Moving forward. Moving faster. Moving together.

Welcome to our newsletter, bringing you all the latest from the Digital Office for Scottish Local Government. In this newsletter, we bring you a detailed update on what has been happening across the Digital Partnership throughout the last month and details of upcoming activities. 

If you have any queries regarding any of the content within this newsletter, please get in touch.

Formation of the National Digital Capability Advisory Group (DCAG). 

The Digital Office for Scottish Local Government, in partnership with the The Scottish Digital Academy, has formed a new National Digital Capability Advisory Group (DCAG). This new advisory body will play a crucial role in developing digital capability across Scotland's public and third sectors, ensuring that organisations can efficiently design, build, and maintain high-quality digital services. 

The DCAG’s mission is to ensure Scotland’s public and third sectors are equipped with the digital skills, tools, and resources necessary to deliver high-quality services in the digital world. Through collective action, shared insights, and strategic alignment, the DCAG will support Scotland’s journey toward digitally capable and future-ready public services. 

Lee Dunn, Head of the Scottish Digital Academy said, “We’re all aware of the challenges that the public sector faces over the next few years and the need to continue to improve digital public services. The advisory group is one approach that we’re taking to bring organisations together to align direction, coordinate effort and share resources.” 

Verity Hislop, Senior Project Manager, Digital Office for Scottish Local Government said, "A Digital Capability Advisory Group in the public sector not only drives informed decision-making but also promotes cost savings and operational efficiency. By leveraging shared resources and cross-functional expertise, it reduces duplication of efforts and encourages collaboration. This leads to streamlined processes, optimised use of existing capabilities, and more effective solutions to complex challenges, ensuring that public services are both innovative and cost-effective."

Fully Funded Data Literacy Professional Training Update

We are currently working in collaboration with the Scottish Digital Academy and the Data Literacy Academy to develop our plan on a page. This will confirm all of the key dates for anyone who has had their application approved, to allow you to reserve time for the sessions in your calendar well in advance of kick-off. Another element of this work includes core group of stakeholders who we'll look to for key areas of the projects such as the leadership 1-1's, media day, communication campaign etc.

• Senior Leadership (Commercial + Data): To collaborate on the 1-2-1s and Media Day.
• Project Manager: Weekly Collaboration Meetings and Activating Internal Stakeholders where needed.
• Learning & Development/Internal Comms: Awareness Campaign and Education Customisation to drive awareness in the organisation.
• Data/Business Departments SMEs (Subject Matter Experts): Education Customisation, to ensure the content is in-line with language, branding etc.

If you would like further information or have any questions in the meantime, please contact Verity Hislop

Security Operations Centre Framework Project Update.

Less Than 400 Days Left Until the End of Digital Telephone Migration.

Our Digital Telecare Programme is here to support all Scottish Local Authorities, Health and Social Care Partnerships, and Housing Associations in preparing for this transformation.

Whilst BT has extended their migration deadline to 2027, other telecom companies are unchanged and we remain committed to counting down to the 2025 deadline to ensure all Scottish Telecare Service Providers are ready well in advance.

Transitioning to digital services before the 2025 deadline is crucial to avoid any interruptions. Our dedicated Digital Telecare team is armed with the resources and expertise to help you on your journey to digital.

Join Our Communities

We’ve been working on improving our communications, considering how we ensure the right people are aware and informed. As part of these developments, we have been reviewing our Microsoft Teams infrastructure to align priorities, measure impact and build in requirements. With a real focus on capability building across the sector, we welcome you to join our communities.

How to Join:

1. Explore Our Communities
   Read about the different communities below to find the ones that best match your interests and needs.

2. Register
   Click the Join Our Communities button (located after the descriptions) to fill out a short registration form. This allows you to select the communities you’d like to join.

3. Access Your Channels
   After completing the form, you’ll receive an invitation by email to access our Microsoft Teams channels.

Next Generation Digital Champions Community.

This network, co-led by Aaron Slater, Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) and Verity Hislop, Digital Office for Scottish Local Government strengthens public sector services by promoting efficiency, collaboration, and a sustainable digital culture, enhancing employee skills, engagement and citizen satisfaction.

Outcomes:

• Enhanced Digital Literacy and Confidence: Champions support skill-building and boost digital confidence across teams, reducing reliance on IT for basic issues.
• Increased Efficiency and Innovation: Champions help identify and promote digital tools that streamline workflows and encourage innovation, driving process improvements.
• Improved Cross-Department Collaboration: By connecting champions across departments, silos are broken down, and best practices are shared, supporting unified digital transformation.
• Support for Digital Transformation:  Champions promote and facilitate the adoption of digital initiatives, helping manage change and resistance to change.
• Better Public Service Delivery: Champions implement digital solutions that improve accessibility and responsiveness for citizens, enhancing service quality.
• Professional Development and Motivation: The role provides champions with leadership and digital skills, improving morale and encouraging knowledge retention.
• Cost-Effective Training and Digital Culture: Champions lead peer-to-peer learning, reducing training costs and fostering a digital-first, agile mindset across the organisation.

Status:

• Discovery and Retrospective Workshop: completed.
• Digital Champion Maturity Survey: completed.
• Miro of Insights: in progress.
• Teams channel/community: welcoming members.
• Content Sharing: in progress.
• Potential collaborative procurement supplier demos: next steps.

National Power Platform Community.

This Community co-led by Chris Wright, Perth and Kinross Council and Verity Hislop, Digital Office for Scottish Local Government, offers a collaborative space to drive innovation, enhance efficiency, and build digital skills, benefiting both individual organisations and the broader economy.

Outcomes:

• Accelerated Innovation: Members can share and co-develop low-code solutions to common challenges, speeding up problem-solving and reducing redundant work.
• Cost Savings and Efficiency: Shared best practices and reusable solutions cut development costs, enabling faster, cost-effective improvements.
• Digital Skill Development: Community resources support members in building Power Platform skills, creating a more digitally skilled and adaptable workforce.
• Cross-Sector Collaboration: The community encourages knowledge-sharing and collaboration across organisations, enhancing problem-solving through diverse perspectives.
• Support for Digital Transformation: A unified community will drive alignment on national digital transformation goals and improve the public sector’s service delivery.
• Increased Accessibility: The platform empowers non-technical users to create data-driven solutions, diversifying technology and encouraging innovative solutions. 

Status:

• Priorities Agreed (see image below)
• Next Meeting:  Monday 16th of December (invitation to follow).

Priorities:

Artificial Intelligence Community.

This community co-led by Joe Deary, Renfrewshire Council and Verity Hislop, Digital Office for Scottish Local Government, brings together diverse stakeholders: council leaders, technologists, policymakers, and community representation, to collaborate and address shared challenges and opportunities presented by Artificial Intelligence (AI). 

Outcomes:

• Collaborative Solutions: Aligns AI strategies with local priorities like service improvement, citizen engagement, and ethical considerations.
• Shared Expertise: Leverages diverse insights to identify innovative AI applications, driving efficiency and cost savings.
• Capacity Building: Supports knowledge-sharing and skill development, empowering councils to adopt AI responsibly.
• Inclusive Policies: Ensures strategies are actionable, transparent, and designed to maximise AI’s positive impact on communities.

Status:

• Collation of Draft Policies and DPIAs: in progress.
• Workbooks on Ethical and Responsible adoption of AI: completed.
• Teams channel: welcoming members.
• Co-development of AI Strategy for Local Government: next steps.
• Co-development of a Roadmap for Ethical and Responsible Adoption of AI in collaboration with Alan Turing Institute: next steps.
• Kick-off meeting: TBC.

Upcoming Events

Digifest 2024: Digital Telecare Satellite Sessions

DigiFest24 combines a programme of free-to-attend, virtual and in-person satellite sessions, from October 2024 onwards and a virtual conference, featuring panel discussions and sharing good practice on 4-5 December 2024.

This event takes a multi stakeholder perspective setting out the direction of travel for digital health, housing and care in Scotland and shares work from Scotland, the wider UK and internationally.

A number of fantastic Satellite Sessions have taken place on the run up to DigiFest24. To register for upcoming sessions, head to their website below: