performance evaluation

Report that outlines the findings and recommendations from an independent review conducted by the Nuffield Trust into whether the Government should introduce ‘Ofsted-style’ performance ratings for hospitals, general practices, care homes and other adult social care providers.

Paper that comes in two parts. First Lesley Sutton shares her experience in looking at (some) data on local authority spend and performance in a few sectors. This is undertaken on the basis of published data, and the annex describes the key data sets that are available and touches upon the significant gaps. Her work does point to a major variation in performance but also emphasises that this is a data and policy minefield; great care should be taken before drawing any conclusions as to relative efficiencies, etc.

Report assessing the performance of Sacro's Restorative Justice Diversion from Prosecution services. It identifies areas of service delivery which could be improved and asks what the key messages about the services are.

Document containing material indicating the performance standards expected for each of the performance grades set out in the Department for Children, Schools and Families Guidance for Children's Centres Self-evaluation. The material comprises a set of descriptors of standards or judgments to be applied to each Sure Start children's centre and is intended for use by Sure Start centre managers and local authority staff supporting them.

Guide intended to help local areas in England commission weight management services for children and young people. It includes information on the policy context and contains a series of tools to support commissioners in the area of weight management for children and young people.

Guidance for local authorities and Children's Trusts in England issued by Narrowing the Gap, a project working to narrow the gap in outcomes between vulnerable and excluded children and the rest. The guidance includes self-evaluation templates and case studies of good local practice.

UK Government strategy offering a strategic framework within which local services in England can make quality improvements to dementia services and tackle health inequalities. Practical advice, guidance and support for health and social care commissioners and providers in the planning, development and monitoring of services is provided.

Document laying out the rationale and evidence for an R&D strategy arising from the Changing Lives report which recommended such a strategy be developed and that the strategy should underpin the work of all five associated Change Programmes.