Leicestershire Matters

In this issue we have good news from Government inspectors who have been reviewing the County Council and its services. There are also the ususal variety of stories which we hope are of interest to you.

Your views on Leicestershire Matters are always welcome as we want to know if we are including stories and information that you find useful and interesting. Please also let us know if there are any County Council-related subjects you would like us to include.

You can call us on 0116 305 6162 or 0116 305 6967, or email: leics-matters@leics.gov.uk. Alternatively, write to us at: Leicestershire Matters, Room 211, Public Relations Unit, Chief Executive's Department, County Hall, Glenfield, Leicestershire LE3 8RA.

We have received the highest possible score – four stars – in a report by independent Government watchdog, the Audit Commission.

We got high scores for all services and the report says we are ‘improving strongly’ – up from ‘improving well’ last year. We are one of only 13 councils nationally, out of 150, to be awarded the highest possible ratings in both categories and the only one in the East Midlands.

Council Leader David Parsons said: “This report is independent confirmation that the people of Leicestershire receive high quality services, despite the County Council being one of the lowest-funded authorities in the country.

“I’m proud of our staff for achieving this result and for working hard to deliver further improvements.”

The report says the County Council is:

There is just one area for improvement – it is recognised that efforts made to develop shared services with district councils have yet to produce tangible results.

The full Comprehensive Performance Assessment report is on our website.

We have been awarded three stars since the system began in 2002 and are the only County Council to have achieved this.

The report from the Commission for Social Care Inspection says our Adult Social Care Service is doing very well and has excellent prospects for improving even further.

Strengths highlighted were:

David Sprason, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, said: “I am delighted that the department has once again achieved this excellent result. It proves that, every day, our staff are delivering the services that people want and need.”

For more details visit social care.

These services are always good and are often outstanding says Ofsted’s Joint Area Review report. This inspection supports findings in the Annual Performance Assessment, published in December.

The Joint Area Review assesses how well children who are at risk of harm, who are in care or have learning difficulties or disabilities, are looked after and how local services help improve their lives. The report says that good outcomes are achieved, despite comparatively low levels of funding. They also said the management of services for children and the probability of improving even further was outstanding.

Our key strengths include:

This makes Leicestershire one of the best children and young people’s services in England. The report also said we had recognised the right things to focus on next. We need to improve further results for pupils at key stage 4 (age 16) and improve the attendance of older children in public care.

Our Cabinet Member for the Children and Young People’s Service, Ivan Ould, said: “This report shows that the County Council and its partners are working hard to provide the best possible support for children and young people.

“We are determined to make further improvements and are encouraged that the inspectors believe our management and ability to improve is outstanding.”

The County Council, NHS, Police, district councils and the voluntary sector were all involved in the review.

For further details visit joint area review.

This is the fifth school in the County to be replaced with a new building. The others were:

The new Brockington College, a Church of England, voluntary-aided secondary school, was opened by the Bishop of Leicester, The Rt. Rev Tim Stevens.

It cost £20 million to demolish the old school, build the new one and landscape the site. Work started in July 2006 and finished two months ahead of schedule.

The school was rebuilt, with funds from the Government, because the 1950s building was no longer suitable to be used as a modern school.

Arranged around a central courtyard, it has hi-tech teaching facilities, a new sports hall and can also be used by the local community.

For more details on new school buildings please visit new buildings.

The ‘decisions at life’s end’ (DALE) service is giving more people the choice to spend their final days at home rather than in hospital – if that is what they wish.

This will be achieved by increasing facilities in the community, such as equipment, healthcare services, community nurses and Marie Curie nurses.

People, including those living alone or with carers, are being encouraged to think about what care they may need and share their wishes with their family.

You can find out more through your GP or community nurse. Alternatively, call 0116 305 4458, e-mail: adultsocialcare@leics.gov.uk or visit: older people.

The pack, called STANCE, is the first of its kind in the UK and aims to tackle homophobic bullying.  It helps teachers with policies, lesson plans and training and is available to schools and other services for young people.

Research shows almost two thirds of lesbian, gay or bisexual people experience homophobic bullying at school.

The County Council will not tolerate any type of bullying in its schools, or in any of its other services.

For more information about the anti-bullying pack, or what we are doing to tackle bullying, visit: www.stance.org.uk or beyond bullying e-mail: psychology@leics.gov.uk or call 0116 284 5100.

Volunteers are trained to use hand-held radar devices to record the speed of passing vehicles, as part of the Community Speed Watch project.

Building on the success of nine pilot schemes, more than 34 have now been set up across the County, City and Rutland.

To keep up with demand, more schemes will be introduced in the coming months.

We have been working closely with Leicestershire Police on the initiative. They receive details of speeding vehicles, issue warning letters to motorists, and, in some cases, personal visits to drivers may follow.

Nicholas Rushton, our Cabinet Lead Member for Highways, said: “Data shows the scheme has had an impact on reducing speeding traffic. I would urge anyone who thinks their local area could benefit to get in touch with us.”

For more details, visit: www.bealocalhero.com or call Mike Wilson on 0116 305 7336, e-mail: mawilson@leics.gov.uk

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