The Chair introduced a report advising of the Reality Check Visit undertaken to review the Performance Dashboard that took place on 19 February 2018 at Hamilton Building.  Councillors Tom Usher (Chair), Alan Brighouse, Chris Meaden and Jean Stapleton had taken part in the visit, hosted by Simone White (Deputy Director) and accompanied by a number of managers and staff who either supported the development of the Dashboard or interrogated the data held within it.

Members had been provided with a demonstration of the on-line dashboard used to monitor performance within children’s social care and which provides a strategic overview.  The dashboard is updated daily with data from the primary system used by social workers. While the dashboard had been operational for five months and was to undergo further development, an assessment of alternative systems was also due to take place.  Members were also given an opportunity to review a hardcopy of the Data Tracker which provides a snapshot of data on a monthly basis and is used to provide a regular update to the Improvement Board, focussing on key performance indicators. 

The conclusions of Members arising from the review of the performance Dashboard were presented within the submitted report, which included the submission of a report on audits (as considered at this meeting) and an agreement that regular reporting of information from the Data Tracker to this Committee would strengthen Members’ ability to scrutinise the ongoing improvement of the service; this would be of particular importance in the future when the Improvement Board was no longer in place.  At that time the Overview and Scrutiny Committee would need to feel confident that the framework was in place to enable Members to provide appropriate scrutiny and oversight of children’s services.

RESOLVED -

That the report and conclusions of the Reality Check Visit in respect of the Performance Dashboard be noted and supported.