We are subject to external scrutiny from the Audit Commission, who undertake reviews of all Fire and Rescue Services to ensure we are fulfilling our statutory duties, providing value for money, and meeting the needs of local communities. The assessment was, until 2009, called the ‘Comprehensive Performance Assessment’ (CPA).

Following a poor result in the last full review in 2005, where we were rated as a ‘weak’ performer, far reaching service improvements have been made, and since then we have received scores of ‘improving well’ in 2007 & 2008 in the interim reviews of our progress, which was an excellent achievement for the Service. These ‘Direction of Travel’ results are shown below. Scored on a four point scale from improving strongly (highest score), improving well, improving adequately to no improvement (lowest score).

CPA Score	Direction of Travel		Use of Resources		Service Assessment
	2007	2008	2007	2008	2007	2008
Weak	Improving Well	Improving Well	3	3	2	2

 
The Service Assessment reviewed our service delivery and performance, whilst the Use of Resources focused on how we manage our resource ie: deliver efficiencies.

Use of Resources and service assessments are scored on a 4 point scale 1-4 where 4 is the highest score and 1 the lowest.

For more information on previous audit assessments, please click on the links below which will take you to the Audit Commission website:-

2005 assessment

2007/08 assessment

In 2009 a new assessment framework was introduced for local authorities, including the Fire and Rescue Service. The Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) replaced CPA from April 2009.

CAA is a major change in how public services area assessed. It is a new way of putting information in the hands of taxpayers, service users and citizens. CAA will include an area assessment that looks at how well local public services are delivering better results for local people in local priorities, such as health, economic prospects and community safety; and an organisational assessment of individual public bodies.

The first results of CAA were published in December 2009 and included performance data for 2008/09, the first year of the new National Indicator set, and each local authority area’s Local Area Agreement. The results are available on a new Audit Commission website called ‘One Place’, which enables the public to view performance of local public services across England. It shows how organisations and service-providers are doing on the issues that matter most in their local area, and provides information in straightforward jargon free language.

One Place website

This Organisational Assessment report highlights many of our significant achievements in making South Yorkshire people safer than they have ever been before.

It rightly states that from 2006-09:

• We have achieved seven of our eight key objectives
• Deaths and injuries in accidental house fires have reduced by 33%
• Arson has reduced by 30%
• Accidental house fires have reduced by 18%
• Staff sickness is down by 30%
• There was a 12% reduction in people killed or injured in road traffic collisions (2008/09)

In addition, the report highlights some areas for improvement, which we were already aware of and have implemented action plans to address.

Overall we scored a 2 for our Organisational Assessment which means that we are performing adequately.

We are disappointed with our overall score of 2, as we are confident that our performance across the board is worthy of a higher score. After three consecutive years of being rated as ‘improving well’, this report notes that performance improved again in 2008/09.

However, it serves as a timely reminder to members, managers and staff that we must constantly seek to improve, and change the way we work, if we are to provide the best possible fire and rescue service to the people of South Yorkshire.
For more information click on the link below:-

 

 

2009 assessment