SWIA aims to inspect all local authority social work services on a three-year cycle, working in partnership with the authorities as they seek to bring about improvements.
Where it is necessary, we will keep in close contact with an authority and issue further reports. Our approach to inspection follow-up is designed to minimise the burdens placed on authorities, and to help them build their capacity to improve services.
Please click on the links below to download each section of the SWIA Handbook:
1. Leaflets (PDF, 117Kb) (Revised April 2008)
1.1 Information leaflet for general public
1.2 Information leaflet for staff
1.3 Information leaflet for partners and stakeholders
2. Guide to performance inspections in local authorities (PDF, 177Kb)
3. Summary guide for elected members (PDF, 78Kb)
4. Guide for the local authority inspection co-ordinator(PDF, 66Kb) (Revised Aug 2008)
5. Evidence used in performance inspections (PDF, Kb)
6. Advance information(PDF, 1.42Mb) (Revised Aug 2008)
6.1 Advance Information Request List
6.2 Guidance to the Self Evaluation Questionnaire
6.3 Self Evaluation Questionnaire
7. Letters (PDF, 21Kb)
7.1 Model letter for notification of inspection and introductory meeting
8. Meetings agendas (PDF, 27Kb)
8.1 Model agenda for introductory meeting with the local authority
8.2 Model agenda for first planning meeting with the local authority inspection co-ordinator
9. Case file analysis(PDF, 359Kb) (Revised April 2008)
9.1 Guidance for the local authority on case file analysis (PDF, Kb)
9.2 Guidance for file readers – case file analysis (PDF, Kb)
9.3 Case file analysis template (PDF, Kb)
9.4 Case file analysis template explanatory notes (PDF, Kb)
9.5 Guidance on observed practice with individuals (PDF, Kb)
9.6 Observed practice: sample letter from the local authority (PDF, Kb)
10. Involvement of people who use services and carers (PDF, 146Kb)
10.1 Guidance for the local authority on surveys
10.2 Model letter for questionnaire for people who use services
10.3 Questionnaire for people who use services
10.4 Guidance for the local authority on surveys for carers (see 10.1)
10.5 Model letter for carers of people who use social work services
10.6 Model letter from local authorities to local carers’ support organisations
10.7 Questionnaire for carers of people who use social work services
11. Staff survey (PDF, 82Kb)
11.1 Guidance for the local authority on surveys (see 10.1)
11.2 Model letter for staff
11.3 Social work services staff questionnaire
12. Partner agencies and stakeholders survey (PDF, 83Kb)
12.1 Guidance for partners and stakeholders on surveys (see 10.1)
12.2 Model letter for partners and stakeholders
12.3 Questionnaire for partner and stakeholder organizations
13. Interim assessment at the end of Phase 1 – Pre-inspection (PDF, Kb)
14. Planning for the fieldwork (PDF, 224Kb)
15. Introductory meetings before the fieldwork (PDF, 20Kb)
16. Withdrawn (PDF, 12Kb)
17. Briefing material for fieldwork meetings and visits (PDF, Kb)
17.1 People who use services and carers – groups
17.2 People who use services and carers – individuals
17.3 Service providers
17.4 Other organisations
18. Arrangements for giving feedback to the local authority during fieldwork and for dealing with concerns (PDF, 23Kb)
19. Headline feedback meeting at the end of the Phase 2 – Fieldwork (PDF, 16Kb)
SWIA Performance Inspection Handbook Part 3, Phase 3 – Analysis, Report Completion and Follow-Up Introduction (PDF, 16Kb)
20. Producing the report (PDF, 50Kb)
21. Report publication, presentation and distribution (PDF, 25Kb)
22. Guidance for preparing and agreeing the local authority action plan (PDF, 23Kb)
23. Handover and follow up (PDF, 30Kb)
24. Performance inspection evaluation questionnaire for the local authority (PDF, 87Kb)
25. The Performance Inspection Model (PIM) (PDF, 513Kb)
26. Evaluation and moderation (PDF, 57Kb)
26.1 Evaluating performance and evaluation categories
26.2 The moderation process
27. Roles and responsibilities of the SWIA inspection team (PDF, 76Kb)
27.1 Membership of SWIA inspection teams
27.2 Roles and responsibilities in the performance inspection team
27.3 Role of the lay and carer inspector
27.4 Working with associate, sessional, lay and carer inspectors
27.5 Role of the link inspector
28. Code of Conduct for all members of SWIA performance inspection teams (PDF, 57Kb)
29. Timetable for performance inspections (PDF, 31Kb)
| Performance Inspections | Completion date |
|---|---|
| Pilot performance inspections across three local authorities | January 2006 |
| Performance inspections across a further three local authorities | August 2006 |
| Performance inspection programme for the remaining 26 local authorities | mid-2009 |
| Performance inspection programme for local authority criminal justice services | March 2007 |