The improvement of public services is a major theme of Government policy. The current pressure on those working in public services is to deliver more with less. In delivering more with less, public services need to understand the costs and benefits of their activities, and work with individuals and communities to set priorities and re-design services. We have experience of how best to introduce neighbourhood working, personalisation of services – particularly care services – and participatory budgeting – where communities come together to prioritise spending decisions in their area.
SQW works with central and local government clients, along with providers of health and social care to develop new approaches to delivering public services, evaluate them and identify practical and deliverable changes to enhance their effectiveness.
SQW also has considerable experience supporting clients to find constructive ways to manage change in their strategy and delivery environment and to seek improvements and efficiencies in how they run their organisations.
Examples of projects
Study of Aiming High for Disabled Children Individual Budgets
SQW was commissioned by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) (now the Department for Education, DfE), alongside Ipsos MORI, Helen Sanderson Associated and iMPOWER, to lead the evaluation and challenge/support of the Individual Budgets pilots for Families with Disabled Children. The study provided the Department with robust information to support decision making regarding the future for Individual Budgets and provide a support and challenge function to the local authorities and partners involved in the delivery of the pilots. The research incorporated the design of an evaluation and outcomes framework which acted as the foundation for the research, longitudinal surveys of families and children, process reviews, area and thematic case studies, observational work with families, workshops and one-to-one support to assist each pilot area.
Research to Inform the Management and Governance of Children’s Centres
The children’s centre concept was promoted in the Childcare Review (November 2002). This concluded that an integrated approach, ensuring the joining up of services and disciplines such as education, care, family support and health, is a key factor in determining good outcomes for children. The purpose of the research was to provide information on the different governance and management structures and arrangements already in place, both locally and at local authority level, and to identify those approaches and features that were seemingly successful at that stage.
Development of a Methodology to Promote Social Acceptance of Wind Energy Projects in Ireland
Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland commissioned SQW, in association with Dr Geraint Ellis of Queen’s University Belfast, to research methodologies for promoting social acceptance of wind energy in Ireland. The project was part of the International Energy Association Wind Task 28 to develop best practice.
Integrating Parish Plans into the Wider Systems for Local Government
SQW was appointed by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to carry out a study of how well parish plans had been integrated into the mainstream of local government and local service delivery. The study was informed by a series of scoping interviews with national-level stakeholders, a literature review of neighbourhood and parish working and 14 case studies from a mix of areas across England. The report highlighted a series of critical success factors and barriers to mainstreaming parish plans and outlined recommendations for central and local government and parish council.
Fiscal Incentives to Reduce Household and Business Carbon Emissions
SQW was commissioned by the Local Government Association to explore the existing and potential range of fiscal powers available to local authorities and how these can be applied to achieve carbon reductions at the level of households and businesses. Measures such as Council Tax, Business Rates, parking charges, personal carbon allowances, carbon trading and a variety of grant scheme options were examined in detail. The carbon reduction impact and revenue/cost implications were established at a national (England and Wales), local authority and individual dwelling levels.
Corporate Plan Performance Framework
SQW was commissioned by Advantage West Midlands to provide support in developing and implementing a programme-based approach to the organisation and performance management of its activities. The work involved a significant change management exercise to first develop programme specifications, logic chains and monitoring and evaluation procedures, and then roll-out the new approach to the corporate management team, other senior staff and wider agency officers.
Feasibility Study for Enterprise Facility, Dunstable
SQW was commissioned by Central Bedfordshire Council to explore the feasibility of developing an Enterprise Facility in Dunstable. Working with Oxford Innovation, Carter Jonas and Walter Herriot the project involved two stages. The first stage examined the optimum solution for addressing the local market failure in the supply of enterprise facilities. This included consultations with a range of key stakeholders, an assessment of the different site options and an assessment of competing supply. Following this, the second stage involved an appraisal of the different options proposed in stage one.