The framework, developed over several months with input from local authorities, suppliers, and sector partners, is expected to save councils significant time and resources while improving functionality, data sharing, and efficiency across the sector.
A Collaborative Approach
The specification was shaped through extensive consultation with a wide range of stakeholders. These included the Department for Education, Crown Commercial Service, Care Quality Commission, Partners in Care and Health, Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, and Client Level Data.
The process began with in-depth discussions with local authorities to understand their challenges and ambitions. This was followed by a nationwide survey and a series of detailed workshops attended by representatives from more than two dozen councils. These workshops enabled frontline practitioners to contribute directly to the design.
Alasdair Bowen, Business Systems Manager for Adult Social Care at the Royal Borough of Kingston, praised the collaborative approach:
“The Bettergov workshops were well-designed to address each element of system design in the right order and gave a really great opportunity to share thoughts and ideas openly with other colleagues from around the country.”
Benefits for Local Authorities
The Foundational Specification provides councils with a standardised procurement framework, helping reduce duplication of effort and enabling potential economies of scale. By offering clarity on requirements and priorities, it is expected to drive improvements in case management systems and deliver more consistent outcomes nationwide.
The specification is freely available via the Knowledge Hub and can be accessed by both local authorities and current or prospective system suppliers across the UK.
Access the full specification here: Knowledge Hub – Foundational Specification.
