Power to the people? The Open Public Services White Paper

  

The Big Society and fundamental reform of public services has been an underlying theme of the present Government, with a range of initiatives in different service and policy areas already in place or being developed. Much has been said about creating greater freedoms and flexibilities in public service organisation and provision, removing or reducing unnecessary “red tape” and bureaucratic controls and moving away from a centralist “top down” approach to one which supports and encourages flexibility and innovation. Alongside this, there is a drive to secure ever greater value for money as organisations seek to manage with reduced funding streams and strict fiscal controls, whilst maintaining and improving standards of service performance.

 

The Government has recently published its Open Public Services White Paper, setting out its ambitions for the future of public services and next steps in the broader reform agenda. The intended aim is to give people more choice and control over the services they use, decentralising power to individuals and communities, increasing diversity in public service provision, and ensuring equality of opportunity and access for all.

 

These proposals have significant implications for the future shape and direction of public sector organisations and for the people they employ and present a range of challenges and opportunities for leaders and managers, staff and trade unions. Deborah Moon, independent HR Consultant, summarises the key themes set out in the paper and considers some of the workforce issues arising from it.

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