Vision to Action
What is Vision to Action?
Oxford County’s first Strategic Plan was approved in March 2013. Following that, six "Vision to Action" employee teams were formed to work on the first set of Council's priorities:
- Community engagement
- Public information
- Excellence in customer service
- Monitoring and reporting
- Service delivery reviews
- People who make a positive difference
In March 2014, Council directed staff to begin work on another objective, work that is currently being overseen by a community-led steering committee.
Read the Executive Summary: From Vision to Action: Strategic Plan Progress Report (2014)
Strategic Direction 4: A County that informs and engages
At a fundamental level, the County must inform people about the services it delivers and how these services bring value to Oxford’s citizens. With a better understanding of the County’s role, citizens will then be better equipped to participate in local government.
Our strategy
- Develop a culture in which community engagement is an integral part of program planning
- Better inform staff about the communication process and what makes communication effective
Download the Inform and Engage workbook (October 2014)
More information: Contact Strategic Communication & Engagement
Strategic Direction 5: A County that performs and delivers results
Customer service has been an area of focus—and pride-- for the County for many years. The “Service Excellence” strategy represents a the next step in our customer service philosophy, in which regard for our citizens and each other is ingrained in everything we do.
Our strategy
- Create a culture of service excellence
- Educate staff about service standards
- Get better quality of feedback on customer service
Download the Service Excellence strategy book
More information: Contact Customer Service
For employees
Download the printable Service Excellence reference sheet
Download the Service Excellence poster
Services That Work
Strategic Direction 5: A County that performs and delivers results
The County’s service delivery review, Services That Work, is a multi-year project that will help us better understand, and make recommendations on, how to deliver our services in a way that is efficient, effective, and positively impacts the community.
Our strategy
Launch an organized and systematic service delivery review (Services That Work) to ensure the County is efficiently and effectively delivering services that improve quality of life
News and updates
Jan 28, 2015
Update presented to County Council by Munro Strategic Perspective, project consultant, focusing on service improvement opportunities being further explored
- Wave 1 Findings Report submitted by Munro Strategic Perspective, January 2015
- Council Report CAO 2015-03 (January 28, 2015): Services That Work - Wave 1 Findings Report [link to page]
- Presentation to County Council: "Services That Work: Wave 1 Findings Report Presentation to Council" (Jan 28, 2015)
July 9, 2014
Interim report presented to County Council by Munro Strategic Perspective, project consultant, featuring service groupings
Employees who make a positive difference
Our people, Our Strength
Strategic Direction 6: A County that employs people who make a positive difference
The 2018-2020 Our People, Our Strength plan describes the specific actions we will undertake over the next few years to enable the County to attract, retain and
develop the highest quality staff.
Our strategy
The Plan focuses on three areas that support the outcome of engaged employees:
- Talent management
- Effective leaders
- Safe and healthy workplaces
Download the Our People, Our Strength 2018-2020 plan
Looking back
Download the Our People, Our Strength 2015-2017 plan
Our People, Our Strength guidance documents
The Competency Framework Handbook and Succession Planning & Leadership Development Toolkit were developed to continue to influence future human resources practices and initiatives related to employee engagement, talent management, and effective leadership.
Download the Competency Framework Handbook and Succession Planning & Leadership Development Toolkit
More information
Strategic Direction 5: A County that performs and delivers results
The Strategic Plan is changing the way the County approaches its work. The work of the Monitoring and Reporting team is a common thread across the Vision to Action priorities that compels staff to consider how it will demonstrate the value of services in a way that is meaningful and understandable for the community.
Our strategy
Establish a framework for monitoring and reporting that measures and informs on the successes of the Strategic Plan
Read the "Monitoring and Reporting" summary in County Council Report CAO 2014-15 (October 8, 2014)
More information
Send a comment or question through Speak Up, Oxford!
Strategic Direction 3: A County that thinks ahead and wisely shapes the future
The proposal for a Community Sustainability Plan was accepted by Council in March 2014 as a means of developing a policy platform from which the County, area municipalities and, potentially, the community can influence decisions that secure our future, including new landfill development, source water protection, caring for an aging population, waste management and other issues that determine quality of life.
The development of a community-driven sustainability plan supports the County’s commitment to thinking ahead and wisely shaping the future by applying social, financial and environmental sustainability lenses to significant decisions.
Our strategy
- Provide a policy framework for furthering the goals and objectives of the community in a manner consistent with the strategic plans of all nine municipalities
See the Community Sustainability section on Speak Up, Oxford!
Join the conversation
Do you have ideas about what a sustainable Oxford County should look like?
Have your say, and get creative! Visit the FutureOxford.ca website for details on how to get involved in the Future Oxford competition, or join in the sustainability discussion in one of the upcoming World Cafes.
