Same Picture: Different Lenses

24 October 2014
  • Public service leaders and citizens join together for major conference to explore what external review is saying about services in Wales.

    For the first time ever, major external review figures in Wales have joined forces to stage an event which will explore some of the common themes coming out of their work.
    The conference, on Wednesday 5 November, will bring together people using public services in Wales with those at the top of these organisations - to explore together what’s working well, what’s going wrong and what needs to change.
    The Auditor General for Wales is hosting the event at Cardiff’s Wales Millennium Centre together with the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales, the Children’s Commissioner for Wales, the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, Welsh Language Commissioner and the Commissioner for Sustainable Futures.
    The conference will provide a unique setting for senior leaders and policy makers from across NHS, local government and central government to examine the biggest issues emerging from the work of Wales’ Commissioners, Ombudsman and Auditor General. The themes will be illustrated by first-hand stories from people who have accessed services and the challenges and successes they experienced around the themes of - listening, creating value and working together.
    Chaired by the BBC’s Sian Lloyd, delegates and service users will watch video case studies, listen to a distinguished line up of speakers and take part in practical sessions to join up thinking and perspectives. The themes of the day have been carefully chosen because they are recurring issues identified through external review. 
    You can follow the conference hashtag #WAOconf14 in the lead up to the event and beyond.
    Huw Vaughan Thomas, Auditor General, said:
    This event is unprecedented in Wales. It not only combines insights from the external review community – which has uncovered common themes around service user experience – but it brings senior leaders together with the very people they serve – to work together to explore solutions.