Northgate-is - News Item 931

Standardised information key to improving service delivery

Regional policing information must be standardised to allow accurate comparison between forces to take place, asserts Northgate Public Services today in a response to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary’s (HMIC) consultation on Value for Money (VfM) profiles.

Commenting on the proposed content, Northgate suggests that differences in operational data may undermine the profiles, which were designed to highlight opportunities for service improvement. The company recommends that HMIC develop a rationalisation mechanism for police service information. This would allow the differing operational requirements of forces to be taken into account whilst still allowing an accurate comparison to take place.

Northgate welcomes the emphasis placed on value for money as a means of assessment. Its response stresses the importance of maintaining a balance between value for money and service improvement, with a clear focus on achieving better for less.

The company also makes suggestions as to how the use of VfM profiles can be supported and encouraged. These include:

• the provision of a sample analysis and sample business change plan;
• dedicated resources to support forces in the analysis process;
• identification of VfM profile champions; and
• sharing of success stories and lessons learnt.

These actions would be supported by the creation of a user guide to VfM profiles. Northgate recommends that these material should be provided via a range of channels  including specialised portals, audio-visual material, web-training services and new media.

Ian Blackhurst, Managing Director of Public Safety for Northgate Public Services, said today: “We welcome this opportunity to respond to HMIC’s consultation on VfM profiles. The profiles come at a time when, due to the economic climate, police forces are under increased pressure to do better with less.

“VfM profiles will provide a useful tool for police forces across the country to measure their performance. This will open up opportunities for improved service delivery to be identified by them. Effective delivery of service improvements is vital to building public trust. We are committed to working in partnership with the police service to build efficient and effective services built around the needs of our diverse communities and placing the citizen at their heart.”

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For more information
Fellows’ Associates
Kathy Sutton    +44 (0) 20 7395 1516; +44(0) 7966 890401
Konstantinos Makrygiannis  +44 (0) 20 7395 1518; +44(0) 7949 421356
 Notes to Editors

1. Northgate Public Services is an innovative provider of transformation and improvement services to the public sector. It is committed to high quality public services that place individuals and their communities at their heart. Its knowledge and understanding of people’s needs are core to its business, as too, is its depth and breadth across public services.

2. Northgate’s task is to enhance public value through the intelligent use of people and technology; to understand why and what change is necessary; to provide new thinking leading to improved performance; and to link company rewards with positive outcomes for the communities for whom it works. It supports transformation through sustainable performance partnerships.

3. In the UK, Northgate works with ninety five per cent of local authorities, every police force, and a large number of health organisations, housing associations, utilities and transport companies. Founded in 1969, the company has nearly 8,000 employees.