The public sector needs to find radical new ways to deliver local services more tailored to local needs while saving significant costs. To help achieve this, many councils and their local public services partners are integrating their services, cutting out duplication and waste, and providing more joined up services for service users.

Examples of integrated working include:
- place-based working (previously known as Total Place), developing a place-based budget, and a ‘whole area' approach to public services
- children's trusts and services
- adult services such as mental health, learning difficulties and services for older people or those with disabilities
- joint appointments and joint working with health services on health inequality issues
- front-line shared services projects such as ‘one-stop shops' or shared benefit assessments.

Integrating local public services raises many potential workforce issues for councils and their partners including:
- new working methods and arrangements for staff
- changes to roles, structures, job descriptions, and required skills
- staff relocation
- secondments to a different organisation or transfer to new employers
- resolving differences in pay, terms and conditions for staff from different organisations working side by side.

This web resource focuses on these key issues and:
- highlights the key strategic issues for members, for chief executives and other senior managers
- provides general advice, options and things to consider
- offers more detailed technical advice for human resources leads.

The website contains the following key sections:
- Key issues for councillors
- Key issues for chief executives and senior managers
- Defining integrated working
- Key questions to consider at the start
- HR and employment law framework
- Equality frameworks and integrated services
- Organisational redesign and restructuring
- Workforce planning
- Partnerships and shared services
- Managing in a multi-agency context
- Managing workforce changes: HR lessons learned
- Integrating local public services: workforce case study reports

To find out more, visit the IDeA website at: http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=19823160