A project that could radically change the way public sector organisations deliver services is being piloted by Wiltshire Council.

A report detailing the pilot programme is going to Cabinet on January 26.

By working with families, the council will look at different ways to deliver services. The initiative, called Total Place, aims to identify work that may be done by more than one organisation to see if we can work together more effectively to improve working practices and customer service.

Total Place is gaining national recognition and is being seen by government as the way forward for the public sector. In future there will be less funding available from central government so we will have to find more radical different ways of working, but still improve services to our customers.

The pilot will focus on vulnerable families and individuals and in particular families who receive a great deal of attention and/or support from the council, its partners and communities.

Examples exist where relatively small numbers of individuals and families require a large amount of support from a wide range of service providers and this suport will often seem rather chaotic to those who receive it.

For example, a family who are in the criminal justice system may also be supported by social services, the police and probation services, the education system, housing services, and health services. Evidence suggests service providers may spend £250,000 per year in supporting such families.

The council aims to map out the amount spent, the areas of duplication and the gaps that exist in providing people with the services they need in the most effective manner, at the most efficient overall cost.

The council has started work with other service providers in Wiltshire to explore how services can be redesigned so users are put at the centre.

The work may also uncover organisational and bureaucratic obstacles which may prevent services from being delivered effectively.

The findings will be reported to government with the aim of influencing its thinking on how public services might be delivered in the future.

The work will also help the council and its partners work together to deliver joined up services more tailored to local needs that deliver better value for money.

The South West regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnership (RIEP) is providing £250,000 of funding to support Total Place pilot projects across Wiltshire and Swindon.