Critical friend
The challenge
APSE has a long history of belief in and promotion of continual improvement in local government service delivery. In the current economic climate local authorities are facing their biggest challenge in a generation and some tough decisions will need to be made. In many cases authorities are progressing with a transformation programme, an example of this could be a change of service provider, which will bring up a number of different issues for the workforce.
Our expertise
APSE is unique in that it brings together elected members, officers and local authority trade unions in an equal relationship. This has a knock on benefit to the consultancy in that it is able to add value to projects from its understanding of trade union concerns.
We are uniquely placed to conduct projects with union members as we specialise in public sector frontline service delivery. APSE’s background will give unions the security of knowing that the brief can be delivered in the manner which is required and that we will enter the project in an impartial and fair capacity. APSE has experience in working with a wide range of union colleagues in the role of a critical friend.
Our approach
APSE can offer a variety of different support to meet your requirements, this includes workshops on examining the key issues facing your members, critical appraisals of reports and assistance in putting together a case for an in-house bid and supporting the preparation of this. APSE’s support can help demonstrate how factors such as staff, trade union and user involvement and consultation, experience, expertise and inter-service co-operation can all contribute to service improvement and good in-house services.
In many cases APSE has been called upon by councils undertaking complex procurement to aid with effective consultation through the provision of advice to trade unions and critical friend support to the procuring authority
More information
Publications
- ‘The Value of Trade Union Involvement to Service Delivery‘, July 2010. A report for UNISON by APSE
- ‘APSE report: The Ingredients for Success: How in-house teams are delivering first-class services’, May 2010. A report for UNISON by APSE
- ‘A new generation of council housing: An analysis of need, opportunity, vision and skills’. A report for UNISON by APSE
- ‘Insourcing: A guide to bringing local authority services back in-house’ APSE, January 2010.
Briefings
- ‘Flexible working rights; Law and best practice guidance and its role in service transformation’, December 2009, 09/62.
Contact us
For further information on consultancy services, please contact:
- Andy Mudd, Principal Consultant
- Gayle Gibson, Senior Consultant
- Davina Rai, Client Co-ordination Officer
Or telephone APSE on 0161 772 1810 for an informal discussion on how we can help you or about any of the other services APSE provides.
Our other offers
For information about other APSE consultancy offers, please use the links below.