Council Help Centre

GPOD provides a standardized Excel template specifically designed for council data migration. The process involves four simple steps:

1. Download the Council NEET Data Template from the Resources section
2. Map your existing fields to our standardized format (your implementation specialist can help with this)
3. Upload the completed template through your council administrator dashboard
4. Verify the data using our built-in validation tool before finalizing the import

For councils with large datasets (over 10,000 records) or complex data structures, we offer an assisted migration service where our technical team will handle the entire process for you.

Most councils complete this process within 2-3 days, with the actual import taking just 1-2 hours once the data is properly formatted.

GPOD is designed to require minimal IT resources from your council team. Typically, we need:

• 1-2 hours from your IT security team to approve our security protocols and data handling procedures
• 4-6 hours from your database administrator if you're integrating with existing council systems
• 1 hour from your network team to whitelist our domains and ensure firewall configuration

The system is cloud-based, so there's no need for on-premises server installation or maintenance. For councils with limited IT resources, we offer a completely managed implementation where our team handles all technical aspects.

Most standard implementations require less than 10 total hours of council IT time spread over the implementation period.

GPOD is built from the ground up to meet the strict data protection requirements of UK local authorities:

• All data is stored in UK-based secure data centers with ISO 27001 certification
• Full GDPR compliance with comprehensive Data Protection Impact Assessment documentation
• Role-based access controls with granular permission settings for council staff
• End-to-end encryption for all data in transit and at rest
• Regular penetration testing and security audits by independent third parties
• Detailed audit logging of all data access and modifications

We provide a complete Data Processing Agreement tailored for local authorities, and our Data Protection Officer is available for direct consultation with council information governance teams.

GPOD is listed on the UK Government's G-Cloud framework, having passed all security and compliance requirements.

Yes, GPOD offers robust integration capabilities with most common council systems including:

• Northgate Public Services systems
• Capita case management
• Civica CX and related products
• Microsoft Dynamics implementations
• Idox document management
• Custom in-house systems via our REST API

Integration options include:

1. Real-time bi-directional data synchronization
2. Scheduled batch imports/exports
3. API-based integrations for custom workflows
4. Single Sign-On (SSO) with your council's authentication system

Our implementation team works directly with your IT department to determine the best integration approach for your specific environment.

GPOD provides comprehensive training tailored to different council roles:

• Council Administrators - Full day training covering system configuration, user management, security settings, and advanced features
• Department Managers - Half-day session on reporting, analytics, and departmental dashboard customization
• NEET Specialists - Half-day training on case management, intervention tracking, and outreach tools
• General Council Users - 90-minute basic usage training

Training is delivered through:

• Live virtual training sessions
• On-site training at your council offices
• Self-paced e-learning modules
• Train-the-trainer programs for council training teams

All training includes access to our complete video library and documentation. We also provide 3 months of post-implementation refresher training at no additional cost.