Local Government Minister Jim McMahon’s recent call for enhanced joint working in social care has struck a chord across the sector. His vision of seamless collaboration between councils and partners is exactly what communities need. But there’s a fundamental question we need to address: do our local authorities actually have the technological foundations to make this ambitious vision a reality?

The Digital Divide in Local Government

The truth is, many councils are still operating with one foot in the past. Across the country, we’re seeing local authorities wrestling with heavily customised legacy systems that were built for a different era – systems that make data sharing complex and joint working a technical nightmare rather than a strategic choice.

When Minister McMahon talks about cutting duplication and creating consistent reporting frameworks, he’s absolutely right about the end goal. But without the right technological infrastructure, these efficiencies remain frustratingly out of reach.

The ERP Evolution That’s Still Waiting to Happen

The path forward is clear: councils need to embrace modern, cloud-based Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) platforms that can actually talk to each other. These aren’t just fancy IT upgrades – they’re the digital backbone that makes genuine collaboration possible.

Think about it this way: you can’t have effective joint working when departments within the same council can’t easily share information, let alone when trying to coordinate with external partners. The safeguarding complexities alone require sophisticated systems that can handle sensitive data sharing while maintaining security and compliance.

Beyond the Technology: A Transformation Opportunity

What’s exciting about this moment is that local government reorganisation isn’t just another bureaucratic reshuffle – it’s a genuine catalyst for change. The new unitary authorities have a unique opportunity to build digital-first approaches into their very DNA from day one.

This means:

  • Breaking down the interdepartmental silos that have held back innovation for years
  • Creating truly integrated platforms that support both internal efficiency and external partnership working
  • Investing in shared digital infrastructure that can scale across organisational boundaries

Making It Happen: Support for the Journey

The councils still operating on legacy systems need targeted support to make this transition. This isn’t just about purchasing new software – it’s about ensuring service continuity during major reforms, strengthening financial governance, and building the technical capabilities that will underpin everything from day-to-day operations to strategic partnerships.

The Bottom Line: Future-Proof Public Services

Minister McMahon’s vision for enhanced joint working in social care is spot-on. But realising that vision requires us to be honest about the technological foundations we need to put in place first.

The local authorities that embrace this digital transformation won’t just be better positioned to deliver on today’s partnership working agenda – they’ll be creating the kind of future-proof public services that can adapt and evolve with whatever challenges and opportunities lie ahead.

The question isn’t whether we can afford to make these investments in modern, integrated technology platforms. It’s whether we can afford not to.

For more insights on digital transformation in local government, or to discuss how de Novo Solutions can support your organisation’s journey to modern ERP platforms, get in touch with our team.