Peer Support

Peer support is a constructive and supportive improvement process designed to help funds reflect on their current arrangements and identify opportunities for development. It is not an inspection and does not result in a score, rating or formal judgement.

The process is delivered through a “critical friend” approach, drawing on the expertise of experienced LGPS peers to provide challenge, support and practical insights.

As part of the current pilot programme, the Scheme Advisory Board (SAB) is funding a number of peer support events to test and refine the approach. The model has been developed closely around the Local Government Association’s well-established Corporate Peer Challenge framework and funds may find it helpful to review examples of Corporate Peer Challenge reports to understand the type of feedback that peer support is intended to provide.

Peer support is intended to:

• Provide external assurance and challenge on a fund’s governance and operational arrangements.
• Support continuous improvement and organisational learning.
• Share and promote effective practice from across the LGPS.
• Facilitate access to an experienced network of LGPS peers
• Provide practical recommendations informed by peers who understand the unique challenges facing LGPS funds.
• Create opportunities for peer learning and knowledge exchange across the sector.

No. Peer support and Independent Governance Reviews (IGRs) are separate processes with different purposes.

Fund’s must undertake a IGRs under a statutory requirement and are intended to assess governance arrangements against specified criteria. Peer support is a sector-led improvement initiative offered by the Scheme Advisory Board to share best practice and support continuous improvement.

The outcome of an IGR may identify areas where peer support could be beneficial, but an IGR is only one potential route into peer support. Funds may also choose to request peer support independently.

The peer support model currently being tested through the pilot programme typically involves:

• An on-site event of up to two and a half days with a peer team undertaking individual and group discussions with a range of stakeholders across the fund.
• Conversations are typically facilitated by peers working in pairs and are designed to explore how the fund operates, understand areas of strength and identify opportunities for further improvement.
• The process is intended to be supportive and developmental rather than inspectorial.
• Peers use their experience and expertise to support funds through constructive “critical friend” conversations. They are there to listen, explore and challenge in a supportive way, most importantly helping funds to reflect on their existing arrangements and identify their own opportunities for improvement.
• A report provided at the end of the support using a LGPS specific framework and any further areas in scope agreed in advance with the fund.

A peer team of up to six experienced LGPS peers will be involved. Depending on the agreed scope, the team may include:

• Pension Committee members
• Local Pension Board members.
• Senior LGPS officers.
• Other experienced practitioners from across the LGPS.

The peer team works collaboratively with the fund to understand current arrangements, celebrate successes and identify opportunities for improvement.

Yes. A key principle of peer support is that it is delivered by experienced practitioners who understand the realities and challenges of running an LGPS fund.

The Scheme Advisory Board is building a network of trained and experienced peers from across the LGPS, including LGPS Senior Officers, Pension Committee members and Local Pension Board members. By acting as a peer reviewer, senior officers (not just the LGPS Senior Officer) can contribute to the development of the wider sector while also gaining valuable insights and learning that can be applied within their own fund.

In the longer term, the ambition is that both participating in peer support and serving as a peer become recognised as valuable aspects of the LGPS Senior Officer role, supporting professional development, sector leadership and continuous improvement across the Scheme.

To support consistency and transparency, the Scheme Advisory Board has developed a peer support framework which sets out the key areas that may be explored during a peer support review. The framework covers the major elements of pension fund activity and provides a common structure for both the support process and the resulting feedback.

The framework is not intended to be a checklist or compliance assessment. Rather, it helps peers focus conversations, identify strengths, explore challenges and provide constructive observations in a consistent way across different funds.

The written feedback report will be aligned to the framework, with findings and recommendations organised under the relevant themes. This helps funds clearly understand where strengths have been identified, where opportunities for improvement may exist and how the feedback relates to the agreed scope of the review. It also supports consistency in reporting while allowing the peer team to reflect each fund’s unique circumstances, priorities and challenges.

Not necessarily. While the current model is based on an on-site review, the delivery approach will need to take account of individual fund circumstances, including hybrid and remote working arrangements. The most appropriate format will be discussed and agreed during the planning stage.