Category: 0 Archive

The Charity Commission, the regulator for charities in England and Wales, today welcomes a report from the National Audit Office (NAO) that recognises the progress it has made in becoming a more effective regulator, including in its digital transformation. The report follows the NAO’s previous reports into the effectiveness of the Commission in 2013 and 2015.

The report commends the progress that the Commission has made in a number of key areas of its transformation including:

• becoming a more risk-based regulator – referencing the launch of its Risk Assessment Unit and its refreshed risk framework
• securing new powers and using them effectively – evidenced by the reduced challenges it faces in the First Tier Tribunal (Charity) and the reduction in the average length of its investigations
• the improved services it offers – including the launch of a new registration system that has reduced waiting times despite significant increases in registration applications
• working more effectively with others – including improved external engagement with charities on key projects and an increased number of memoranda of understanding with key partner organisations and agencies

The report also makes a number of recommendations as to how the regulator can continue to make improvements and regulate more effectively.

It stresses that a sustainable funding model will be crucial to the Commission’s continuing transformation and suggests a public consultation may be required to agree a shared position between government, the regulator and the sector as to the level and source of longer term funding.

The Commission expects this report to end the NAO’s formal engagement with the Commission, following its initial investigation in 2013.

William Shawcross, Chairman of the Charity Commission, said:

I am delighted this report recognises the huge strides we have made in the last five years to become a more effective, risk-based regulator. There is still work to be done but as my time at the Commission comes towards an end, we can rightly be proud of the transformation we have gone through. Huge credit must be given to our incredible staff who have been central to this throughout.

Helen Stephenson, Chief Executive of the Charity Commission, said:

This report chimes with my initial reflections of the Commission – that of a team who are hardworking, innovative and strive to continuously improve in order to achieve the best to protect charities and the public. Great progress was made in transforming our systems, processes, approach and attitude under Paula’s leadership to become a truly digitally focused, modern regulator. I look forward to continuing that progress in line with this report’s positive recommendations in the coming months, including the pressing matter of securing a sustainable funding model for the years ahead.

Ends

PR 76/17

Notes to editors

1. The Charity Commission is the independent regulator of charities in England and Wales. To find out more about our work, see our annual report.
2. Search for charities on our check charity tool.

A new method of inspecting local authority children’s services will begin in January next year, Ofsted confirmed today [29 November 2017].

Inspections of local authority children’s services (ILACS) will look at how well local authorities are supporting and protecting vulnerable children in their area. The new approach is more proportionate, risk-based and flexible than before, allowing Ofsted to prioritise inspection where it is most needed.

ILACS will retain graded inspections, but introduce regular ‘focused visits’ as well as monitoring visits. More frequent contact between inspections will help Ofsted to identify any issues of concern and support local authorities to address them before services deteriorate.

The new arrangements consist of:

• short inspections – local authorities previously judged to be good or better will receive a 1 week ‘short’ inspection every 3 years
• standard inspections – those judged ‘requires improvement to be good’ will receive a 2 week ‘standard’ inspection every 3 years
• monitoring – local authorities judged to be inadequate will receive quarterly monitoring visits, followed by an inspection under the single inspection framework (SIF)
• focused visits – local authorities that require improvement and those that are good or outstanding will receive at least one focused visit between their short or standard inspection.

Local authorities will also be asked to annually evaluate the quality and impact of their social work practice, as well as having a formal yearly conversation with Ofsted about performance. The inspectorate will use this information to help inform decisions about how and when to inspect each local authority.

Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Amanda Spielman said:

This is an intelligent approach to the inspection of children’s services and an important development for the sector as a whole. Ofsted is fully committed to being a force for improvement across all the areas we inspect and I believe this approach will really help us to support improvement in children’s social care.

Ofsted’s National Director for Social Care, Eleanor Schooling said:

This new system of inspection retains our unrelenting focus on the experiences of children and their families. Crucially, it will help us prioritise our work in areas where it is most needed. The quality of social work practice with children that need help and protection, children in care and those leaving care is at the heart of our approach.

More frequent contact is all about identifying what is working well and catching local authorities before they fall. We want to help authorities improve the support they provide for vulnerable children and their families.

We have worked closely with sector leaders in developing this new approach, and I am pleased with the positive feedback we’ve received. This is a step forward for inspection that I hope will make a genuine and positive impact on children’s lives.

Launch events are taking place in the New Year for local authorities wishing to find out more about the new ILACS inspection system.

The DVLA spoke to around 1,000 motorists to get their thoughts on personalised registrations for cars. Whilst names or nicknames topped the list, registrations that represented a business were also a popular choice. This was followed by registrations that represented a favourite sports team or pet.

1 in 10 of those surveyed who had a personalised registration had received it as a gift.

Currently, the top most wanted registrations searched for on the DVLA Personalised Registrations website include BE11 CKY and SB51 MON.

DVLA’s Personalised Registrations has over 50 million registrations available to buy online and if customers purchase by 15 December the registration will arrive in time for Christmas.

Whilst some personalised registration numbers can sell at auction for hundreds of thousands of pounds, those looking for gifts on a smaller budget will find registrations starting at just £250.

Jody Davies, DVLA Personalised Registrations’ Senior Sales Manager, said:

With names topping the list of preferred personalised registrations we know that people value the thought that goes into the gift. Using our website’s search facility customers can try different combinations to find the perfect gift for the motorist.

And with over 50 million registrations available there’s plenty of opportunity to be creative and snap up a plate in time for Christmas.

Personalised registrations can be bought online 24 hours a day. A dedicated team can also help customers find the registration they want over the phone by ringing 0300 123 0883. Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8.00am to 4.30pm.

Minister for Africa Rory Stewart visited Kenya from 27-28 November to attend the inauguration of President Uhuru Kenyatta. This was Mr Stewart’s first official visit to the country.

The Minister attended the inauguration ceremony and the official inauguration luncheon on 28 November.

In the afternoon, Mr Stewart met with President Kenyatta and passed on a message of congratulations from Prime Minister Theresa May, alongside an invitation to the Commonwealth Summit in London next year.

During productive discussions, President Kenyatta and Mr Stewart discussed the future of the wide-ranging partnership shared by the UK and Kenya. The Minister welcomed the President’s commitment to national unity, and made clear his hope that Kenya will now come together in the spirit of reconciliation, after a difficult election period.

Speaking at the end of the visit, Mr Stewart said:

I am pleased that I was able to visit Kenya and attend President Kenyatta’s inauguration. This marks the moment where Kenya can move forward after a prolonged, divisive election period in a new spirit of reconciliation. I hope that all Kenyans will recognise the need now for national dialogue and healing.

The UK has extensive and historic links with Kenya, through our business links, our development programmes, and our diasporas. This has been an opportunity to reaffirm our partnership and hear more about the ways that our two countries can work together.

Further information

• Follow Foreign Office Minister Rory Stewart on Twitter @RoryStewartUK
• Follow the Foreign Office on Twitter @foreignoffice and Facebook
• Follow the Foreign Office on Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn