New assessment system criticised

The new performance management system for children’s services has come under severe criticism, three weeks before the first ratings are due to be published.

A senior education source said there had been a “loss of confidence” in the annual performance assessment system, while a leading social care voice claimed authorities had been treated inconsistently.

The education source said inspectors from Ofsted and the Commission for Social Care Inspection failed to work together satisfactorily and used unreliable data.

He said about 20 councils had appealed against provisional ratings, with final judgments due out on 1 December.

Andrew Webb, co-chair of the Association of Directors of Social Services’ children and families committee, said some authorities had been allowed to use more up-to-date information than others.

However, he said other problems reflected the system’s newness.

A CSCI spokesperson said any council aggrieved about its social care rating could make representations to an independent panel.

A report to this week’s CSCI board meeting included proposals to deal with the abolition of the overall social services star rating next year.