Report summary: Unlocking public service improvement through more collaborative regulatory practice

This report was authored by Katie Rose, Director - Europe, Centre for Public Impact

Report name

Unlocking Public Service Improvement Through More Collaborative Regulatory Practice

Who wrote this report?

The Centre for Public Impact is a global not-for-profit organisation. It serves as a learning partner for governments, public servants and the diverse network of changemakers who are leading the charge to reimagine government.

Those at all levels in the UK Government and public services consistently identify regulation as important. Regulation can enable public servants to understand how to improve the quality and safety of services. It, therefore, has enormous potential to unlock public service improvement.

However, current approaches, and the relationships between regulators, inspectors and local authorities, mean that, too often, regulation is a break on innovation. How can we do regulation differently, encouraging more collaboration, learning together, and improving public services for those who need it most?

The Centre for Public Impact (CPI), in partnership with the King's Fund, has been working with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and regulatory partners to design a different approach to working together around regulation. This project is part of the UK Government’s Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities’ National Changing Futures programme.

Best quote

Encouraging more collaborative regulatory practice and better relationships between providers, regulators, and inspectors could help improve public services, unlocking the potential of regulation as a tool for learning and public service improvement.

**Key takeaways: **

• The relationship between regulators and public service providers is fundamental to how regulation works. To unlock public service improvement, we need to change how providers and inspectors work together, increasing collaboration, learning and better relationships.
• Transition points-for example, when someone is moving between services, or the transition from 18 to adult life-are one area where people experiencing multiple disadvantage do not get the support they need. Improving regulatory practice around these transition points could transform outcomes for those who need it most, and significantly benefit the broader public service and regulatory environment.
• Developing a more precise understanding of the real limitations of regulation and how the system feels to those experiencing multiple disadvantage, are two key actions needed to enable more collaborative regulatory practice.

What’s in this report?

This report provides insights into how we can improve ways of working around regulation, between local authority providers, regulators and inspectors, to unlock improvement across public services and better outcomes for citizens. It brings together insights from CPI’s work with the GMCA and partners, to explore how to encourage learning and collaboration between local authorities and regulators like the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and Ofsted.

This work examines some of the current barriers facing regulation which are preventing it from reaching its potential as a tool for learning and public service improvement. It sets out the case for more collaborative regulatory practice and the benefits this could bring. It also identifies some of the key actions needed to drive real change in regulatory practice to improve services for those who experience multiple disadvantage.

Why should you read this report?

Regulation has significant potential to dramatically change how public services work and make them work better for people. Yet, it is currently not working as well as it should because of how actors work around it. This report explores how we can change that and is the first piece of work in the UK which brings together all the national and local stakeholders to work directly on these cross-cutting issues. However, its applications go beyond regulation and speak more broadly to the importance of strong relationships and collaboration across different teams, which are both essential for more effective government.

Who is this report for?

This report is primarily for public servants involved in regulation in the UK, who want to explore how to do regulation differently, and ultimately, improve public services. This includes those working in both national and local government, as well as regulators and inspectors. As this work specifically focuses on improving regulation around services for those experiencing multiple disadvantage, it is also of interest to those working across homelessness, substance misuse, mental health, and criminal justice services.

🔗 Read the full report here. 🔗

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