There's an interesting post over on the SSE blog about the innovation industry.
For my sins I've been branded an innovator in the past - and have been invited along to events run by the Innovation Exchange and The Young Foundation amongst others. My well-rehearsed moans about mediocre public services mean that I'm a fan of innovative approaches, but that's not to say that I'm not a tad cynical about some of current focus on innovation.
There's a bit of Wonka-dom in the world of innovation, particularly when it relates to public services. At times there's a tendency to seek out the brilliant idea, the immensely clever innovation which will transform one or other service beyond recognition - and as a result can be rolled out across the universe.
The three-course-meal bubble-gum perhaps, which gives older people a balanced meal all in one handy chew, whilst doing away with the need to deliver meals-on-wheels on a daily basis. Or maybe a prescription everlasting gob-stopper, which said older person sucks on a daily basis, thus solving the twin problems of forgetting to take their medicine and collecting their repeat prescription.
In my experience the most valuable innovations tend to be apparently simple, yet profound, changes to how services are delivered. A culture change in a service which means that it serves the needs of clients, not those of staff or funders. Or a re-consideration of risk, which means that clients are trusted, instead of being treated like 5 year olds (unless, of course, they are five year olds).
Such innovations aren't quite so eyecatching. They don't lend themselves to Ministerial visits. But they're incredibly valuable.
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