The delicate art of change management

摘要

For its results to be truly effective and enduring, change at local authority level must be introduced gradually and its progress rigorously managed. Regardless of how councils respond to government funding pressures, it is critical to ensure that changes are clearly defined, resourced, executed and sustained if improved service user outcomes and cash savings are to be fully realised. Councils are attempting to innovate as never before in response to funding challenges, both in their approach to service delivery and their methods of executing change. According to a budget survey conducted by the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS), from adult social care budgets in England alone, annual savings of 20% - amounting to £2.6bn -will have been achieved by March 2014. Furthermore, on top of the £1.89bn savings achieved in the last two years, £795m is expected to be shaved from budgets in 2013/14.