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An Annual Performance Assessment (APA) is conducted each year in every council. APA focuses on the contribution that a council’s services have made in the previous twelve months towards improving outcomes for children and young people. It analyses a wide range of published evidence, including data, indicators, the council’s Children and Young People’s Plan, any reviews of this plan and other reference or supporting information.
Unlike the Joint Area Review, there is no on-site investigative fieldwork carried out for Annual Performance Assessment, although inspectors who have a specialism in education and social care meet with the council’s senior managers to discuss any issues that have arisen during the analysis of information.
In 2008, all local authorities had their APA during the period September to November. The self-assessment and the review of the Newcastle Plan For Children and Young People was submitted in June.
The APA concluded that Children’s Services in Newcastle had responded positively to the recommendations made by the Joint Area Review (JAR) and had made steady progress since that time.
APA 2007 Report (PDF, 93.2 KB) (pdf)Self Assessment of Children’s Services - Presentation 2006 (ppt 4.6mb)
The performance ratings for each of the 5 key Every Child Matters outcomes were
Be Healthy: “The contribution of the Council’s services to improve health outcomes for children and young people has improved and is now good.” (Grade 3).
Stay Safe: “The contribution of the Council’s services remains adequate” (Grade 2). Improvements to services are evident, but evidence of improved outcomes has yet to be fully demonstrated.
Enjoy and Achieve: “The contribution of the Council’s services to improving outcomes for children and young people in this aspect remains adequate. Some improvements are evident as a result of action implemented since the joint area review, although there are still some significant areas where improvements are needed” (Grade 2).
Make a Positive Contribution: “The contribution of the Council’s services to improve outcomes for children and young people in this aspect remains adequate. Although some improvement is evident as a result of actions implemented since the joint area review, there are still some actions that have yet to show impact.” (Grade 2).
Achieve Economic Wellbeing: “The contribution of the Council’s services to improve outcomes for children and young people in this aspect remains adequate (Grade 2). Although some improvements are evident as a result of action implemented since the joint area review.”
Management of Services: “The Council’s capacity to improve its services for children and young people is good. There has been much improvement since the joint area review because of good management of services” (Grade 3).
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