Local authorities are the frontline for many public services. Sharing customer data is part of their day-to-day business and one which has significant costs and risks.

Local authorities throughout England and Wales are all connected to the Government Connect Secure network (GCSx). This enables them to share data securely with other local authorities and government agencies.

This conference, organised by the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA), Local Government Association (LGA) and Government Connect, is to help demonstrate the ongoing case for GCSx for local authorities and their partners. It will show how this network enables local authorities to share citizen data with key partners to speed up processes and help deliver joined-up services more effectively and efficiently.

It will provide an opportunity for senior local authority representatives to hear from a wide range of initiatives developed by local authorities and their partners. These demonstrate how GCSx has reduced costs, increased efficiencies and improved services in these pathfinder projects. The conference is aimed at chief executives and directors, police, health and central government representatives.

We will also hear from the NHS who are now also linked up to GCSx via National Health Service (N3). This will significantly help those local authority service areas that work with the health sector sharing information about their shared customers securely and more efficiently.

Programme
9.15 Registration, refreshments and exhibition viewing

10.00 Chairs welcome and introduction
Janet Callender, Chair, Government Connect Programme Board and Chair, Local Government Delivery Council

10.10 Keynote address: 'Joining up public services for the citizen '
This session will look at how Government Connect is a key enabler for both the 'big society' and tackling the budget deficit.
Speaker to be confirmed

10.30 Keynote address: N3/GCSx
The NHS is now part of the GCSx network making it possible to share information to tackle the big issues such as an ageing population by supporting joined up working with adult social care services and PCTs.
Chris Wilber, Director of Infrastructure, Department of Health Informatics Directorate (DHID)

10.50 Questions and discussion

11.00 Refreshments, exhibition viewing and networking

11.15 Speed briefing sessions

An opportunity for delegates to hear short, lively presentations from the pathfinder projects.

12.15 Workshops session one
An opportunity to hear in detail from the pathfinder projects how the Government Connect Secure network is delivering improved services in their local areas.

WA1: Flexible working through remote access in Devon: Hear from Devon County Council how they have identified and implemented a suitable, affordable and accredited working solution to enable flexible working conditions.

WA2: No recourse to public funds' database in Islington: Find out from London Borough of Islington how they are developing a national no recourse to public funds (NRPF) database in partnership with the UK Border Agency using GCSX resulting in greater efficiency savings, improved monitoring and data sharing.

WA3: Joint Asset Recovery Database (JARD) in Conwy County Borough Council: In this session, we will hear how Conwy has implemented Government Connect in order to enable secure access to the Joint Asset Recovery Database run by the Home Office.

WA4: Trading standards and regional intelligence in London: Learn how the GCSx network has enhanced London Trading Standards (LoTSA) regional intelligence function. It has provided a more secure means of data transfer with other trading standards bodies and key partner agencies creating a more efficient service.

13.15 Lunch, exhibition viewing and networking

14.00 Plenary panel debate whats the future for Government Connect?
Speakers to be confirmed

14.45 Workshops session two

WB1: Birth registration data sharing in Sunderland: This project explores how using GCSx can improve the customer experience in engaging with the public sector on the birth of a new child.

WB2: Customer data hub in Lincolnshire: Find out how GSCx has helped to secure electronic sharing of customer data between local authorities within a county.

WB3: Trading standards secure email in the South West: Hear from South West of England Coordination of Trading Standards (SWERCOTS), the 15 local authorities responsible for delivering trading standards services in the South West, how GCSx is enabling more efficient sharing of restricted intelligence and to enable access to specialist intelligence databases in the South West.

WB4: Safeguarding children and secure email in Devon: Find out how Devon Council and its partner agencies have developed a secure mechanism of sharing sensitive data about children to reduce risk and demonstrate best practice.

15.45 Workshops session three

A final opportunity to attend a pathfinder project workshop.

WC1: Business data standards in the West Midlands: This project is about bringing together one true source of data about businesses within a local area. This can then be shared with business support, regulatory services and other parts of the public sector.

WC2: Anti-social behaviour (ASB) data sharing in Lancashire: This aim of this project is to join the two main secure environments that the police and local authorities use, GCSx and the Police National Network (PNN), to improve data sharing.

WC3: Front Office Shared Services: Discover how integrated, locally-focused and efficient public services are becoming the norm. Front Office Shared Services (FOSS) investigates opportunities for local authorities to deliver more integrated services through shared front office arrangements. The FOSS programme delivers best practice examples for local authorities to learn from. It also communicates, influences and shapes the national agenda through the Local Government Delivery Council.

16.45 Conference ends

How to book
Please note, this event is a Local Government Improvement and Development, Local Government Group and Government Connect event. There are currently places available so please complete the online booking form through the link below to request a delegate place at this event.

Book online at: http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/events/delegate-submit.do?eventId=20111244