Closing date for applications: 29 October 2008
Interviews: 17 – 28 November 2008

Central and local government are recruiting a panel of advisors to support local authorities and their strategic partners. The panel of advisors will be known as Local Improvement Advisors (LIAs). They will build on the work of Neighbourhood Renewal Advisors. LIAs will be managed on behalf of local and central government by the West Midlands Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnership.

LIAs will form a panel of experts to support councils and their strategic partners. They will support them developing services and building 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. Department for Communities and Local Government is working with national improvement bodies to ensure that there are appropriate support mechanisms available for RIEPs to access.

LIAs are being recruited as part of this provision. 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)
• multi-area agreements (MAAs).

As well as being experts in their own field, advisors will possess the skills to share their expertise with councils and their strategic partners to help them:

• improve their delivery of public services
• 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 range of organisations to facilitate cultural change and delivery of outcomes.

We are seeking advisors:

• with specialist experience and expertise
• with a strong understanding of the equality and diversity challenges faced by councils and partnerships in delivering better services
• currently working in the service delivery areas covered by the national indicator set (NIS) and the cross-cutting themes which support delivery.

Service delivery themes

• stronger communities
• safer communities
• children and younger people
• adult health and wellbeing
• 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 
• building analytical capacity
• digital inclusion
• data sharing
• 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 projects undertaken as part of this programme, and will be asked to propose that rate as part of the application process.

Those interested in becoming LIAs are invited to apply using the application form provided as part of the application pack – 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.

Application pack

Local improvement advisors person specification (PDF, 11 pages, 106KB)

Local improvement advisors electronic application form (Word doc, 282KB)

Local improvement advisors handwritten application form (PDF, 14 pages, 111KB)

Further information

If you find it difficult to access the pack through this website, you may request one by:

telephohne: 020 7296 6188
email: LIAenquiries@idea.gov.uk

If you have any queries about your application please contact:
email: LIAenquiries@idea.gov.uk

Closing date: 5pm on 29 October 2008.

We intend to hold interviews in London between 17 and 28 November 2008. Successful applicants will also be asked to attend regional induction events across England.