at the very heart of what we do. It’s one of the approaches we believe is right and necessary if we are going to change how organisations and professionals see the world, and consequently improve it.
Dave Hill, Executive Director for People Commissioning, Essex County Council, speaks about the power of ethnographic approaches.
Ruth is out and about today attending the Reform private roundtable on “People-powered public services: the role of technology” with Chi Onwurah MP, Shadow Cabinet Office Minister.
The seminar is exploring new and innovative ways of delivering public services on a tighter budget and will be attended by a host of leading policymakers, practitioners, business experts, journalists and other stakeholders. Wonder which category Ruth falls into?
How can we find better ways to support and enhance the lives of the people of Essex? First we’re working out what the real issues are. Colleagues from across Essex County Council are doing some very different kinds of activities as part of an ambitious project to improve the support we provide for children and families. This week a group of leaders from across the council (and representing different service.
We designed and ran these two workshops. Ruth left Caireen on her own to deliver one whilst she went off to speak at a UN conference, but Caireen nailed it. All was well. Through the workshops we set out to: Build an understanding of and desire for innovation: make clear that ‘more of the same’ is not an option if the ambitious vision for numbers, speed and experience of adoption is.