My weekly posts

If you want to transform adult social care, health, or public services more generally, stop obsessing about ‘demand management’. Start with citizen contact.

If you want to transform adult social care, health or public services, stop fixating on ‘demand management’. Start with citizen contact as the system’s sensing organ, not a cost to minimise. Most demand management is really delay and deflection, creating failure demand and eroding trust. The front door should deliver resolution, enablement or legitimate escalation. Design for first contact problem-solving, and measure outcomes and learning — not handle time — if you want demand to fall for real. If you want to transform adult social care, health, or public services more generally, stop obsessing about ‘demand management’. Start with citizen contact. – chosen path

“A little bit sick of paradigm shifts”

I’m struck by how often government reforms simply recycle old ideas: CustomerFirst, leadership academies, devolution, insourcing. None are wrong, but they become dangerous when treated as replacements rather than part of a wider system. Public services fail when we erase the middle — the commissioners, politicians and intermediaries who mediate complexity and trade-offs. The answer isn’t another paradigm shift, but grown-up system design: relational, democratic commissioning, designed for learning, not theatre. “A little bit sick of paradigm shifts” – chosen path

Courses and events

Outcome-based commissioning: a ten-step introduction – Cohort 10, this February

Back by popular demand! Our introductory course for commissioners will run again this February, with the first session on 25 February. This online and interactive learning programme will enable you to grasp the core principles and practices of effective commissioning. You’ll be better placed to help develop public services that make a really positive and lasting difference to local people’s lives. You’ll also be able to act quickly with confidence using a commissioning mindset and call on your network of fellow participants for support and challenge. https://link.redquadrant.com/10StepFeb26

Child House to be rolled out nationally – well done to the RedQuadrant consultants who were involved

This is wonderful news! I remain very proud of the small but hopefully valuable role RedQuadrant played in supporting this fantastic example ofsystems change or systems convening in moving public services closer to how they ought to be! https://www.linkedin.com/posts/antlerboy_child-victims-should-never-be-forced-to-repeat-activity-7407439019019485184-Q_Hx?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAADUV_eUBZSxZvFpx70OV050F6K5HM2MhTMo

Introducing the RedQuadrant Local Government Reorganisation hub

Local Government Reorganisation is coming fast. By April 2028, every new authority must be safe, legal, and fully operational. That means statutory officers secured, ICT cutovers rehearsed, services live, and residents experiencing seamless continuity. The RedQuadrant LGR Hub is the only model that guarantees readiness while embedding lasting capability. With a single accountable structure, governance at its core, and capability pillars across adults, children’s, SEND, ICT, finance, housing, and place, the Hub ensures no gaps, no surprises. Three outcomes, every time: Safe and legal on day one; Visible assurance and confidence in delivery; Future-ready capacity with transformation built in. Find out more now: https://www.redquadrant.com/lgrhub

Commissioning Compass: systems assessment for change

Our newly launched tool, the Commissioning Compass, helps you to assess your commissioning system and form an action plan for improvement. It’s available for free via our Teachable site – try it now! link.redquadrant.com/commissioningcompass

Next National Commissioning Academy

We’re building our cohort for the next national commissioning academy – our flagship commissioning programme from the PSTA. Register your interest now: https://link.redquadrant.com/nextacademy25

What I’ve been reading:

Congratulations to Andrew Humphreys. who has stepped into a new role as SAVVI Delivery Manager.

The SAVVI project, (short for Scalable Approach to Vulnerability via Interoperability) is about helping public services identify, assess, and support people at risk of poor outcomes, whether that’s homelessness, child poverty, or even being unable to evacuate during a flood. By developing open data standards, practical guidance, and innovative tools, SAVVI enables a truly coordinated, multi-agency response. You can read more on Andrew’s role, and on the project, here: https://coda.io/@savvi/welcome/exciting-news-from-the-savvi-team-313

Things I shared on socials:

Systems Soundbites

Systems Soundbites – Matt Lloyd blog Thoughts – Systems Soundbites

Addressing challenges of an uncertain world

Addressing challenges of an uncertain world: A CyberSystemic approach – Festschrift for professor Raúl Espejo – eds Perko and Reyes Alvarado (2024) Addressing challenges of an uncertain world: A CyberSystemic approach – Festschrift for professor Raúl Espejo – eds Perko and Reyes Alvarado (2024) | Systems Community of Inquiry

The Disappearance of an Internet Domain

How geopolitics can alter digital infrastructure by Gareth Edwards The Disappearance of an Internet Domain

(Re)Designing Freedom

John Beckford Still in Torment: (Re)Designing Freedom – WOSC 2024 keynote (YouTube) John Beckford Still in Torment: (Re)Designing Freedom – WOSC 2024 keynote (YouTube) | Systems Community of Inquiry