Throughout 2019 the GO Lab supported efforts to launch a network of UK regional knowledge clubs for public organisations and service providers that are interested in outcome-based approaches. It has been exciting to see how each of these groups has taken on its own character, reflecting the knowledge and experiences of practitioners in the region.
The response to these peer learning groups has been unanimously positive, therefore the GO Lab has given thought to how we can expand the reach of these peer learning groups both geographically (including international perspectives) and thematically. For example, peer learning groups for the Greater London Region and procurement have been launched recently. We continue to explore the appetite for new peer learning groups across a number of other contexts. To keep up to date with the latest news on peer learning please refer to our community page. In the coming weeks and months we will be adding new features and functions to the community page in order to maintain ongoing conversations, and leverage the experience and knowledge of the global community of practice.
It has been a great start to 2020 for peer learning, below is a brief outline of the current state of play for each of the launched groups.
The London peer learning group met for the first time in February 2020. Prior to the inaugural meeting, an online survey was administered to identify what were the pressing issues people wanted to discuss within this group. Many of the requested discussion topics will sound familiar to you regardless of your context: outcome measurement, procurement and evaluation. The group also held a discussion around the Pan London Positive Families Partnership SIB, the session was led by the group’s local champion Lucy Pennie, Sutton Council. Group membership represents a balance of commissioners and service providers across Greater London, it also includes a London based global service provider.
Group Lead: Nigel Ball
The Northern Peer Learning Group met twice in 2019. The unique feature of this group is that these meetings are convened under the Chatham House Rule, meaning that items can be reported but not attributed to an individual or organisation. This allows an open and frank discussion of the challenges that people may be facing. The next Northern Peer learning group will be hosted by Kirklees Council – date to be confirmed. For this meeting the group members have set the agenda to discuss the Kirklees SIB and special purpose vehicle structures.
Group Lead: James Ronicle
This group met in February 2020 for the first time with colleagues from two live Commissioning Better Outcome (CBO) SIBs and from Life Chances Fund and CBO SIBs that didn’t progress to launch. The group discussed headlines from Ecorys’ report for Department for Digital Culture Media and Sport on replicating SIBs and explored the GO Lab projects database. Colleagues shared what ‘fascinated and frustrated’ them most about SIBs, added new insights to the ‘triumphs and treacle graphic’ from the GO Lab knowledge club page, tested a framework for the roles of capital in SIBs and, generated ideas for improving SIB development and design. More on those ideas in a blog to follow! The next group meeting will be in June via video conference.
Group Lead: Samantha Magne
Driven by the interests of the membership the East of England group has taken a unique focus, previous sessions have had the goal of articulating what a good social outcome-based commissioning ecosystem in the East of England would look like. We are looking forward to seeing how this ecosystem vision of cross-sector collaboration and consensus building across key stakeholders evolves throughout 2020.
Group Lead: Graham Phillips
POGO
The Procurement of Government Outcomes or “POGO” Club is a knowledge sharing initiative that is open to anyone interested in capacity building in public procurement and in collaboration to improve social outcomes. We host monthly calls, maintain an email list, have a LinkedIn Group, and share other resources. Participants come from many different disciplines, sectors, and countries. Our chair is Anne Davies, Dean of the Oxford Law Faculty and Professor of Law and Public Policy. Ruairi Macdonald of the GO Lab provides coordinating support. Regular participants include local government procurement professionals, legal academics, practicing lawyers, and other technical advisors from around the globe. So far in 2020, we have been exploring procurement professionals’ discretion and pre-procurement market engagement. Notes and agendas are available here. Our next monthly call is on the 31st of March. Join us!
Group Lead: Ruairi Macdonald