Council shortlisted for major digital award

27 July 2021

Aberdeen City Council is in the running for a major award for its pioneering use of digital technology in drawing up Child Plans and Individual Education Plans.

Last March, the council became the first local authority in Scotland to use Robotic Process Automation (RPA) to securely transfer these plans to a central system – saving teachers’ hundreds of hours spent having to retype it.

The project has been shortlisted for the Digital Impact category in LGC (Local Government Chronicle) Awards, which celebrates the achievements of councils across the UK and will announce the winners in November.

The use of RPA has freed up time equivalent to having 14 more teachers in city schools as well as making it easier for partner agencies to access critical information outside of school hours.

Education Operational Delivery Convener, Councillor M Taqueer Malik said: “We are delighted to be recognised for this digital initiative, which reflects our innovative approach to service delivery.

“The project has brought multiple benefits in terms of information security and accessibility and reduced administrative workloads – and of, course, safeguarding the wellbeing of children and young people.

"By embracing digital technology, we have freed up considerable effort that can be directed to further supporting children and their families throughout the city."

The council worked with digital services company Agilisys to implement the solution.

Simon Watkins, Managing Consultant for RPA at Agilisys, said: “The automation of child and individual education plans is a prime example of how Aberdeen’s innovative, pioneering use of technology is positively impacting both the frontline workforce of the council and its residents.

“I’m delighted that the work has received national recognition, reflecting the continued hard work of everybody involved and the bold approach to digital transformation that Aberdeen City Council is following.”

Child Plans and Individual Education Plans are part of Scotland’s "Getting it right for every child" approach to welfare, which aims to ensure children and young people can receive the right help, at the right time, from the right people.