The 2010 LSIS summer policy seminar series is entitled Changing public services – changing professional practices. This is a series of invitation-only events that aims to learn from leading thinking and practice across public services to ensure that the learning and skills sector is as well-informed as possible to develop its leadership and professional practices to face the very significant challenges now and in the future.

There are four seminars as part of the programme, from May to September 2010.

Seminar four - Public service leadership and practice – where next? 16 September 2010

The fourth seminar, entitled Public service leadership and practice – where next? aimed to:

• explore the interaction of regulation, risk and ethical behaviours;
• consider how individuals, organisations and the learning and skills system might make ethical use of freedoms, manage risk and develop capacity for self-regulation; and
• consider the implications for leadership and professional practice

It featured inputs from Ben Hamilton-Baillie, founder and director, Hamilton-Baillie Associates; Geoff Russell, chief executive, Skills Funding Agency.  Polly Toynbee chaired the seminar.

Public service leadership and practice – where next? (PDF, 103 KB)
Public service leadership and practice – where next? Final Report (PDF, 109KB)

Ben Hamilton-Baillie's presentations (in three parts) on YouTube

Seminar three – Innovation, efficiency and effectiveness - promoting change through new forms of engagement, 13 July 2010

This third seminar, entitled Innovation, efficiency and effectiveness — promoting change through new forms of engagement aimed to:

• To hear diverse perspectives on increasing accountability to citizens and customers;
• To consider the potential of technology to promote innovation, efficiency and effectiveness; and
• To discuss the potential applications and lessons for leadership and professional practice in the learning and skills sector.

It featured inputs from Hilary Cottam, Principal Partner, Participle and member of the Public Service 2020 Commission; Tom Steinberg, Founder and Director of mySociety; Jane Williams, Executive Director of Further Education, Skills and Regeneration, Becta; and Matt Atkinson, Principal and Chief Executive, City of Bath College. Polly Toynbee chaired the seminar.

Innovation, efficiency and effectiveness - promoting change through new forms of engagement (PDF, 79 KB)
Innovation, efficiency and effectiveness - promoting change through new forms of engagement - Final report (PDF, 173 KB)

Seminar two – Empowerment and responsibility – creating a new relationship with customers and citizens, 16 June 2010

This second seminar, entitled Empowerment and responsibility – creating a new relationship with customers and citizens aimed to:

• Extend our understanding of empowerment and responsibility of customers and citizens in the context of the new government;
• Learn from practice in other areas of public service and in our own sector; and
• Consider the implications for the evolving accountability systems in which we operate, and for leadership and professional practice.

It featured inputs from Rob Whiteman, Chief Executive of IDeA, Nick Gargan, Deputy Chief Executive of the National Police Improvement Agency, Professor Bernard Crump, Chief Executive of the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement, and Maggi Butterworth, Director of the Affiliation Swarthmore Education Centre. Polly Toynbee chaired the seminar.

Empowerment and responsibility – creating a new relationship with customers and citizens (PDF 1.9 MB)
Empowerment and responsibility – creating a new relationship with customers and citizens - Final report (PDF, 134 KB)

Seminar one – Understanding the direction of change, 18 May 2010

This first seminar, entitled Understanding the direction of change aimed to:

• To extend our understanding of possible scenarios and directions of change for public services and their implications for the learning and skills system;
• To consider the changes required to systems and to behaviours, including accountability, citizen engagement, leadership and professional practice;
• To discuss how sector leaders can take an active role alongside other public services in shaping future ambition for public services in their locality.

It featured inputs from Lord Michael Bichard, Executive Director of the Institute for Government and Matt Atkinson, Principal and Sir Andrew Foster, Chair, Commission on 2020 public services. Polly Toynbee chaired the seminar.

Understanding the direction of change seminar programme (PDF, 192KB)
Understanding the direction of change seminar presentation and discussion (PDF, 788KB)