Technology
Planning Reforms: Data can shine a light on the true social value of development
Liam Ronan-Chlond says the challenges for both public and private sectors is how to properly measure the impact development has in the community – and technology can play a pivotal role.
Four in five council staff working from home
The number of council staff working from home has rocketed from 5% pre-lockdown to 80%, according to new research.
COVID-19: A perfect storm for technology innovation in social care?
Carers must be enabled to remain in the profession for longer, say Graham Allen and Steve Carefull, and early indications from Hampshire suggest ‘cobots’ may be one way this can be achieved.
Keeping business locked up during lockdown
Tony Ellis describes how the pandemic brought unique challenges to the task of ensuring cyber security at England's newest council was robust enough for launch day.
Meeting citizens’ expectations after the pandemic
Hilary Jones highlights how COVID-19 has been the catalyst for shifting up a gear when it comes to communicating with local residents, providing the environment and the permission for digital to take centre stage.
A time for vigilance as ransomware threat still looms
Among the many recently identified threat vectors that should concern local government is a malware threat group known as APT12, which has been attributed to China, warns chief executive of the iESE Dr Andrew Larner.
Digital engines – the ‘new normal’ in local government?
Digital engines will become a staple of every local authority’s digital provision moving forward into the ‘new normal’, says John McMahon.
Ensuring continuity of care during COVID-19
What happens when home isn't a safe place to be? Julie Tyas discusses how tech is becoming the eyes and ears of social workers during the pandemic.
Using virtual reality technology to understand the needs of children
Alison Alexander says VR is being used in the recruitment and training of prospective foster carers and adopters and across children’s services provision to better understand the impact of trauma.
Scaling self-created solutions in local government
Barnsley MBC has developed a self-created income management system (IMS) with dxw, with a vision to see that shared with other councils. Richard Kingston says ‘working together we can aim much higher’.
Video conferencing first at council meeting
A council used software to help decide key planning applications in what is believed to be the first meeting of its kind in the country.
Transparency tools made available to pension schemes
The first standalone system to provide information on costs from different investment managers to every local government pension scheme (LGPS) and pool has been made available.
Reset for the UK’s high streets
The future is upon us and unless we understand the rapidly changing needs, our high streets will lose their purpose, says John Quinton-Barber - and the pandemic will accelerate much of the digital disruption we’ve seen over the last decade.
Learning from Redcar and Cleveland
There is now a unique 'zero-day, zero-trust' technology capable of cyber-defence on day zero when the virus is first released - and iESE is inviting councils to get in touch if they want to become a trial site, says Dr Andrew Larner.
Technology should be used as part of a wider response to COVID-19
David Rees says that although technology is in no way a complete solution in social care in response to COVID-19, it can be used in a number of areas to free up scarce human resource.
Care technology is improving the lives of people in supported living
Harminder Sangha and Sean Hunt of PA Consulting say society is already taking great strides to use personalised digital technologies – and people in supported living deserve to have the same level of access, and the opportunities it provides.
All change
Stockport is transforming itself into a world class town to complement its world famous neighbour – led by a council that’s at the cutting edge of local government.
AI could save councils £500,000
Artificial intelligence (AI) technology could save local authorities £500,000 in the next 12 months, a survey of UK councils has found.
Overcoming obstacles to digital change
The MJ and Fujitsu hosted a round table debate looking at managing the obstacles to digital change - to explore the issues councils currently face and some of the solutions discovered. Martin Ford reports.
A plan for social care is finally coming. What should be in it?
Having a clear view about the outcomes sought is key to drawing up a new plan for social care - and it should be developed with the sector and with people with lived experience, say Paul Burstow and Ewan King.
