We think this will be approximately 9-10 weeks from receiving the information return to the onsite part of the assessment but we are currently evaluating this.
We will be arranging drop in sessions during the on-site part of the assessment. The nature of the session will be set up so that staff have a choice to join the session on the day and meet the local authority assessment team. The purpose of this drop in is so that people can share their experiences. Local authorities cannot necessarily choose who attends.
The same methodology applies to all local authorities. The size of the assessment team may vary slightly depending on geography and size. The exact number and type of interview may vary depending on local circumstances, for example if a local authority works with more than one ICS.
Our operational planning principles will inform which local authorities we select for assessment. These include the following:
- local authority types, structures and location
- timing of ICS assessments, aiming for alignment where it makes sense to do so, e.g.: where there is a coterminous ICS/LA boundary
- known factors which could adversely affect practical delivery, eg: transport and accommodation pressures in the area due to major events in the area such as Glastonbury Festival
- other regulatory activity taking place at the LA
- existing knowledge of LAs, eg: prioritising LAs where there is innovation or new models of care that we wish to understand more about, or where there are concerns that may require an earlier assessment.
Yes, we will be publishing the information return on our website.
The Integrated Care Board and Integrated Care System are important elements of the context within which the local authority works. We will want to understand how the local authority is working in this wider context but the focus is on the local authority's delivery of its Care Act responsibilities.
a. Was there a method used for selecting the 50 case for case tracking and what is the learning from that?
There was a method for selecting the 50 cases that was based on the methodology used by our Childrens Team in the joint work that they undertake with Ofsted. We are reviewing our approach as part of the learning from the pilots and we will share information on this when this is finalised.
Each local authority will get a draft inspection report and have the opportunity to comment on the factual accuracy of it before we publish the final report on our website.
We will publish a report of our assessment of each pilot local authority, in the same way we do for providers. For the pilots, all reports will be published together once we have completed factual accuracy checks and finalised the reports. We expect these reports to be published by the end of November.
We are aware that demand for services has increased. We will want to understand the particular challenges that each LA is facing and how Care Act functions are being delivered in the face of them.
We will be able to confirm our approach after we complete the evaluation, and receive ministerial sign off of our methodology as required by the legislation. We will not be announcing the assessments as such, each local authority will receive their individual notice and all local authorities will have a similar notice period.
We will be able to confirm a date for this after we have completed our evaluation and received ministerial sign off of our methodology as required by the legislation.