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Sefton appoints Agilisys to drive digital transformation

20 September 2018
Ollie Cowan
No comments
Categories: Business and Economy, Essential Sefton, Front Page, Latest News

Sefton Council has awarded a five year contract to Agilisys to support their digital transformation

Agilisys, the leading cloud and digital transformation specialist for the public sector, has been selected by Sefton Council to deliver a new managed IT services model, which includes the introduction of an innovative, cloud-based platform that will enable the Council’s employees to work even more efficiently, effectively and collaboratively.

The contract award, which follows a competitive procurement process, will see Agilisys take on the existing ICT service from Arvato, who has provided the service to the Council for the last 10 years. Agilisys will work with the Council to build on the existing solid foundations and take Sefton forward on the next stage of its exciting digital transformation journey.

This new partnership with Agilisys will support the Council’s values and ambitions to get the most from new technology by providing digital tools, which support more flexible and collaborative working.

In addition to the enhanced organisational improvements the technology is seeking to enable, Sefton Council is set to gain additional benefits through the partnership.

This includes support and capacity from Agilisys to help the Council modernise working practices, to better meet the needs of citizens and deliver great customer experiences.

Councillor Paulette Lappin, Cabinet Member for Corporate Resources at Sefton Council said:

“Digital innovation has become very important to our workforce and our residents and we have to keep up with the pace of change if we are to remain relevant to those we’re here to serve.

“We realise that in today’s world, people want to work where they get access to information, such as data. The cloud is absolutely the key to unlocking the staggering volumes of data across the council to better understand and meet the needs of our citizens.

“Building on the great work we’ve done in recent years with Arvato, Agilisys’ cloud enabled digital transformation expertise makes them the right partner to help us harness the benefits of new technologies and take us on the next stage of our transformation journey.”

Andrew Mindenhall, chief executive at Agilisys, added: “We are delighted to be working with Sefton Council to help transform the way services are delivered across the region. For nearly 20 years, Agilisys has been helping public sector organisations to adopt new technologies and we are looking forward to developing a long term partnership with the Council.

“By working closely with the team at Sefton, we will draw on our cloud migration and digital transformation expertise to create a secure, reliable, and flexible modern infrastructure that enables new ways of working to benefit both the council and its citizens.”

The 10 year partnership between Arvato and Sefton Council has been successful in delivering a wide range of service improvements for the citizens of Sefton and comes to its agreed end in September 2018. Agilisys will take over from Arvato in the provision of ICT services from 1 October 2018 for an initial period of five years. Colleagues from Arvato will TUPE across to Agilisys in line with this timeframe.

Sefton gives food for thought with annual Access to Food scheme

20 September 2018
Ollie Cowan
No comments
Categories: Essential Sefton, Front Page, Latest News

Sefton Council and Sefton CVS have once again given food for thought at its annual Children’s Access to Food Programme, supplying over four thousand hot meals to those in need.

The scheme, which is in its third year, helps to support families across Sefton who are most in need of help and hot meals, allowing them to end a reliance on school meals to help nourish their children.

Such a scheme would not have been possible without the support and hard work of front line local voluntary, community and faith (VCF) sector groups who were vital in making the programme come together.

A total of 4,350 meals were served across Sefton during the six week period over the summer holidays.

In addition to Sefton Council’s children’s centre and school provision, Sefton CVS coordinated a network of local voluntary, community and faith (VCF) sector organisations including The Orrell Trust, Waterloo Community Association, Parenting 2000 and The Inclusion Network to offer additional access to food during the holidays.

Cllr Trish Hardy, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing, said: “All of our families were so incredibly grateful for the food and it is difficult to see how they would have managed without it.

“Throughout the scheme we also saw a definite reduction in families requesting food vouchers for the food bank, simply because they were able to access free meals.

“There is a need for schemes such as the Access To Food Programme and we are delighted that we have been able to help and support those families that are most in need within our communities.”

Important transport information ahead of the Giant Spectacular

20 September 2018
Ollie Cowan
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Categories: Essential Sefton, Front Page, Latest News, Merseytravel

Check timetables and plan your journeys a few days before the event – don’t leave it until the last minute.

These are important messages from transport leaders as the Liverpool City Region gears up to welcome back the Giants for Liverpool’s Dream – their third and final visit to the streets of Liverpool and, for the first time, Wirral.

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to join the event, taking place between 4th and 7th October, placing a significant increase in demand on public transport services during the four days – as well as closing many major road routes.

City Region transport providers have worked together to put plans in place to help keep people moving and there will be changes to some services and timetables as a result of the event.

Whether they travel by rail, bus, ferry or car, anyone travelling to, from and around the city region during this time to either enjoy the events or for other purposes is strongly advised to check timetables, plan their journeys and allow extra travelling time to avoid disappointment.

For the latest information about services, customers should check with the relevant transport operator in the run up to and on their day of travel. Information will also be available online and via social media.

There will be extra staff from a variety of transport providers deployed at key locations during the four days to provide information and support people with their journeys.

Thursday 4th Oct – Normal Thursday timetables apply – there will be no additional late night services so please check last train and bus times

Friday 5th Oct – Commuters are advised to check for any changes to their usual timetable and need to be prepared to make changes to their journey.

Sunday 7th Oct – Fans travelling to and from Anfield for the Liverpool FC vs Manchester City game which kicks off at 16:30 are advised to allow extra travelling time and be aware of these key changes to our services – especially in and around Liverpool City Centre.

Key information

Merseyrail

Thursday services will run as normal, passengers are advised to check their last train times before they travel.

There will be changes to services on Friday 5th, Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th Oct.

A special events timetable will run and passengers are encouraged to visit the Merseyrail website or pick up a leaflet from any staffed station.

The following applies to all three days:
•Trains will not stop at all stations to allow for additional and more frequent services.
•James Street and Lime Street lower level (underground) will be closed to aid crowd control and movement
•Wirral line services will start and end at Liverpool Central station and will not be stopping at Moorfields.
•Northern line passengers travelling to the city centre should use Moorfields as trains will not be stopping at Liverpool Central.

Jigsaw Group helps house more than 250 people with affordable homes in Bootle.

19 September 2018
Charlene Smith
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Categories: Business and Economy, Front Page, Latest News, Regeneration, Sefton Council

On September 18, Peter Dowd MP joined Jigsaw Homes Group Chief Executive, Hilary Roberts to officially launch our new development on Buckley Hill Lane, Bootle, with a ceremonial tree planting.

 Jigsaw Group worked closely with Sefton Council, Homes England and Seddon Group to deliver the ÂŁ5.6m development of 57 new homes in August 2018. Comprising of 39 bungalows, 14 apartments and four houses all available for affordable rent, the development offers a mix of properties all let to local people with a housing need.

The development incorporates numerous energy efficiency features and the design maximises the effective use of space.

 Less than two miles away on Beach Road, Jigsaw Group developed a further 35 homes for affordable rent.  In total, the two developments provided new homes for more than 250 people in the area.

 Hilary Roberts, Jigsaw Homes Group Chief Executive said, “This highly enjoyable event celebrated our successful partnerships in delivering much needed affordable homes in Sefton.  We will continue to seek opportunities to provide more affordable homes across Merseyside.”

 Peter Dowd MP said “It was a pleasure to be at the official launch of the new development on Buckley Hill Lane. It’s a brilliant example of what positive partnerships can deliver, new affordable homes for local people and providing long lasting home security.  It’s good to see a Labour Council working proactively with developers to tackle the housing crisis.”

 Cllr Trish Hardy, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing, added: “Both the Buckley Hill Lane and Beach Road developments offer much needed and good quality housing for residents in Sefton. This scheme highlights how positive working relationships between a developer and the Council can bring about high calibre housing design and expediently delivered developments.”   

 We pride ourselves on providing quality new affordable homes.   As an approved Homes England partner, Jigsaw Group, formed following the merger of New Charter Group and Adactus Housing Group, is one of the biggest developers in the country.  The Group delivered 800 new homes in the last financial year and successfully housed over 3,000 people across the local authorities it works in.  Looking ahead, the Group’s development strategy aims to provide 2,700 new homes over the next three years.

 For more information, visit www.jigsawhomes.org.uk or Twitter @JigsawHG.

Sefton’s Public Health Annual Report supports 30 Days of Sefton in Mind

19 September 2018
Ollie Cowan
No comments
Categories: Front Page, Health, Latest News

Sefton Council’s 30 Days of Sefton in Mind campaign is well underway, using the 30 days that fall between World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10) and World Mental Health Day (October 10) to support good mental health and wellbeing in the borough. 

The campaign has seen support from across Sefton including Bootle’s own football legend Jamie Carragher who named Burbo Bank beach in Crosby as his favourite place to go to help promote his mental wellbeing.

To support the campaign, the Council’s Public Health Annual Report (PHAR), which explores mental health in young people, is being shown after having made the finals for a national award.

Sefton’s report has been recognised as one of the best in the country and was shortlisted for The Association of Directors of Public Health’s (ADPH) Annual Report Competition, which highlights the successes of PHARs from across the country.

First unveiled to the public in July, the PHAR was presented for the first time in video format as a way of making the report more accessible and easier to understand. With this year’s theme focusing on young people growing up healthy and happy, a digital format proved the best way to raise awareness of the issue and making the report more accessible to residents, particularly children and young people.

Cllr Ian Moncur, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing said: “We’re delighted that Sefton is paving the way for future annual reports after being shortlisted among the best in the country.

“Annual reports can often be text heavy and difficult to access and so this year’s video aimed to bring public health to the forefront using channels that are modern and interesting to our target audiences. I hope that we have encouraged more people to view the video and give thought to the issues raised.”

There is no single reason why children and young people experience problems with their mental health. Factors such as growing up in a challenging home environment; having a disability; being a looked after child or a young carer; not being in education, employment or training; being exposed to domestic abuse; or having a parent with mental health problems can have a negative impact on mental health.

In Sefton, the number of people from some of these vulnerable groups is higher than the national average.

Cllr Moncur added: ““In Sefton we are dedicated to creating the right conditions and environments to promote and improve the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people.

“We continue to work with partners to develop early intervention programmes to promote emotional resilience which will empower children and young people to be able to cope better with difficult circumstances and do well in school and in life.”

The report is set to be presented to Sefton’s next Health and Wellbeing board on Wednesday 19 September.

The PHAR film and a short supplementary document can be viewed online at www.sefton.gov.uk/PHAR

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