Shelforce Service Redesign 2013

Feedback updated 24 Jul 2015

Results updated 3 Oct 2013

The formal consultation period for the Shelforce service redesign ran between 17th January 2013 and 25th June 2013, having been extended by Birmingham City Council from the normal 90 day period in response to a number of requests that were received.  During this period a number of consultation events and activities took place with the aim of engaging as many stakeholders as possible.  The reason for doing this was that the particular client group who could be affected by any such redesign were some of the most vulnerable in society, with a number having complex needs in terms of their participation in the labour market and therefore a more comprehensive and robust consultation process needed to be provided.

The key focus for the formal consultation was with staff and through recognised Trade Unions.  This led to a total of 14 formal meetings and 2 site visits to Glasgow and Walsall as per the request of the Trade Unions.  There were also a number of individual and group meetings with staff as well as a formal staff and carer consultation event that took place on 13th May 2013.  All of the information gathered at these meetings and events were presented in detailed form for consideration by Cabinet before any formal decisions were made about the future operating model for Shelforce.

In addition to the above the following was also undertaken as part of the consultation process:

• Stakeholder consultation task group was formed with external independent subject matter experts to help provide expert opinion to help develop both consultation feedback and future staff support requirements.
• Equalities Task Group was formed to look at the potential equalities impacts on any service redesign proposals that were submitted for a decision by Cabinet.
• An extensive Questions & Answer briefings and a Frequently Asked Questions facility which looked to address the questions raised by staff and carers during the consultation process. On the conclusion of consultation 131 questions had been raised by staff.
• A total of 82 stakeholder (individuals or organisations) were contacted and asked for their thoughts on the following as well as being invited to the formal staff and carer consultation event:
  • Proposals for the future operating model for Shelforce
  • Potential equalities impacts on any proposals being considered
• Update presentations on the Shelforce redesign were also given to the Tyburn Ward Committee on 21st June, 20th September 2012 and 13th June 2013 as well as a number of briefings being given to both Councillors and Members of Parliament.

A large amount of information was gathered from the above activities and collated as appendices for the Cabinet report which went to the City Council full Cabinet on 29th July 2013.  It was decided, that because of the detailed Cabinet report and 18 appendices to be considered by Cabinet, that the full report would be released 5 days in advance of normal circulation.  This allowed all Cabinet Members involved in the decision making process, and City Council Councillors, additional time to consider all of the information presented.

Attached is a link to our Democracy web site where you can view the Cabinet report.  Apologies that this isn’t a direct link at this time but we have a technical problem but you can view by taking these additional steps once you’ve selected the link.

• Under Meeting Body Type select - Executive (current)
• Input the date of the Cabinet meeting 29/07/2013 into both the From and To boxes
• Press Go
• Select the Cabinet link and the first item is the Shelforce report.

Links:

• Shelforce Cabinet Report 29.07.2013