Sustaining outcomes in changing times

Hertfordshire County Council wins Overall Impact Award at the CfPS Good Scrutiny Awards 2010

Hertfordshire County Council thoroughly deserved to win the Overall Impact award demonstrating realism about their scrutiny resources and adopting new ways of working to make the most of it.  Read a summary of their Good Scrutiny Awards 2010 entry here.

The 2010 Awards ceremony took place after a successful first day at the CfPS Conference: Accountability Works! Sustaining outcomes in changing times on the 30 June at the Brewery, London. The awards were hosted by Baroness Sally Hamwee, House of Lords and CfPS Advisory Board member.

Congratulations to the 24 organisations shortlisted from nearly 100 entries and many thanks to the judges for their expertise and hard work.  

This year's entries demonstrated how scrutiny has enabled some of the most vulnerable groups to get their voices heard, showed innovative ways to save money and improve services, and exerted influence through imaginative use of the media and the power of their arguments - these scrutiny entries provide lessons for all in public services.

Congratulations to the winners. Please find below the winners and runners up.

Accountable organisation of the year winner:
Liverpool Guild of Students who demonstrated an innovative and perhaps unique approach to ensure increased accounatbility to its members.

Added value winner:
Warrington Borough Council embarked on an ambitious project to improve their local cemetery and enable the bereaved to bury their loved ones with dignity and respect.

Community influence winner:
London Borough of Enfield undertook a review into life opportunities for young people in response to a spate of violent incidents in the borough.

Innovation winner:
Cheshire West and Chester Council's Every Child matters Select Panel carried out a review to enhance the lives and future prospects of children in care, engaging young people in innovative and creative ways.

Joint working winners:
London Borough of Hounslow created an area wide speech and language commissioning pathfinder bringing together the local authority, the PCT, the NHS provider, schools and academics.
Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council undertook a review into child poverty as part of a project supporting the development of Save the Children's Child Poverty Solutions website and toolkit bringing together 5 scrutiny committees, the executive and local partners.

Practitioner of the year winner:
Diane Clark, Merseyside Police Authority is an independent member who has taken the initiative to expand the scope of the committee beyond the traditional focus.

Raising the profile winner:
Birmingham City Council carried out an inquiry into children's social services, the report "Who Cares?", received unprecedented local and national media cover.

Team of the year winner:
Liverpool Charity and Voluntary Services (LINk host) team has prospered under governance structures which encourage and support the involvement of local people.

Runners-up:

• NHS Nottingham City
• Hackney Homes
• Local Authority Investments, Communities and Local Government Select Committee
• Overview and Scrutiny Conference, Kent and Medway Overview and Scrutiny Officers Network
• The heat is on, Newport City Council
• Neighbourhood groups, Redditch Borough Council
• Scrutiny function review, Hertfordshire County Council
• Overview and scrutiny, Torbay Council
• Partnership O&S group, Bracknell Forest Council
• John Cade, Director of Scrutiny, Birmingham City Council
• Cllr Mark Dobson, Chair, Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Leeds City Council
• Transport Committee, London Assembly
• Task and finish groups, Luton Borough Council
• Scrutiny Commission, Blaby District Council
• Overview and scrutiny team, London Borough of Hackney