Best results for Council assessment in harder test
From nscott on 22 July 2008
Solihull Council has achieved its best ever results in its Corporate Assessment inspection (CA).
And an inspection of services to children and young people has also scored the Council and its partners highly.
In the CA inspection, despite a harder test, the Council has improved its performance to achieve a three out of four rating – performing well.
The assessment is carried out by the Audit Commission, and looks at how the Council engages with and leads local communities, works with partners to deliver services and ensure that it continually improves services.
The inspection recognised that the Council has made great progress since it was last inspected in 2002. At that point the Council received two out of four.
The inspectors pointed out:
- the Council had clear ambition to improve the quality of life for residents and share this ambition with partners
- the Council managed its resources (finance) well so that spending is targeted on priority areas
- major projects, such as regeneration of the north of the borough are having a positive impact and improving people’s quality of life
- outcomes for children and young people are good
- older people get good support to live independently
- the Council works well with partners to achieve success, eg ensuring Solihull is a safe place to live
- the Council achieves value for money
- there is good leadership, both political and managerial
The report pointed out some areas for improvement, including strengthening engagement with black and minority ethnic communities, and performance management.
At the same time as the CPA inspection, the Council services for children and young people were also reviewed. The Joint Area Review (JAR) checks that the Council and its partners provides the best possible services, especially to those young people who are vulnerable.
The findings from the JAR, and the linked Enhanced Youth Inspection and Youth Offending Service Inspection, showed that the services were good, with some aspects outstanding.
Areas pointed out as excellent include:
- work to track children not in school to ensure they stay in education
- effective sexual health promotion, substance misuse and personal safety awareness
- work to prevent family breakdown
Also judged as outstanding was work to ensure that all children leaving care have suitable housing.
Work with partners to support children and young people with learning difficulties and disabilities was judged as good, and also praised in this area was support for people to develop socially and emotionally. Also singled out for praise were the improvements in the range of leisure, play and youth facilities as a direct result of the Council listening to the views of young people.
The Youth Service Inspection stated that we provide good quality youth services, with the ability of children and young people to contribute positively to improve their well-being and quality of life being judged as outstanding.
Councillor Ken Meeson, Leader of the Council, said: "I am extremely pleased at the outcome of each of these inspections. It is great news that the Audit Commission has officially recognised that Solihull Council is a good Council. It is a positive endorsement of all the work we are doing, and proof that we are moving in the right direction. This was a harder test – the Commission has raised the bar significantly since the last inspection, and we have risen to the challenge and improved our performance.
The other inspections clearly show the importance we place on our young people, from keeping the most vulnerable safe, right through to providing them with fun and interesting things to do.
As we look ahead, we will not be complacent – we remain focussed on our priorities, continue to listen to our communities and ensure we work with our partners to provide the people of Solihull with high quality services and value for money."
Note to editors: copies of the CPA report can be found on the audit commission’s website http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/
The JAR report can be found on OFSTED’s website www.ofsted.gov.uk
nscott 0121 704 6444
Email: nscott@solihull.gov.uk