We know that how we manage and communicate change is really important to you and that many of you are keen to get involved.
There is an enormous amount of change already underway – some small scale and some larger scale.
Agreed themes for larger scale change include:
Digital by design – using technology to improve the customer experience and be more productive as an organisation.
Data – reviewing how we can better use data to inform how we deliver services.
Property - reviewing our buildings so they support us to deliver the best possible services.
Directory of services – creating a council wide digital directory of services so that residents and services are aware of the support available in communities.
Adult services – living better lives in Lancashire – supporting residents to be more independent.
Children's social care – ensuring we put in place the best possible local provision for children in our care.
SEND – reviewing how be best support children with special educational needs and disabilities.
Home to school transport - to help more vulnerable residents by enhancing transport options and reviewing efficiency of our operations.
Resources redesign – continuing to enhance services across the Resources directorate, ensuring they reflect leading practice and the needs of the council.
The list above will continue to evolve over time.
There are also other smaller change projects going on across the organisation that are making a major difference. Colleagues also have fed back that they would value some support to get their innovative ideas off the ground. This feedback is really helpful and we are considering how best to support this.
There will be an opportunity for you to share your thoughts, get involved and shape our organisation for the future in the New Year.
Adult Services CQC inspection site visit
On Monday 7 October 2024, we received a call from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to inform us we will be subject to an inspection of our Adult Social Care Services.
We have now been notified by the CQC that their assessment team will visit County Hall between Monday 24 February and Friday 28 February 2025.
This marks the beginning of phase two of what is officially known as our Local Authority Assessment.
Assessors will visit County Hall to hold a series of interviews and meetings with staff, stakeholders, partners, and members of the public.
This follows phase one, a three-week information gathering period which took place from Monday 7 October to Monday 28 October, where we responded to information requests from assessors.
The inspection is a fantastic opportunity to showcase some of the great work we do to support adults to live as independently as possible in a place they call their home.
Helen Coombes, our new Interim Executive Director of Adult Services, also has excellent experience of leading and supporting councils through inspections.
A huge thank you to everyone involved in the inspection, your continued hard work is much appreciated.
As many of you will be aware, we have received notification that the Health and Safety Executive will visit us from 10 December for a routine inspection.
Convention of the North February 2025
Convention of the North, a high profile annual political and business convention, will be coming to Lancashire in 2025.
We will be hosting the event on 27 February at County Hall in Preston. The University of Central Lancashire will host the following day.
This will give us an exciting opportunity to showcase Lancashire and create a unique space where different ideas will come together to drive positive change, boost the economy, and support sustainable growth in our region.
The Exchange and Committee Floor will be used on 27 February, which means that any rooms currently booked for this date may need to be moved or rescheduled and no new bookings will be taken for that day. If this affects your booking, The Exchange team will contact you directly.
County Hall will be busy this day and the car park will be used for delegates attending.
You are advised to work from home or one of our other buildings where possible.
If you need to use the building, please use Bow Lane Reception entrance only, as Pitt Street Reception will be in use for attendee security checks.