Glasgow a double winner at top awards for UK councils

Two Glasgow teams have picked up awards at a prestigious event celebrating exceptional achievements in local government.

The Municipal Journal's annual Achievement Awards were held in London, with Glasgow City Council the only Scottish authority to win across 16 categories.

Glasgow took the national Workforce Transformation award for its Tomorrow's Support Services project; a huge programme that has involved around 2,600 city workers.

The new, more efficient and streamlined model they have created is now saving £5 million for frontline public services - at a time when local budgets are under unprecedented pressure due to national cuts to local government.

The city also won the award for Delivering Better Outcomes - with judges recognising Glasgow's trailblazing Improving the Cancer Journey (ICJ) service.

ICJ sees the city council working in close partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support to provide the most comprehensive package of support for people diagnosed with cancer that is available anywhere in the UK - ensuring no Glaswegian has to face cancer alone.

City Treasurer Bailie Philip Braat said: "I'm tremendously proud of both our teams - and delighted that their achievements have been recognised at a national level.

"I've been lucky enough to spend time with staff from both of these teams in the last couple of weeks and see, first-hand, what a huge contribution they make to our city. 

"These awards are about their creativity, their resilience and, above all, their commitment to delivering for Glasgow and all of its people."

Tomorrow's Support Services is using the transformation of back-office work to protect high-profile frontline services on which Glaswegians rely.

More than 2,600 people from in excess of 300 different locations have come together to form a single Customer and Business Services team - making best use of resources, people and technology to streamline processes, share best practice and deliver savings.

The programme is on course to save £5 million over four years; allowing budgets to be rebalanced to support key council priorities and maintain frontline services.

Improving the Cancer Journey began as a pilot project in February 2014, building on an established relationship between Glasgow City Council and Macmillan Cancer Support.

Funded to the tune of £3 million by Macmillan, ICJ was a UK first - bringing together other key partners like NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, Glasgow Life and council-owned social care provider Cordia to make sure people with cancer knew where to turn for any kind of help they needed, whether it was emotional, practical, medical or financial.

Today, more 1,400 Glaswegians have benefited - and the partnership has helped them to tackle around 8,500 different issues and concerns, from living in unsuitable accommodation to struggling to cope with the emotional impact of cancer.

Macmillan's head of services Janice Preston said: "Our Improving the Cancer Journey service has had an incredibly positive impact on thousands of people with cancer in Glasgow.

"Cancer effects every aspect of life, leaving people with problems from debt and depression. Until ICJ was set up, many people were missing out on support they desperately needed.

"Asking people with cancer about the support they need and helping them access it doesn't sound revolutionary - but ICJ has proven it can change lives. This award will further cement ICJ's reputation as one of the best models of cancer support in the UK."