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Best Value Performance Plan 2001

Other indicators of performance

Whilst our achievements against performance indicators can help you to understand how we are performing, we are also assessed on a regular basis by a range of auditors and inspectors.
As these assessments are independent of the Council, we think that they will help you to understand our performance better.

During the last twelve months our services have been subject to a number of external assessments. We set out below some of the things that those assessments have said about us:

Audit Management letter:

• The Council's financial performance for the year was in line with expectation, but it faces severe financial pressures primarily as a result of a significant unplanned and unexpected overspend on Social Services.
• Overall financial systems continue to operate satisfactorily for audit purposes to produce accounts that are materially correct.
• The Council's overall arrangements for preventing and detecting fraud and corruption are sound.
• Good progress has been made in considering the form of revised political management arrangements and in leading the development of a community strategy for the county. The challenging targets set in relation to e-government will require the Council to review its IT strategy and financial resources available for IT development.
• The auditors issued an unqualified audit opinion on the Council's Statement of Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2000. The Council's closedown performance has continued to improve.
• The Council has made good progress in introducing best value and we issued an unqualified audit opinion on the Council's first Best Value Performance Plan. We included four recommendations in our statutory report.
• Value for money audits performed during the year have identified areas of good practice as well as issues requiring attention.

Inspection of Children Services by the Social Services Inspectorate

During the year the Social Services Inspectorate issued an inspection report in respect of Children Services.

The report recognised that areas of good practice include:

• good internal communications systems and managers prepared to listen to the workforce at all levels.
• a very commendable approach to staff training.
• service users and carers felt that their views and wishes were well represented by staff.
• a sound strategic approach to managing performance in the service.

However, it is recommended that the Council should:

• reduce the numbers of children "looked after" by the local authority. An action plan was implemented immediately and this has already led to a 7% reduction since the plan commenced.
• increase investment in family support services. The Council immediately invested an additional £100,000 in these services.

A copy of the Action Plan prepared in response to the inspection report is appended at Appendix 4.

OFSTED inspection

Last year we reported to you some of the key comments from an inspection report of the Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED) issued in conjunction with the Audit Commission.

The report was positive in its comments and Estelle Morris MP, Minister of State for Education wrote to the Leader of the Council:

"It is clear that Worcestershire is a well run Local Education Authority…. I am pleased that the Local Education Authority provides such good quality services at low cost and is so well regarded by its schools".

Following issue of the report we drew up an action plan to drive forward the recommendations. This action plan covers a range of services within the local education authority and provides time-bound and measurable targets.

A programme of monitoring compliance with the agreed action plan has been established. As at March 2001 over 70% of the action plan has been completed in line with the time-scales identified. A number of areas within the action plan involve work that is ongoing and progress has been made on all areas.
A copy of the action plan in response to the report is also included at Appendix 4.

Investors in People

Both the Educational Services Directorate and the Environmental Services Directorate achieved Investor in People status during the year. This award is recognition of the Council's commitment to training and developing its staff to deliver the council's key priorities.

Education Development Plan

We received a very complimentary assessment of our work in raising performance in schools when a top official in the DFEE said of our Educational Development Plan

"This is one of the top 10% Educational Development Plans in the country."

Human Resources Strategy

We received a nomination for an industry wide award for best Human Resources Strategy in line with business.

Three Counties Show

Our stand at the Three Counties Show won the Supreme Champion (Best in Show) award at the Three Counties Show 2000.

Public Sector PR campaign

We received a commendation for the best public sector campaign that changed the law for school crossing patrol wardens.