The Modernisation and Importance of Government and Public Services: Multi-Level Networked Governance—Reflections from the Better Government for Older People Programme

The concept of joined up government has been interpreted mainly in terms of the need for horizontal integration between services which traditionally have been delivered through stand-alone departments, specialist professions, and ‘silo’ organizational structures. Two parallel concepts within the Government's modernization programme, namely ‘citizen-centred governance’ and ‘community leadership’, imply the need also for vertical integration between different levels of governance. This article explores multi-level governance in terms of the complex inter-relationships between UK central government, local government, and civil society, drawing on an evaluation of the Cabinet Office-led programme of Better Government for Older People (BGOP). New structures, on their own, are inadequate without the necessary changes in the inter-connections and inter-relationships. A number of suggestions are made on how the Government might bring about the type of cultural changes required to make multi-level networked governance a reality.