Local improvement advisors

Application pack

Please use the application form below. CVs will not be accepted. Those submitting applications must be able to demonstrate within their proposal that they can meet the person profile as set out in the specification.

Local improvement advisors person specification (PDF, 11 pages, 186KB)

Local improvement advisors electronic application form (Word doc, 287KB)

Closing date: 5pm on 1 May 2009

We intend to hold interviews in London between 25 and 29 May 2009.  Successful applicants will also be asked to attend regional induction events across England.

Please contact us on the number or email address at the bottom of the page if you need to complete and submit the form by hand rather than electronically. 

Local Improvement Advisors will form a panel of experts to support local authorities and their strategic partners. They will develop services and build capacity in a diverse range of organisations, with the aim of improving outcomes for local people. 

The Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnerships (RIEPs) are at the heart of local arrangements for support, taking a strong lead on performance and improvement. The Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) is working with national improvement bodies to ensure that there are appropriate support mechanisms available for RIEPs to access.

As part of this provision, central and local government are looking to recruit a panel of advisors to support local authorities and their strategic partners. These advisors will have a primary role in improvement and efficiency activities. They will provide advice, coaching, training and mentoring to support local partnerships deliver public services through:

• the new performance framework
• local area agreements (LAAs)
• multiple area agreements (MAAs).

We are looking for people who, as well as being experts in their own field, possess the skills to share their expertise with local authorities and their strategic partners. This will help them improve their delivery of public services and build capacity to ensure those improvements are sustainable in the future. Those recruited will demonstrate that they add value through their independence and ability to challenge. We are seeking people who can work at a senior strategic level across a diverse range of organisations to facilitate cultural change and delivery of outcomes

The panel of advisors are known as Local Improvement Advisors (LIAs). They will build on the work of Neighbourhood Renewal Advisors. They will be managed on behalf of local and central government by the West Midlands Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnership.

We are seeking advisors:

• with specialist experience and expertise
• with a strong understanding of the equality and diversity challenges faced by local authorities and partnerships in delivering better services
• currently working in the service delivery areas covered by the National Indicator Set and the cross cutting themes which support delivery.

We are recruiting advisors who have particular expertise in the areas of :

Adult Health and Well Being

• life expectancy
• health inequalities
• social care
• sport.

Financial Management

• multi-agency work
• Comprehensive Area Assessment
• area based grants
• financial leadership.

Data Sharing

• service design and delivery
• shared services
• transformational government
• Data Protection Act - interpretation and application.

Climate Change and Environmental Leadership

• climate change
• fuel poverty
• waste
• alternative fuels
• better public places including urban green spaces.

We therefore expect applicants to apply with specific expertise in one of these four areas.

If you have experience of any of the following theme areas you may also indicate up to two of these on your application form.

Service delivery themes

• stronger communities
• safer communities
• children and younger people
• tackling exclusion and promoting equality
• local economy and worklessness
• housing and planning
• climate change and environmental leadership

Cross cutting themes

• leadership and partnership development
• performance management 
• financial Management
• building analytical capacity
• digital inclusion
• service transformation methodologies (such as systems thinking) and collaborative learning approaches
• support for improved public services at the local level.

Advisors will be paid a day rate for any assignments undertaken as part of this programme. They will be asked to propose that rate as part of the application process.

Further information

If you find it difficult to access the pack you may request one by:

telephone: 020 7296 6821
email: LIAenquiries@idea.gov.uk.

If you have any queries about your application please

email: LIAenquiries@idea.gov.uk