My weekly posts
When being useful becomes part of the difficulty
Barry Oshry’s account of John Carter shows how better results and self-directed teams can still meet resistance when they disrupt an organisation’s expectations of control. In relational public services, people navigating conflicting demands can secure immediate help while inadvertently allowing the underlying problems to persist. They need support to exercise judgement, openly discuss incompatible commitments and bring disputed decisions to those able to change them, while enabling residents and practitioners to speak for themselves. Those advocating change from outside must also recognise the other public responsibilities that organisations are trying to fulfil. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/antlerboy_relationalpublicservices-commissioning-share-7518984004210024448-js-4/
What happens to the next family?
Solace and Collaborate’s Leading for Place shows how relationships can resolve problems and reshape public services. But when informal interventions leave recurring barriers intact, access to help risks depending on knowing the right people. Passing decisions and budgets to communities should therefore include an obligation for those with authority to explain what will change, what won’t, why and by when. Councils, partners and Whitehall should all be answerable in this way, recognising legitimate constraints and the need for democratic authorisation while enabling affected people to scrutinise decisions and challenge claims of improvement. https://chosen-path.org/2026/10/23/suppose-a-chief-executive-makes-a-phone-call-and-sorts-out-a-problem-that-public-services-have-spent-months-passing-between-them-what-happens-to-the-next-person-to-face-the-same-problem/
Suppose a chief executive makes a phone call and sorts out a problem that public services have spent months passing between them… What happens to the next person to face the same problem?
A chief executive’s phone call can unblock one family, but if the rule, funding dispute or hand-off survives, the next family starts again. I want recurring barriers traced to the person or body with authority, with an answer owed on what will change, what will not, why and by when. Residents should help judge whether it worked, and be able to challenge our account of success. https://lnkd.in/p/eEenf4Sn
Courses and events
PSTA Free webinar: Outcomes commissioning in practice: lessons from Islington
What changes when children’s services reform starts with the lives people want to lead? Join Chrissie Gregory and Sharon Davidson from Islington in conversation with Benjamin P Taylor on 4 November, 13:30–14:30 GMT. Explore outcomes commissioning through their leadership work and Academy learning, with time for your questions. Hosted by the Public Service Transformation Academy. Register your interest here: https://link.redquadrant.com/lessonsfromislington or learn more here: https://publicservicetransformation.org/news/outcomes-commissioning-islington-webinar/
Public Sector Challenge – London Bridges Walk 2027
We’re taking part in this year’s public sector challenge! We’ll do the 15km walk from Battersea to Tower Bridge this January. Why not join us, sponsor us, or share the link in your network? https://givewheel.com/fundraising/22191/redquadrant-and-the-public-service-transformation-/
This November: Contract Management Development Programme
The programme is an opportunity for those involved in contract management to refresh their skills, build on their existing knowledge and expertise and refamiliarize themselves with key documents and guidance. The aim is to deepen learning and understanding around contract management and to support and challenge participants to work in new ways to deliver outcomes. https://publicservicetransformation.org/programmes/contract-management-development/
Commissioning and Innovation: playing on a bigger stage
A practical three-day programme for commissioners working in complexity that helps commissioners, transformation leaders, and partners work more effectively across complex systems. It combines practical tools, public service examples, peer learning, facilitated exercises, and direct application to participants’ own challenges. Open for enquiries. https://link.redquadrant.com/CommissioningAndInnovation
Next National Commissioning Academy this January
We’re building our cohort for the next national commissioning academy – our flagship commissioning programme from the PSTA. Register your interest now for our January 2027 cohort: https://link.redquadrant.com/nextacademy25
smartCompass – our new AI-supported tool for AI for community-powered outcomes
Our new prototype smartCompass is a new, free tool to help commissioners, leaders, partners, and people working in public services see how their system is really working — and where to act next.Answer sixteen questions about a system you care about, and receive a personalised, AI-supported response by email. It helps you see strengths, blockers, patterns, and possible next moves. https://link.redquadrant.com/smartCompass
Compass v2 – comment on our new systems change tool
We’re now inviting comments on this beta new version of a systems change insight tool https://link.redquadrant.com/compassv2beta
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
Things I shared on socials:
Systems methods practice
Benjamin P. Taylor. https://transduction.systems/systems-thinking/practice/
Chaos to coordination: vibrating material organises itself into a single rhythm – University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham. https://stream.syscoi.com/2026/10/28/chaos-to-coordination-vibrating-material-organises-itself-into-a-single-rhythm-university-of-birmingham/
An Introduction to Cybernetics – TextbookLudos
W. Ross Ashby. https://stream.syscoi.com/2026/10/28/an-introduction-to-cybernetics-textbookludos/Y
Richard S O’Rourke
Richard S O’Rourke. https://stream.syscoi.com/2026/10/27/richard-s-orourke/
