CQC and Ofsted to coordinate activity to avoid placing “unnecessary pressure” on councils during reorganisation

Setting out shared principles that will guide the regulators’ approaches during the transition, the Government noted that where possible, Ofsted and the CQC will “coordinate their activity” to avoid placing “unnecessary pressure” on local authorities.

A policy paper published last week (16 July) said: “Local government reorganisation is a significant opportunity that will affect public services. Bringing children’s services and adult social care together with housing, planning and homelessness functions under one roof enables local authorities to take a more joined-up view of local needs and respond more effectively.

“We recognise that against this backdrop it is important to provide clarity on how inspections, assessments, and other related activity will be undertaken during local government reorganisation, to support local authorities to maintain strong service delivery whilst maintaining effective oversight of local authorities’ delivery.”

LGR is taking place alongside wider system reforms to children’s social care, SEND and integrated care boards.

Due to the scale of transformation facing local authorities, Ofsted and CQC have agreed with Government the following shared principles:

• Inspections, assessments, and other related activity will continue throughout transition and following vesting day to provide ongoing oversight. This helps to maintain confidence that local areas are meeting people’s needs alongside managing change.
• Ofsted and CQC will consider how to use the flexibility available within their frameworks to ensure that oversight remains proportionate during transition. This may include timing inspections, assessments, and related activity around key transition points.
• There will be no blanket deferral of inspections or assessments for local authorities undergoing local government reorganisation or for new unitaries created through reorganisation.
• Any flexibility in the timing or nature of inspections and assessments during local government reorganisation will be informed by an assessment of risk and tailored to the circumstances of each local authority.

According to the policy statement, factors that Ofsted and CQC may consider when determining the level of risk and whether any adjustments are appropriate include:

• Current service performance, including whether a local authority is under intervention or on an improvement journey;
• Data and intelligence about a local authority’s services;
• Any required deadlines for completing the cycle for a particular programme of inspection, assessment, or related activity.

In May, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government set up the LGR advisory group to support the delivery of the Government’s reorganisation programme.

Lottie Winson