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Best Value Guidance Manual

Contents and Foreword  (29.85 KB)

1. An Introduction To Best Value  (16.00 KB)
   1.1 what is Best Value?

2. Key Features Of Best Value  (25.50 KB)
   2.1 The key requirements
   2.2 Best Value is about continuous improvement
   2.3 Best Value means setting and achieving improvement targets
   2.4 Best Value requires fundamental service reviews
   2.5 Best Value is about demonstrating to local people that we are performing well
   2.6 Best Value means we must deliver service improvements

3. Organising For Best Value In Worcestershire  (50.28 KB)
   3.1 The County Council is committed to achieving Best Value
   3.2 Leadership of Best Value
   3.3 The Best Value Champions Group
   3.4 All managers are responsible for delivering Best Value
   3.5 The role of elected members in the Best Value Process
   3.6 Scrutiny and Best Value
   3.7 Best Value training
   3.8 Resourcing Best Value work
   3.9 Best Value and the medium term planning framework
   3.10 Other sources of information/advice
   3.11 Worcestershire County Council's work with other authorities on Best Value

4. A step by step approach  (36.27 KB)
   4.1 The key requirements
   4.2 What's happening in Worcestershire?
   4.2.1 Assessing current performance
   4.2.2 Setting targets for improvement
   4.2.3 Undertaking fundamental service reviews
   4.2.4 Worcestershire's programme of Best Value Reviews
   4.2.5 Reporting to local communities

5. Assessing current performance  (60.89 KB)
   5.1 Criteria for assessing current performance
   5.2 Performance indicators
   5.3 Consultation
   5.4 Benchmarking
   5.5 Performance Management Frameworks - Quality Standards, IiP, Charter Mark,
          EFQM

6. Detailed Service Reviews  (40.60 KB)
   6.1 The requirement for detailed reviews
   6.2 The purpose of detailed reviews
   6.3 The four key components of reviews - The four C's
   6.4 The County Council's programme of detailed reviews
   6.5 Who will undertake the detailed reviews?
   6.6 The fundamentals of successful reviews

7. Guidance on Undertaking Detailed Reviews  (99.47 KB)
   7.1 The key stages in detailed reviews
   7.2 Stage 1 - Preparation
   7.2.1 Chief Officer involvement
   7.2.2 Elected member involvement
   7.2.3 Review Team
   7.2.4 Terms of Reference/Scope of the Review
   7.2.5 Appointing a Steering Group for the Review
   7.2.6 Developing the detailed approach and project plan
   7.2.7 Briefing staff about the Review
   7.2.8 Review files and documentation
   7.2.9 Confidentiality
   7.2.10 Consultation with Trade Unions
   7.3 Stage 2 - Detailed analysis - Tackling the Four C's
   7.4 Stage 3 - Interim report
   7.5 Stage 4 - Assessment of future options
   7.6 Stage 5 - Conclusions and draft report
   7.7 Stage 6 - Consultation and final report
   7.8 Stage 7 - Action planning and target setting
   7.9 Stage 8 - Implementation and change management
   7.10 Stage 9 - Follow up

8. Inspection Arrangements  (69.46 KB)
   8.1 What inspection is all about
   8.2 What will the inspectors be looking for?
   8.3 How have Comprehensive Performance Assessments affected inspection
         arangements?
   8.4 The inspection process
   8.4.1 Preparing for inspection
   8.4.2 During an inspection
   8.4.3 After an inspection

9. Some Do's and Don'ts  (24.31 KB)

10. Best Value on the Internet  (26.83 KB)
   10.1 General sites
   10.2 Government sites
   10.3 Other sources
   10.4 Free updates

Appendices

Appendix 1  (14.75 KB) - Comparator groups

Appendix 2  (27.61 KB) - Issues for consideration in challenging current approaches to service   
                        provision

Appendix 3  (37.71 KB) - Sustainability checklist

Appendix 4  (22.63 KB) - Equality checklist

Appendix 5  (85.44 KB) - Scrutiny panel reports - suggested format

Appendix 6  (30.91 KB) - NJC Framework agreement on Best Value

Appendix 7  (31.33 KB) - Best Value inspection - key questions

Appendix 8  (45.25 KB) - Environmental Services monitoring form for time spent on Best Value

Appendix 9  (15.86 KB) - Sample Action/Improvement Plan

Appendix 10  (138.29 KB) Inspection Service document request

Appendix 11  (80.33 KB) A guide to target setting