Barking & Dagenham

The Challenge

A London borough facing considerable organisational development and political turbulence under a new CEO, while communities experienced rapid demographic change. Long-established senior officers clashed with new arrivals, there was initiative fatigue, and entrenched silo-based cultures resisted change.

What We Did

We listened and we spent time understanding the real issues from multiple perspectives, avoiding the "usual suspects." We diagnosed the tensions between different groups and identified shared priorities. We implemented coaching for senior professionals, strategic events for leadership teams, and a 'One Council' staff training programme while mediating inter-directorate disputes.

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The Change Experience

Our approach of asking questions rather than telling people what to do allowed people to "feel heard and safe" during a period of significant upheaval and change.

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Business Results

The council won the LGA's Most Improved Council of the Year award and achieved CPA 4-Star "Improving Strongly" status following our intervention.

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