Mutual Ventures

📢Prioritising Public Services: Six Priorities for Reform 📢 High quality public services, connected to their users, is what makes strong and resilient communities. But our public services are under pressure. Rising demand, a focus on crisis rather than prevention, undervalued public servants, and a pessimistic outlook for the future have all contributed to a challenging landscape. But reform is needed, and, with a General Election approaching, it is time to prioritise public services. 💡 Over the coming months, we will be focusing on six priority areas: 1️⃣ Trusting ‘place leaders’ is the best way to improve local services 2️⃣ More effective local partnerships can reduce inequalities in children’s health 3️⃣ Regional collaboration can improve outcomes for children and families 4️⃣ Values-based application of AI can transform users' experience of public services 5️⃣ Cooperative principles can shape new service models that are more connected to communities 6️⃣ A ‘reset’ in the relationship between central and local government can improve policy implementation These priorities are underpinned by three cross-cutting themes: putting relationships at the centre of services, shifting resources from crisis to prevention, and managing costs effectively. Each month, we will delve into one area, offering insights and real-life examples through interactive webinars, thought-provoking articles, and engaging podcasts. We are thrilled to be joined by some of the best public service leaders and experts in these discussions. Your voice matters, and we want to hear from you. Share your thoughts and ideas on prioritising public services by visiting our website https://lnkd.in/eYygY85V. #PublicServices #PublicSector #LocalGov #LocalAuthority #Consultancy

Welcome Sally Dickens to the Mutual Ventures team! With a rich background in Regeneration and Economic Development, Sally joins us as a Senior Consultant and brings a wealth of experience in tackling place-based challenges head-on. Her expertise shines through in her leadership of projects encompassing strategic urban regeneration, economic development, and innovative placemaking initiatives. Driven by a passion for improving the built environment, Sally is committed to fostering partnerships that drive positive change in town centres and neighbourhoods and ensuring every project serves the local community. Her collaborative approach as a Neighbourhood Regeneration Manager brought together a diverse range of stakeholders to ensure the place vision reflected and responded to the diverse requirements of the local community whilst also being sufficiently aspirational. Outside of work, Sally finds solace in activities like 🏃 running, yoga, reading, and her newfound passion…crocheting! Join us in welcoming Sally to Mutual Ventures by connecting with her on LinkedIn. Plus, learn more about Sally’s journey so far on our website: https://lnkd.in/gYUWGiP3 #NewStarter #Team #PublicServices #Sustainability #Collaboration

Public services have increasingly drifted away from the communities they were designed to support. Adult social care is a prime example. But amidst the challenges lies a golden opportunity for transformation. The key? A cooperative ecosystem for adult social care that is deeply connected to local communities. In our recent Prioritising Public Services series blog, John Copps makes the case for a shift towards humanising care by keeping individuals close to their families, integrating them into their communities, and enabling them to age well in their own homes. This approach champions personalised, high quality care delivered by community-rooted providers. Discover how embracing cooperative principles can revolutionise adult social care and elevate community engagement. Read the full article here: https://bit.ly/3VTapkm #PublicServiceReform #CooperativeCare #CommunityEngagement #AdultSocialCare #CommunityCare #PublicServices

The Total Place programme pilots may have ended, but the invaluable lessons learned are more relevant now than ever. Now is the time for local leaders to have the courage of their convictions and try new models of place-based, community-driven reform that prioritises the person not the service. In our recent webinar, Rob Whiteman CBE and Prof. Donna Hall, alongside Andrew Laird, shed light on the Total Place programme and its implications for future public service reform. They emphasised the transformative potential of early help and investing in preventative services. The future of service delivery hinges on embracing a Radical Place Leadership approach that empowers communities and places individuals at the heart. It's about creating a more responsive and effective system that truly serves the needs of the people. You can hear our expert panel’s full discussion, including their thoughts on how to accelerate the lessons from the pilot, on our website: https://bit.ly/3KVELfI #PublicServiceReform #CommunityEngagement #PublicService #LocalAuthority #PublicSector #LocalGov #LocalGovernment #Partnership

📊 From insight to impact: How intelligence can drive solutions for tackling serious violence. In our recent webinar, Prof. Donna Hall, Non-Executive Director at Mutual Ventures, shared invaluable first-hand insights on harnessing data and multi-agency partnerships to combat serious violence. Drawing from her experience as the former Chief Executive of Wigan Council, Donna emphasised the strategic use of data and intelligence in targeting at-risk children. One key takeaway from Donna is that implementing preventive measures doesn't always necessitate additional funding. Instead, it involves strategically reallocating existing resources and effectively leveraging data to optimise outcomes. To hear more of this crucial conversation about driving impactful change through data-driven strategies and collaboration, catch up on the entire webinar here: https://bit.ly/4b8VtCV #ViolenceReductionUnits #Police #PCC #LocalGovernment #HomeOffice

How can we reform public services to better serve the communities they support? Next week, join John Copps and our panel of experts, including Scott Darraugh, Sam Pluckrose-Oliver, and Gemma Murphy, as they explore how cooperative principles can reshape public services to be more community-focused and people-centred. 💻 Connecting Public Services with People and Places Using Cooperative Principles. 📆 Thursday 27th June, 10-11am Critical questions the panel will explore include: 🌱 How can services be rooted in the community and tailored to people's lives? 🌟 What are some current examples of good practices? 🚀 What opportunities lie ahead to change the conversation on public services? Join us in discovering new ways to build services that are deeply rooted in the communities they serve. Save your spot today ⬇ https://lnkd.in/e73c8-Ew #PublicServices #PublicServiceReform #Innovation #Webinar #CooperativePrinciples #PrioritisingPublicServices

Caring for our most vulnerable children is perhaps the most crucial role of local authorities. Yet, they face a myriad of challenges in children's residential care, including rising demand, lack of supply in the right places, and a market reliant on debt-financed business models driven by scale. These factors are leading to poor outcomes for children. In our latest #PrioritisingPublicServices series blog, Scott Darraugh, Chief Executive of Social adVentures, and Ross Murray argue that provider models rooted in local communities and cooperative solutions, such as the innovative Fair Care Alliance in Greater Manchester, can become the blueprint for tackling the crisis in children's residential care. Scott and Ross tackle the pressing questions: ➡ What are the critical issues facing children's residential care today? ➡ What actionable steps can be taken to address these challenges? ➡Where do we stand in the journey towards transformation in children's residential care? Discover how we can move towards a more sustainable and effective solution for our most vulnerable children in the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eCsaGDMd Interested in learning more about the potential of cooperative principles in reforming children's residential care? Register for free our webinar 'Cooperative principles in public service delivery' on 27th June https://lnkd.in/e73c8-Ew #ChildWelfare #InnovationInCare #ChildrensServices #CooperativePrinciples #PrioritisingPublicServices

We’re delighted to welcome Ben Rosie to the Mutual Ventures team as a Consultant! With a background in regulation, legal services, and international trade, Ben brings a wealth of experience to our team. His work across the globe in places like Hong Kong, Laos, and Nigeria has been instrumental in shaping policies and providing support to international organisations. Ben's expertise in conducting qualitative and quantitative research projects for various clients in the public and third sectors is invaluable. With hispassion for sustainability and degrees from the University of Manchester and King's College London, Ben's knowledge and skills are an exciting addition to the team. Outside of his professional work, Ben has a passion for cooking and is an avid supporter of Arsenal Football Club. ⚽ Join us in welcoming Ben to the Mutual Ventures family by connecting with him on LinkedIn. Plus, learn more about Ben’s journey so far on our website: https://lnkd.in/eJ-D_6w5 #NewStarter #Team #PublicServices #Sustainability

⚠🎙️ Attention Radical Reformers podcast listeners…podcast purdah! Our podcast is taking a brief hiatus during this election period due to the nature of our upcoming guests' public sector professional roles. 📅 But Andrew will be back after the 4th of July with fresh episodes for you! In the meantime, why not revisit some of our past episodes? Here are a few recommendations that offer valuable insights into what might come post-election: 🎧 Empowering Local Public Services with Rob Whiteman CBE - Delve into the financial challenges facing local government and explore potential solutions for a brighter future. ➡ https://lnkd.in/eu4dK6rw 🎧 System Leadership for Healthy Children and Families with Samantha Allen - Discover the importance of person-centred public services and the role of system leaders in driving impactful change. ➡ https://lnkd.in/eK3y9Gg7 🔍 Stronger Economies And Stronger Communities with Rob Walsh - Explore the success story of Northeast Lincolnshire and its innovative approaches to Place Leadership. ➡ https://lnkd.in/edtpKVTy We'll be back soon with more thought-provoking discussions. Stay tuned! 🔊 #Podcast #RadicalReformers #LocalAuthority #PublicServiceReform #LocalCouncil #PublicServices #PrioritisingPublicServices #SocialCare #GeneralElection

📍 Let’s make place-based integration the default setting for public services. Violence Reduction Units (VRUs), specialist units funded by the Home Office to lead a preventative, whole-system approach to violence reduction in local areas, are already showing promising results. In this blog, Prof. Donna Hall, Non-Exec Director at Mutual Ventures, delves into why VRUs are an excellent example of how central government policy can be effectively implemented at the local level to proactively address root causes of social issues. With the upcoming general election shining a new spotlight on public sector policy shifts, Donna draws on her experience as the former Chief Executive of Wigan Council to share her insights on effective multi-agency collaboration, and whether it really can make a difference to community outcomes. Read the full blog to learn about the importance of this shift: https://lnkd.in/e25jbivB #PublicServices #PublicServiceReform #Communities #CommunityMatters #CommunityEngagement