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Highlights from the IAPS Programme
The iNetwork 2015-16 programme comes to a close this month, and it's a great time to reflect on the achievements and milestones of the Innovative Access to Public Services (IAPS) Programme over the last year. Here are some select highlights:
- Over the course of the year, the iNetwork IAPS programme has attracted 346 delegates from 104 different organisations to 20 events*.
- IAPS held its first Digital Conference in June 2015. It was so well received, that it will be the first of many iNetwork digital conferences.
- Shelley Heckman, iNetwork, won the Go ON UK 'I made a Difference' NW Digital Leader Award for the work she has done to support Go ON NW and the digital inclusion agenda in the region.
- Trafford Council won the iNetwork Innovative Access to Public Services award in November 2015.
- Colleagues from Warrington Council, Calderdale Council and Rochdale council joined the IAPS Network Leadership Group in 2015-16. We said a fond farewell to Adrian Moores, Stockport Council as he stepped down from the role of IAPS Chair, and we welcomed John Ryan, Bolton Council to the position.
*excluding annual conference, annual awards dinner and executive board events.
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iNetwork Members are LGC Award Winners
Congratulations to Wigan Council for winning Digital Council of the Year! Interestingly, the statistics for the IAPS programme (where digital sits within iNetwork) show that Wigan had the most delegates in 2015-16 for attending learning and sharing events!
Congratulations also to Tameside Council for winning Council of the Year, and to North Yorkshire Council on the award for Innovation.
The LGC awards 2016 shortlisted a number of iNetwork member organisations this year, recognising the best in our sector. You can see a full list of 2016 winners on the LGC website.
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iStandUK Website
Further to our development of the iNetwork website, we are proud to unveil the new and improved iStandUK website! iStandUK (formerly LeGSB - Local e-Government Standards Body) is a separate programme within the iNetwork family. However, much of its work aligns closely with the IAPS programme.
Be sure to visit the latest news and project work around all things data standards in the public sector. We are very excited about the projects of iStandUK and implore you to get involved. Collaboration is not only welcome, but essential to success and improved efficiency for us all when it comes to standards.
We are particularly excited about the new forum capability. It is our aim to make this a national centre of discussion and deliberation in the near future. Please take the time to sign up and share your expertise!
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Opportunities
- training, funding, toolkits, projects etc.
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Social Care Digital Maturity Self-Assessment
The National Information Board as part of the Five Year Forward View has asked local health and care areas to develop a Local Digital Roadmap by 30 June 2016.
To support the development of these road-maps the LGA working with partners is launching a social care digital maturity self-assessment which will help Local Authorities in identifying areas of good practice and areas for future focus.
All Local Authorities are invited to participate. The tool which opens on 4 April 2016 and close on 13 May 2016. You can gain access to the tool by emailing the LGA.
For more information, read the blog post on the iNetwork website written by Mark Golledge, LGA about this.
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Group Facilitation Training Skills
Exclusive to iNetwork members, ICA:UK are offering courses at their discounted rate for their upcoming Group Facilitation Methods and Action Planning courses in Manchester. The next Group Facilitation Methods training course in Manchester is on 18th and 19th April.
To claim your discounted rate at band B rates, call Clare at ICA:UK on 0161 2328444. Please quote iNETWORK when making your booking.
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Extended Funding for Free Business Improvement Training
iNetwork members can benefit from funded business improvement training courses for free!
During the course, delegates will learn key skills enabling them to critically analyse their business’ performance and make lasting improvements to benefit residents and internal customers.
Access to free training is offered on a first-come-first-served basis. If your organisation has not taken advantage of the offer yet, hurry before the funding runs out. More details can be found on the iNetwork website, and expressions of interest can be made to Catherine O'Neill.
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Contact Centre Telephony Technology
Jane from Cheshire East Council is currently looking into contact centre telephony systems. Would you be willing to share what solution you are using with Cheshire East council? If you think you can help, please contact Jane via Shelley.
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Class B Exemption & Council Tax
We have a query from Guinness Housing Trust for council tax colleagues:
Lesley, in her capacity of Information Governance and Risk Manager, has been asked recently about providing a weekly report to Councils in relation to Class B Exemption – which is in relation to empty properties. Councils want her to provide the address and the name of the previous tenant. She has also been asked by some authorities for their income assessment on the previous tenant and/or the circumstances of the previous tenant.
Lesley has looked at the high court judgement which clearly outlines the four requirements which must be met which does not include requiring the name or other circumstances of the tenant. She has also looked at seven Local Authority websites and application forms in relation to this exemption, and apart from one, previous tenants' name is not asked for.
Can anyone advise, from a local authority perspective, why once a housing trust has provided the required details or even as part of the application, the Local Authority would require additional personal information on the previous tenant? If this is the case could you also advise if there is a stated legal gateway that allows the Housing Association to provide this information?
Any help and advice you can give on this would be gratefully received. If you think you can help, please ask Shelley to put you in touch with Lesley.
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