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What will happen during the JAR inspection?
Work by the Camden inspection team has already started. In May a web-based survey of children and young people was undertaken known as the TellUs questionnaire. The results will be used by the inspection team to decide on particular areas to focus on. Also the annual survey of schools’ views of the council will be used by inspectors for Camden’s JAR this year.
Inspectors will also choose 10 case files from a list of 100 (of children on the child protection register, children who are looked after, and those with learning difficulties and disabilities) and will use these to examine the partnership working across different agencies, as well as questionnaires completed by all the agencies working with those children/ families. They may also interview staff, children and young people, and parents/ carers.
The inspectors will spend three days in mid November in Camden reviewing all the documentation and information they have requested. They will then make a series of key judgements on our services, which will inform the focus of the inspection in December.
The team will spend the two fieldwork weeks in December, visiting services, including schools, across the borough to observe frontline work and to gather information. They will meet with children and young people, their parents and carers, managers and frontline staff, head teachers, governors and school staff, partners and elected members.
Camden’s inspection will be focused on a detailed self assessment and submitted evidence. In mid November, inspectors will examine a sample of case files, and undertake interviews with case managers, service users as well as operational and strategic managers and partners. The score for this inspection will feed into Camden’s JAR.
The inspection of youth work is an integral part of the JAR, and covers the local authority’s secured youth work, either provided directly or commissioned. Camden’s report will cover the standards of young people’s achievement and the quality of youth work practice, the quality of curriculum and resources, and leadership and management. A self assessment is submitted in mid October. The inspectors will make a range of visits and conduct interviews over the two weeks in December. The score will feed into Camden’s JAR.
In addition to the JAR, Camden will also undergo a Corporate Assessment inspection led by the Audit Commission. This will focus on the strength of the council as an organisation and how it is improving people’s quality of life in the borough. It is part of the Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) regime by which local authorities are rated by central government. Both inspections will closely consider how local partners work together to understand and address local needs.
How are we preparing for Camden’s JAR?
Work has begun on preparing for the inspection. This includes:
- refreshing our children and young people’s plan following consultation, with an updated self assessment and a broadened set of improvement priorities
- undertaking detailed case tracking and analysis for the 100 case files to submit
- preparing a list of voluntary and community sector organisations that we work with to deliver our priorities, who will be surveyed by Ofsted
- analysing the initial feedback from the TellUs survey of children and young people and the Survey of schools, for circulation to our schools and partners
- collating over 40 documents including plans, strategies, reports and evidence of involvement of children and young people
We are also producing a series of newsletters focusing on how working in partnership has improved outcomes for children and young people in Camden.
There will also be a number of briefing events for council staff and partners to ensure everyone involved in the inspection knows what to expect.
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