MikeB
@mikebarker2.bsky.social
Deputy CEx Oldham Council and Director of Health & Care Integration for NHS Greater Manchester. Chair of YMCA Together in my spare time
Just published: Why place-based leadership is essential for the 2026–29 finance period. Pressures facing councils can’t be tackled in isolation. Next cycle requires genuine system leadership, shared purpose & integrated neighbourhood delivery. Full blog here ↓
open.substack.com/pub/mikebark...
open.substack.com/pub/mikebark...
Why Place-Based Leadership Is the Only Route Through the Next Spending Review
Upper-tier councils across England enter the 2026–29 local government finance period facing a familiar but sharper reality: rising demand, flat or uncertain funding, and system pressures that cut acro...
open.substack.com
November 28, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Just published: Why place-based leadership is essential for the 2026–29 finance period. Pressures facing councils can’t be tackled in isolation. Next cycle requires genuine system leadership, shared purpose & integrated neighbourhood delivery. Full blog here ↓
open.substack.com/pub/mikebark...
open.substack.com/pub/mikebark...
Local govt transformation is often spoken about in terms of systems, structures and savings. In my experience the most sustainable transformations don’t begin with organisational charts or efficiency plans—they begin with a renewed sense of public value
open.substack.com/pub/mikebark...
open.substack.com/pub/mikebark...
Rebuilding Public Value Through Local Government Transformation
Local government transformation is often spoken about in terms of systems, structures and savings.
open.substack.com
November 23, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Local govt transformation is often spoken about in terms of systems, structures and savings. In my experience the most sustainable transformations don’t begin with organisational charts or efficiency plans—they begin with a renewed sense of public value
open.substack.com/pub/mikebark...
open.substack.com/pub/mikebark...
What i make of the local government financial settlement from yesterday’s policy statement
open.substack.com/pub/mikebark...
open.substack.com/pub/mikebark...
What the New Local Government Finance Policy Statement Means for Upper-Tier Councils
Published yesterday afternoon, the Local Government Finance Policy Statement for 2026–27 to 2028–29 lands at a decisive moment for the sector.
open.substack.com
November 21, 2025 at 11:02 AM
What i make of the local government financial settlement from yesterday’s policy statement
open.substack.com/pub/mikebark...
open.substack.com/pub/mikebark...
Thinking about organisational change in my latest Substack and what my career has taught me about leading through uncertainty. You can read it here open.substack.com/pub/mikebark...
What My Career Has Taught Me About Leading Through Uncertainty
When I look back over my career across local government, health, and system leadership, there’s a common thread running through every role I’ve held: nothing ever stands still.
open.substack.com
November 19, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Thinking about organisational change in my latest Substack and what my career has taught me about leading through uncertainty. You can read it here open.substack.com/pub/mikebark...
Local government transformation isn’t just restructuring — it’s about rebuilding trust, strengthening culture, and shaping services around real community need.
Meaningful change starts with purpose, honesty, and collaboration.
New blog out today 👇
open.substack.com/pub/mikebark...
Meaningful change starts with purpose, honesty, and collaboration.
New blog out today 👇
open.substack.com/pub/mikebark...
Rebuilding Trust Through Meaningful Local Government Transformation
Transformation in local government is often spoken about in terms of structures, savings, and new operating models.
open.substack.com
November 17, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Local government transformation isn’t just restructuring — it’s about rebuilding trust, strengthening culture, and shaping services around real community need.
Meaningful change starts with purpose, honesty, and collaboration.
New blog out today 👇
open.substack.com/pub/mikebark...
Meaningful change starts with purpose, honesty, and collaboration.
New blog out today 👇
open.substack.com/pub/mikebark...
Listening to our director of adult social care Jayne Ratcliffe opening @oldhamcouncil.bsky.social staff conference afternoon session
May 9, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Listening to our director of adult social care Jayne Ratcliffe opening @oldhamcouncil.bsky.social staff conference afternoon session
Our fabulous CEO Shelley Kipling and brilliant Leader @aroojshah.bsky.social getting today started with @oldhamcouncil.bsky.social staff conference
Lots of positive developments taken place over the last 12 months and lots more to come over the next 12 too
#TeamOldham
Lots of positive developments taken place over the last 12 months and lots more to come over the next 12 too
#TeamOldham
April 23, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Our fabulous CEO Shelley Kipling and brilliant Leader @aroojshah.bsky.social getting today started with @oldhamcouncil.bsky.social staff conference
Lots of positive developments taken place over the last 12 months and lots more to come over the next 12 too
#TeamOldham
Lots of positive developments taken place over the last 12 months and lots more to come over the next 12 too
#TeamOldham
🌍 Building an NHS fit for the future was a major theme in Parliament, with discussions on smarter, more efficient treatments and earlier detection of diseases. #NHS #FutureHealthcare
January 17, 2025 at 4:31 PM
🌍 Building an NHS fit for the future was a major theme in Parliament, with discussions on smarter, more efficient treatments and earlier detection of diseases. #NHS #FutureHealthcare
🏥 This week in Parliament, the Prime Minister unveiled a bold plan to tackle NHS waiting list backlogs, promising millions more appointments closer to home. This is a huge step forward for patient care! #NHS #HealthcareReform
January 17, 2025 at 4:31 PM
🏥 This week in Parliament, the Prime Minister unveiled a bold plan to tackle NHS waiting list backlogs, promising millions more appointments closer to home. This is a huge step forward for patient care! #NHS #HealthcareReform
Here's my take on the impact of the Government’s recent announcements on the people of Oldham in a 10 post thread
January 17, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Here's my take on the impact of the Government’s recent announcements on the people of Oldham in a 10 post thread
On World AIDS Day, we remember those who have lost their lives to HIV-AIDS and recognise that there is still work to do
December 1, 2024 at 12:50 PM
On World AIDS Day, we remember those who have lost their lives to HIV-AIDS and recognise that there is still work to do
Interesting insight about where the Govt is on public service reform
www.civilservicereformuk.com/single-post/...
www.civilservicereformuk.com/single-post/...
Where is the government going on public service reform?
A flurry of speeches addressing public service reform have come out in November 2024 as new ministers get their feet properly under the table.A speech from West Streeting to the NHS Providers annual c...
www.civilservicereformuk.com
November 27, 2024 at 9:31 PM
Interesting insight about where the Govt is on public service reform
www.civilservicereformuk.com/single-post/...
www.civilservicereformuk.com/single-post/...
Well done to @nhsconfed.bsky.social for today’s ICS Network meeting
Always great to share our journey in Oldham on integrated health and care
Always great to share our journey in Oldham on integrated health and care
November 27, 2024 at 5:17 PM
Well done to @nhsconfed.bsky.social for today’s ICS Network meeting
Always great to share our journey in Oldham on integrated health and care
Always great to share our journey in Oldham on integrated health and care
Starting this week looking forward to speaking @nhsconfed.bsky.social annual ICS conference on Wed
Focusing on social care, integrated working and how we need to connect more and better to people and communities whilst also ending public sector silo working
Focusing on social care, integrated working and how we need to connect more and better to people and communities whilst also ending public sector silo working
November 25, 2024 at 11:43 AM
Starting this week looking forward to speaking @nhsconfed.bsky.social annual ICS conference on Wed
Focusing on social care, integrated working and how we need to connect more and better to people and communities whilst also ending public sector silo working
Focusing on social care, integrated working and how we need to connect more and better to people and communities whilst also ending public sector silo working
Reposted by MikeB
And THAT is exactly how people with a huge sense of entitlement regularly behave when they get caught out.
#JeremyClarkson
#JeremyClarkson
November 19, 2024 at 4:51 PM
And THAT is exactly how people with a huge sense of entitlement regularly behave when they get caught out.
#JeremyClarkson
#JeremyClarkson
Reposted by MikeB
What can the government learn from previous attempts to reform social care?
A new long read from @healthfoundation.bsky.social colleagues identifies four lessons for the government as it grasps this nettle.
A thread 🧵
A new long read from @healthfoundation.bsky.social colleagues identifies four lessons for the government as it grasps this nettle.
A thread 🧵
November 19, 2024 at 7:43 PM
What can the government learn from previous attempts to reform social care?
A new long read from @healthfoundation.bsky.social colleagues identifies four lessons for the government as it grasps this nettle.
A thread 🧵
A new long read from @healthfoundation.bsky.social colleagues identifies four lessons for the government as it grasps this nettle.
A thread 🧵
I'm attending #NHSConfedExpo 2025 on 11-12 June!
Join me at the UK’s leading health and care conference to collaborate, share insights and develop innovative solutions to deliver high quality care for all.
I hope to see you there!
i.snoball.it/p/OfgT/t/1
Join me at the UK’s leading health and care conference to collaborate, share insights and develop innovative solutions to deliver high quality care for all.
I hope to see you there!
i.snoball.it/p/OfgT/t/1
Join me at the UK’s leading health and care conference.
NHS ConfedExpo is a catalyst for continuous improvement & innovation and serves as a launchpad for ideas that will shape the future of health & care in the UK.
i.snoball.it
November 19, 2024 at 1:26 PM
I'm attending #NHSConfedExpo 2025 on 11-12 June!
Join me at the UK’s leading health and care conference to collaborate, share insights and develop innovative solutions to deliver high quality care for all.
I hope to see you there!
i.snoball.it/p/OfgT/t/1
Join me at the UK’s leading health and care conference to collaborate, share insights and develop innovative solutions to deliver high quality care for all.
I hope to see you there!
i.snoball.it/p/OfgT/t/1
If we really want the NHS to work we need to fix social care
Effective social care enables flow through our overall health and care system.
Ministers and politicians nationally need to prioritise this. It is a foundation and a first step
apple.news/AoRLp-REHSDi...
Effective social care enables flow through our overall health and care system.
Ministers and politicians nationally need to prioritise this. It is a foundation and a first step
apple.news/AoRLp-REHSDi...
Fixing social care is urgent, says minister, after claims of impasse — BBC News
Source have told the BBC there is a
apple.news
November 17, 2024 at 4:50 PM
If we really want the NHS to work we need to fix social care
Effective social care enables flow through our overall health and care system.
Ministers and politicians nationally need to prioritise this. It is a foundation and a first step
apple.news/AoRLp-REHSDi...
Effective social care enables flow through our overall health and care system.
Ministers and politicians nationally need to prioritise this. It is a foundation and a first step
apple.news/AoRLp-REHSDi...
Reposted by MikeB
Top tip to everyone pilling over from Twitter, use the Sky Follower Bridge to rebuild your network here on BlueSky, but keep running it every few days as more and more come over.
Please share and help everyone re-connect and keep re-connecting.
Please share and help everyone re-connect and keep re-connecting.
Sky Follower Bridge
Instantly find and follow the same users from your 𝕏 followers on Bluesky
www.sky-follower-bridge.dev
November 16, 2024 at 8:42 PM
Top tip to everyone pilling over from Twitter, use the Sky Follower Bridge to rebuild your network here on BlueSky, but keep running it every few days as more and more come over.
Please share and help everyone re-connect and keep re-connecting.
Please share and help everyone re-connect and keep re-connecting.
Reposted by MikeB
Think this is accurate but the cause of the #socialcare impasse seems to me driven not just by concern about costs and uncertainty about solutions but a more fundamental lack of understanding about the underlying problems.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Social care 'impasse' at top of government - so what next, asks Laura Kuenssberg
Multiple sources say the Treasury is deeply nervous about the cost of fixing social care, and that the PM is yet to decide how to proceed.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 16, 2024 at 5:09 PM
Think this is accurate but the cause of the #socialcare impasse seems to me driven not just by concern about costs and uncertainty about solutions but a more fundamental lack of understanding about the underlying problems.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by MikeB
Compared to 30 years ago, low-to-middle income families work more, especially women, but are more likely to rent in the private sector.
Here are four key things to know about low-to-middle income families today ⤵️
Here are four key things to know about low-to-middle income families today ⤵️
November 16, 2024 at 9:38 AM
Compared to 30 years ago, low-to-middle income families work more, especially women, but are more likely to rent in the private sector.
Here are four key things to know about low-to-middle income families today ⤵️
Here are four key things to know about low-to-middle income families today ⤵️
