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Technology

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Technology is a powerful enabler for improving the lives of citizens if utilised correctly and appropriately. From systems implementations, to cloud adoption and digitising customer access, BetterGov follows a user-centric delivery approach aligned with the Government Digital Service Standards and Technology Code of Practice. Although we are an accredited partner to a number of software vendors, such as Microsoft and Unit4, BetterGov is technology agnostic and offers a broad range of expertise to support the most complex technology-enabled transformation programmes.

Systems Implementation

Implementing systems within the Public Sector is where it all began for BetterGov, specifically Health and Social Care IT systems. Over the years, and after two dozen successful implementations, BetterGov has organically developed expertise across a number of IT systems. We have now developed a strong track record in the implementation, integration, configuration and interoperability between core software systems across Social Care, Education, Health, Housing, HR and Finance. BetterGov delivers a range of services from discovery audit, business case creation and procurement, to full systems implementation and integration, including training and post-implementation support.

Automation

Automation is on its way to being widely implemented across the Public Sector, filtering its way down from large Central Government departments to Local Authorities and smaller NHS Trusts. Notable benefits include reducing overheads, standardising operational processes and effectively increasing capacity to meet spikes in service demand. BetterGov understands the benefits of Intelligent Automation and Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and through our flexible delivery model, we are well-positioned to support customers to fully achieve expected cost savings ROI, whilst ensuring effective change management and skills development.

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​Cloud Adoption

Properly implemented cloud technology can improve the speed of delivery, increase security and create opportunities for innovation. Successful cloud adoption increases cross-functional operations across Government organisations providing platforms and environments for civil servants to work more effectively together and take full advantage of the resulting benefits. From Cloud Procurement, through to Enablement, Migration, Application Development and Testing, BetterGov help clients follow the 'Cloud First' policy ensuring value for money and sustainability.

Smarter Working ​

Smarter working empowers us all to make the right decisions about where, when and how we work; optimising the use of workplaces and technology, and realising savings for the taxpayer. It improves productivity through a focus on outputs and enables a better work-life balance for all. Through identifying and utilising the right technology, BetterGov is able to support our clients create a digital workplace that is mobile and accessible, enabling collaboration, document sharing and improved communication.

Procurement and Contract Management

​Technology procurement is seldom a one-size-fits-all process, especially when the goal is technology transformation within public sector organisations. BetterGov understands that invariably, technology procurement is cross-cutting and should involve key stakeholders from business, finance and IT to ensure business success and overall transformation. Not only are we well versed with UK government and EU procurement policies and channels but BetterGov is also experienced in drawing value for money through effective and purposeful contract management. Engaging with a specialist, vendor agnostic procurement partner (such as BetterGov) will not only reduce both hard and soft costs but also improve supplier service delivery and increase the focus on continuous improvements.

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BetterGov is proud to have successfully supported key transformational programmes across Public Sector, delivering sustainable outcomes and creating true value through internal capability development.

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Devsecops
technology
DevSecOps Maturity Assessment

​ChallengeThe Health & Disability Digital services at Department for Works and Pensions (DWP) was undertaking a transformation of their digital journey for citizens with disability or health conditions. In order to offer an improved customer experience, providing easy access to Health and Disability related services, DWP needed to develop new, and improve existing, digital services. These new digital services would need to be easily navigable and would require interoperability between both new and existing systems, to allow a more consistent and responsive provision of services. As part of this transformation, they needed to make sure their services are highly resilient against malicious cyber-attacks and were looking for an organisation to help them shift left the role of security within the development lifecycle and enable DevSecOps as a standard pattern of working. Through a competitive procurement process, BetterGov were appointed as chosen supplier to support DWP with this work. ​SolutionTogether with DWP's engineering team, BetterGov's Secure Engineering team performed a security audit against the OWASP DevSecOps maturity model to give DWP a baseline and pinpoint areas for development. BetterGov was asked to help with the development and extending the existing CI/CD Gitlab CI Fragments in order to support with extra security checks and enhance DWP's cyber resilience posture. The BetterGov team examined the security tools currently in use and made suggestions for how to increase their efficiency and value. Additionally, we looked into security complaints and came up with suggestions and potential fixes for the problems found. BetterGov generated documents to support the DWP engineering governance processes and provide input on the security policy. The Health and Disability Digital team now had a greater grasp of how resilient their procedures were while developing and enhancing their digital services, which enhanced decision-making and decreased risks of prospective cyber attacks. ​ResultsCrown Commercial Service Framework procurement routeTransparent, controlled fixed price cost modelDetailed assessment of DevSecOps maturity model gap analysisImplemented recommendations for areas of improvementEnhanced cyber resilience postureIncreased efficiency and value of security toolsImproved governance process with supporting documentation

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Care Cap Picture
technology
Care Cap and Adults’ Social Care Reforms

​​GET READY – it’s coming – the Care Cap is on its way!As we all know by now, English Local Authorities need to be ready to provide Care Accounts and adhere to the new Care Cap from October 2023, with early assessments recommended from April 2023. This means there is limited time for Local Authorities to embed a very new way of working for social workers, and to make the necessary changes to social care case management systems. It will inevitably have a profound impact on already stretched Adults’ Social Care teams.​The Charging Reforms will present several operational challenges to Local Authorities, such as:Increased demand: Local Authorities will be obligated to offer additional support to self-funders in terms of assessments, care accounts and provision of support packages. Reviewing of cases and monitoring of care caps will also place increased pressure on local authority resourcesUp to date information: Local Authorities will need to ensure they are offering accurate, up to date information, advice, and signposting to services, requiring additional effort in keeping information accurateNew ways of working: Local Authorities need to be able to handle new ways of working, including the ability to effectively support self-funders, the provision and support of Care Accounts and the transfer of Care Accounts between authoritiesTraining: Staff across services need to understand the reforms and be able to advise and assist citizens at all stages of their social care journeySupport: There will be new processes and likely functionality that need supporting from a business and IT perspective In addition to the operational challenges, there are implementation challenges that Local Authorities need to be aware of:There will be a greater focus on portability of information, so Local Authority processes and systems must meet requirements outside of their teams and systems.Local Authorities will need to complete a fair cost of care analysis exercise to determine what charges self-funders will be required to pay for their care.There will be additional reporting requirements that need to be supported by processes and systems, potentially including new statutory requirements. Case Management system processes will need to be updated to ensure data is being captured and surfaced accurately and securely. Additional functionality may be required, depending on system maturity in each authority e.g., online portals, self-assessment tools, service directories, care account reporting etc. There is limited time to implement the changes to processes and systemsNew case management system functionality may attract additional charges that Local Authorities need to plan for How BetterGov can helpBetterGov are specialists in social care consultancy and systems implementation. Our experienced teams have successfully implemented over two dozen social care case management systems and are well placed to support clients navigate and overcome the challenges created by the adult social care reforms.  We can help with:Full reconfiguration projects considering all the Care Cap and Adults’ Social Care ReformsBusiness Process re-engineering of current workflows and forms redesign to take account of new ways of workingWorkflow recommendations and re-configuration of current case management systemsOption appraisals of supplier’s additional case management system modules and functionality to meet the charging reform requirements – portals and other online offerings will be a particularly important aspect of doing more with little or no additional resourceAny additional infrastructure requirements to meet a potential increase in data and storage needsAdditional testing supportReporting needs analysis and report writingTraining needs analysis and trainingImplementation support at go liveInterested in a conversation? Please contact Martin Johnston - [email protected]

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