Comprehensive Area Assessment A new approach to public service improvement and assessment Kevin Sutch Audit Commission

Comprehensive Area Assessment The new joint inspectorate assessment framework for local services from 2009 CAA is about places and people CAA will give people a snapshot of life in their local area each year CAA will be a catalyst for further improvement in quality of life and local services CAAwill provide an independent view of whether people are getting value for money from their local services CAA will be a mechanism for coordinating and rationalising inspection

What do we mean by comprehensive?

The inter-relationship between local services

CAA and the other performance frameworks

What do we mean by area?

Area Start with the LAA Look at each objective And key services Some issues about specific users, groups, neighbourhoods and communities Some issues wider and beyond – eg MAAs, transport, regeneration

What do we mean by assessment?

What is CAA? Key components National indicator set for areas and public bodies Joint risk assessment for areas Use of resources for councils, fire & rescue authorities, police authorities, primary care trusts Direction of travel for councils (a joint inspectorate judgement), fire & rescue authorities

For areas 1. Annual area risk assessment Prospects for the area and the quality of life for local people 2. Analysis of performance against the 198 national indicators Undertaken by inspectorates jointly

For councils and fire authorities 3. Annual direction of travel assessment - by inspectorates jointly for councils

For Councils, Fire and Rescue Authorities, Primary Care Trusts and Police Authorities 4. Annual use of resources judgement - by appointed auditor with input from other inspectorates for councils

Value for money in the use of resources

What CAA will report

AR A NIS Uo R Do T Uo R Do T Uo R (PCTs) Ofsted reports Assessments reported: ARA -Area Risk Assessment NIS -National Indicator Set UoR -Use of Resources DoT -Direction of Travel Area based reports Organisation based reports AC/ Oftenant reports

More focus on outcomes and places More forward-looking More focus on local priorities Joint assessments and judgements by inspectorates, not just an assembly of separate assessments Joint planning and targeting of inspection with fewer rolling programmes Key differences from now

Action Learning A new joint approach to development CAA –Hampshire –Thurrock CAA excluding use of resources –Tees Valley Partnership – covering the areas of Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland and Stockton on Tees. –Barking and Dagenham

Timetable Feb 2008 Apr 2008 Jun 2008 Summer 2008 Late 2008 / early 2009 Jan/Feb 2009 Oct/Nov 2009 CPA results for 2007 published First joint CAA consultation closes AC CAA Leads appointed New-style LAAs agreed Further joint consultation on CAA published Second round of action learning CAA framework published Final set of CPA results First round of CAA reporting

Quote from the Audit Commission CEO ‘This merger strengthens the Audit Commission’s ability to ensure that the right people get the right benefits at the right time. It is vital that Housing and Council Tax Benefit Services are delivered to a high standard. In addition, the detection and prevention of fraud must remain high on council agendas to save tax payers’ money in a climate where directors of finance are looking for savings.’ Steve Bundred (Chief Executive, Audit Commission) – 1 April 2008

See it from their side What is a benefit service? a vital contribution to social and economic wellbeing a significant contribution to councils’ strategies to address poverty, deprivation, homelessness, or worklessness an enabler to fairer access to decent homes a gateway to better health a key source of income to the most vulnerable groups paying the right people, the right benefit at the right time

Implications: benefit services Look at the service in wider context Focus on user and citizen experience

Benefit assessments in context Challenges –amount of fraud and error –under-claiming Changes –Local Housing Allowance –Reduction in subsidy and CSR07 –Welfare Reform Act Perceptions: process, back office Performance indicators – use, quality, credibility

Any questions?