Scotland's Public Service Reform Strategy: Delivering for Scotland

Part One – Public Services in Scotland: Our Beliefs and Vision

Our core beliefs about public service have been informed by those who deliver, and those who receive, services¹. This is an essential foundation for our strategy, ensuring a common vision for what we want Public Service Reform to deliver. We believe:

• Public services are critical to delivering a fairer future and the Government’s priorities of eradicating child poverty, growing the economy and tackling the climate crisis.
• Public services are both an asset and an investment in our health, equality and prosperity. That investment should be efficient, effective and targeted where it makes the most difference.
• Public services need to be protected for the future by using investment wisely, optimising the value of every pound.
• Public services should be accessible, trusted, good quality and meet the needs of people across Scotland.
• Complex issues can rarely be addressed in silos and often require integrated solutions informed by deep local knowledge.

Our Vision is of a Scotland where everyone has access to services that are efficient, good quality and effective.

For most people, this will mean you can access the everyday services you need, with the confidence that public money is spent wisely and with clarity on how well services are performing.

For people who need more support, particularly those experiencing disadvantage, public services will come to you. These services will be person-centred, accessible and you will not be required or expected to navigate different organisations or complex systems.

For communities, this will mean shaping local places, with public services organisations sharing power and resources with you to deliver what is needed for individual communities.

For public service staff, you will be empowered to provide tailored support, and be trusted to work with people to deliver beyond organisational boundaries to best support the person or family in front of you.

For public service leaders, this will mean you lead as part of a collective, shaping a system that puts people, communities and places at its heart to meet their needs and maximise public value and ensure fiscal sustainability. Beyond leading your own organisation and sector, you will work collaboratively, forging partnerships that drive lasting change, address root causes and provide support early to avoid long-term, complex and expensive interventions later, rising above individual, organisational and sectoral interests.