How we are assessed
The Independent Performance Assessment
It is important that the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) are clear about what they need to achieve regionally, and that they have plans for delivery, have the capacity to deliver those plans, and can perform well. However, it is also important to assess whether each RDA is delivering and improving in line with its agreed priorities.
The Independent Performance Assessment (IPA) is designed to assess the progress and future plans of the RDAs. The IPA process was introduced by Government in 2005 and through it fewer time-consuming audits of the Agencies’ work will be needed.
What is the IPA aiming to achieve?
The IPA will allow the RDAs, Government, partners and key stakeholders to better understand the role and the performance of the Agencies. In addition, the IPA will provide each Agency with an assessment of its organisational performance and its capacity to carry out its work. A plan is also prepared outlining the action the Agency will undertake to improve its future performance.
Finally, the IPA will also look for evidence that RDAs are organisations capable of managing their own affairs efficiently and effectively and improving their performance over time.
The assessment process
The assessment process itself is similar to the Local Authority Comprehensive Performance Assessment, which examines the performance of local authorities. The IPA is based on a realistic self-assessment by each Agency, backed up by an independent assessment carried out by the National Audit Office.
The self-assessment approach aims to:
- Encourage the Agency to identify areas where it performs well and those in need of improvement if it is to make a real difference to the regional economy
- Give the Agency the opportunity to demonstrate self-awareness, an ability to assess its strengths and weaknesses successfully, and prioritise areas for improvement
- Provide the opportunity for an honest, evidence-based appraisal of progress and the Agency’s recent track record.
The performance assessment of One NorthEast has two main parts this year:
- The self-assessment by the Agency was submitted to National Audit Office on June 26 (document can be downloaded below)
- An audit by the National Audit Office which took place at One NorthEast’s premises between September 25 and October 6
The self-assessment document is split into three sections:
- Setting the scene (context and operational information)
- Assessment - based on five Key Lines of Enquiry (see below)
- Improvement Plan - summary action plan over a three-year period
Key Lines of Enquiry
The assessors will be looking at some Key Lines of Enquiry within the context of three overall questions. These are:
- What is the Agency, together with its partners, trying to achieve?
In this area the audit aims to assess One NorthEast's ambition and prioritisation (the way it sets priorities for improving its performance) - Has the Agency set about delivering its priorities for improvement?
In this area the Agency will be assessed on its performance management and capacity to complete its plans. - What improvements has the Agency achieved/not achieved to date?
In this area the assessment examines One NorthEast's achievement.
The National Audit Office reviewed One NorthEast's self-assessment document and supporting evidence, followed by the visit to the Agency. During the two-week visit the team from the National Audit office checked and approved our self-assessment by talking to staff and our key stakeholders.
As part of the assessment, the IPA team contacted a range of stakeholders to gather their views of the Agency’s performance. It also gathered the views of different Government departments, in relation to our lead role in economic development and in terms of the relationships and activities we undertake.
Categorisation
The Agency was found to be performing strongly on ambition, performance management and achievement and performing well on prioritisation and capacity.
The full report from the IPA Inspectors, awarding us a score of 22 points out of a possible 24 has now been published on our website (document can be downloaded below).
