What we’re doing
 Practice-based research has demonstrated the important contribution coaching can make to employee development and organisational performance. Our latest programme Executive Coaching and Leadership Mentoring commence in September 2011. Download a brochure.  Civil society is the theme of the latest volume in our public service futures series. The authors discuss the future of the Big Society and look at the effects of devolving power to local communities, and how this might empower women and diverse groups. The introduction is by Steve Moore, the new chief executive of the Big Society Network. Download volume 6- Our July newsletter is now out. This issue covers: What the Open Public Services White Paper means for local government by Phil Copestake; Understanding reablement by Antonia Bunnin; and Releasing the potential of front-line staff – changing ‘unhealthy’ behaviour by Catherine Mangan. Read more
 Pushing ahead with radical transformation is urgent if we’re to avoid damaging cuts. But doing it badly could create even greater problems. OPM's approach is rooted in the quality of relationships and changing behaviour. There is still time to book a place on our OD programme, starting in September. Download the brochure.- Ewan King, Director at OPM, will be speaking on implementing the PREVENT Strategy in local government at the conference Counter Terrorism: Protecting Our Nation from Security Threats, on Thursday 8 September, in Central London.
- CDF (Community Development Foundation) has published the final evaluation report on the Take Part programme – a three-year programme of support for active citizenship and learning funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG). OPM conducted the research on the regional champion strand of Take Part. Read the report.
- As part of learning disability week, Mencap published Don’t Stand By, OPM's research report about how police services tackle hate crime against people with learning disabilities. We found that although some police forces had good policies, others needed to improve. Read the report [links to Mencap's site].
- Understanding personal budgets for adult social care. OPM and the Essex Coalition of Disabled People (ECDP) have published a series of briefing papers that follow a group of service users over three years, tracking their experiences of setting up and using cash payments for their own care and support. The papers cover: positive impacts, understanding demand, the service provider market, attitudes to risk, and case studies 'in our own words'.
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Blog
- Is it time to change how we tackle far-right inspired extremism? The tragedy that recently befell Norway was a stark reminder that violent extremism comes in many forms, not least far-right inspired extremism. Although Norwegian police have not confirmed reported personal links between Breivik and UK far-right groups such as the English Defence League (EDL), it is clear ... Read more
- Transparency in governance The News of the World furore reminds us of the fundamental importance of good governance in government and public life. At the heart of good governance is good behaviour of course, but unless we want our public leaders to be reclusive, isolated people we need to be reminded ... Read more
- The power and the potential of social network analysis Since the RSA’s Connected Communities report last year, the buzz around social network analysis has continued to grow. Last week I attended a packed, beginners’ level workshop at Greenwich University, led by Professor Paola Tubaro, as part of this year’s Social Networks conference ... Read more
- Regeneration in the next decade: beyond bricks and mortar With a credit crunch, a recession, and now public sector spending cuts in train, most of the big, physical regeneration projects seen over the last 15 years have dried up ... Read more
- A new meaning to the phrase ‘action research’: evaluating the National Citizen Service on a cliff top! Working with young people is something I find really stimulating and enjoyable. As such I jumped at the chance to be part of the OPM team responsible for the evaluation of the Government’s National Citizen Service programme ... Read more
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Our services
Four of the UK’s foremost experts on employee ownership have launched a practical guide for public-sector organisations looking to become employee-led mutuals. Written by specialists at OPM, Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP, the Employee Ownership Association and Baxi Partnership, the publication covers the steps required to adopt a mutual ownership model, and how employees can give their new enterprise the maximum chance of success. Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude, newly appointed chair of the Prime Minister’s Mutuals Taskforce Professor Julian Le Grand and public service staff in transition welcomed the publication.
OPM is providing mentoring support to some of the first of the public sector, employee-owned pathfinders. Francis Maude, Minister for the Cabinet Office, has announced new rights for staff in public services to set up mutuals, as part of the Government's Big Society plans. OPM can help organisations make successful transitions, based on our extensive knowledge of ownership models and what helps mutuals thrive.
Find out more
Read more about OPM's work on developing mutuals and employee ownership
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We use video ethnography as one of our many research tools. Watch our corporate video to see how we use these techniques to enhance our community work. 
OPM's professional event management service can help you plan and manage your event from initial set up to final delivery and post-event support. Download our brochure
OPM was one of five delivery partners for the Commissioning Support Programme. The final kitbag and report are available on the CSP website.
How to Become an Employee Owned Mutual – an action checklist for the public sector
