Online Free School Meals: a revolution in public service delivery

Learning Points

This has been a best practice exemplar for improving delivery of digital services. Key success factors which have universal application include:

• Putting the citizen at the centre of service transformation

• Highlighting the benefits and measuring results

• Identifying common barriers and developing solutions

• Collaborating impartially and with parity with commercial partners

• Communicating effectively with all stakeholders at all stages of the transformation

• Transferring knowledge and solutions to avoid reinvention of the wheel and enable re-use of effective solutions

Data sharing discussions involved Cabinet Office and Ministry of Justice as well as the four core other government departments and whilst progress on data sharing and legality was slow and tortuous it stimulated many heated discussions.  The process has moved partners from an intractable ‘No’ to a new way of thinking about data sharing. Government departments are now reviewing opportunities for reusing the eligibility checking service infrastructure to simplify delivery of other benefits, such as assisted transport, school uniform, grants and cycling proficiency.

The change in government approach to data sharing is a great step forward and a huge achievement.