Frequently Asked QuestionsIf the following questions and answers do not give you the information you need, contact the corporate assessment team using the details at the bottom of the page.
What is a corporate assessment?
A corporate assessment (CA) looks at how well we, together with our partners, deliver services. It focuses on residents' perspectives and how we achieve value for money, and pushes us to improve our performance.
It happens every three to four years and feeds into our comprehensive performance assessment rating.
What is a comprehensive performance assessment?
This is an annual assessment of how well the council is performing overall, and generates a star rating. We currently have three stars (out of four), improving well.
When is the CA happening?
- Self-assessment submitted: February 4
- Inspectors' analysis week: February 25 to 29
- Inspectors' fieldwork: March 31 to April 11
- Draft report received: May 15
- Final report received: July 22
Why is the CA important to Southwark?
A good inspection result will help the council make sure it is still on track with the improvements it has made to services, recognise everyone's hard work and enhance Southwark’s reputation, both as an area and as a council.
What is the joint area review?
The joint area review evaluates the way the council's services help make Southwark a better place for children and young people. A group of JAR inspectors will follow the same timetable as the CA inspection team.
Ofsted carries out the JAR inspection. The CA inspectors will use the JAR rating to score the children and young people section of their inspection.
For more information, go to the joint area review or contact Sophie Charro, JAR Manager, on 020 7525 3950 or sophie.charro@southwark.gov.uk
I work for the council, how will the CA affect me?
Anyone working for the council or one of its partners may be asked to take part in the inspection in some way. This could include
- Providing information about your service
- Attending CA briefings or meetings as internal preparation
- Participating in focus groups and meetings with the inspectors during the two weeks of inspections
- Being visited by CA inspectors at your place of work
The inspectors will conduct interviews and focus groups from March 31 to April 11. In all, they will see between 100 and 150 people during their time here. This includes everyone from the chief executive to frontline staff, from members to partners and residents.
The CA team will know well in advance who the inspectors want to talk to, so they will help you prepare.
The inspectors will also be out and about around the borough, to get a better idea of how our services are performing. If you meet them in your day-to-day work, talk to them about your work, achievements and challenges.
I live in the borough, how will the CA affect me?
A small number of residents and service users may be interviewed as part of a focus group, but the CA team will contact you well in advance if you have been selected. The main effect the CA will have on your life in the borough is that a good inspection result will help the council ensure its improvements to services are on track.
I am a manager in the council, how will the CA affect me?
The inspection team will want to talk to those responsible for delivering services including frontline staff, managers and our partners and voluntary organisations. If you or a member of your team is chosen to attend an interview or focus group, the CA team will contact you well in advance to help you prepare.
I am a council member, how will the CA affect me?
The inspectors will look at how the political body interacts with the executive to help deliver what is important for our community. They will consider how professionally and transparently elected members scrutinise policy, and make and challenge decisions in the political arena. If you are chosen to attend an interview or focus group, the CA team will contact you well in advance to help you prepare.
When will we know the result of the inspection?
The inspectors will produce a draft report in May and a final one in July.
Contact us
Matthew Wallbridge
Corporate Assessment Manager
Tel: 020 7525 7379
corporateassessment@southwark.gov.uk
Corporate Planning and Performance
Town Hall
Peckham Road
London
SE5 8UB
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