Scottish Government

• How does the organisation demonstrate a commitment to delivering better public services and functions year on year?
• Describe how the organisation has developed a mission statement, vision and values for the organisation. How have Executive and Non-Executive leaders and senior managers been involved in that process?
• How have senior managers implemented this mission and vision, and communicated this throughout the organisation?
• How does the organisation demonstrate a commitment to high standards of probity and propriety?

Overall Summary Conclusion

• Overall, at what stage is the organisation in developing arrangements for this characteristic of Best Value?

Not yet planned Planned Under development Well developed

Strategy and Vision

• How are Executive and Non-Executive leaders involved in setting clear direction and organisational strategy?
• How are strategic priorities agreed, reviewed, and updated on a regular basis?
• How do leaders communicate the strategy and ensure that it is translated into meaningful action?

Plans and Practices

• How do leaders ensure that staff and stakeholders understand the overall direction of the organisation?

Leadership

• Do leader's behaviours demonstrate Best Value characteristics?

Public standards

• Does the organisation have and implement appropriate codes of conduct for all staff, directors and trustees?

• In what ways does the organisation ensure that service delivery and policy development is directed and supported through its corporate planning process?
• How does the organisation align its plans and detailed targets with available resources?
• What key indicators has the organisation developed to monitor the delivery of its strategic objectives?
• How does the organisation identify, monitor and address performance issues using these key indicators and target?
• How does the organisation promote continuous improvement through performance management?
• How does Performance Management link with Risk Management to support prioritisation and decision-making at Executive level?

Overall Summary Conclusion

• Overall, at what stage is the organisation in developing arrangements for this characteristic of Best Value?

Not yet planned Planned Under development Well developed

Strategy

• Does the organisation have defined corporate objectives, strategic priorities with clear lines of accountability for delivery?
• How does the organisation determine the most efficient and effective approach to service delivery?

Plans and Processes

• Does the Financial and resource Planning process link appropriately to corporate objectives and strategic priorities?
• Do plans consider the use of all resources (staff, ICT, project assets, capital)?

Performance

• Is there a coherent Performance Management Framework within the organisation linking Corporate Objectives and priorities to operational service and individual objectives?
• To what extent is performance management supported by clearly identified measures and key performance indicators?
• How are performance measures and outcome-focused key performance indicators identified? Who is involved?
• To what extent are quantitative indicators SMART and robust? What role does qualitative measurement play?
• How is performance information used? How is performance reported at the varying levels, e.g. internal, external, Board level and public? To what extent does it support and reinforce the ongoing Assessment of priorities and risk?
• How is performance management data collected and used to support learning performance improvement?
• How does the organisation learn from its own activities and those of others?

• How does the organisation demonstrate a clarity of reporting structures, responsiveness and accessibility to all stakeholders?
• In what ways are stakeholders told about the quality of activities being delivered and what they can expect from the organisation in the future?

Overall Summary Conclusion

• Overall, at what stage is the organisation in developing arrangements for this characteristic of Best Value?

Not yet planned Planned Under development Well developed

Approach

• How does the organisation ensure that its approach to external accountability is supported by its governance arrangements?
• How does the organisation identify and engage its stakeholders and how does it assess their needs for information on services and performance?
• How does the organisation ensure information on services and performance is accessible to all stakeholders?
• How does the approach to engagement and providing information complement the diversity of the organisation's stakeholders?
• How does the organisation ensure that stakeholders' views are heard, listened to and acted upon and how does it use stakeholder feedback and other performance information to drive continuous improvement?
• How does the organisation ensure its approach to giving and receiving information from stakeholders remains fit for purpose?

Content

• Does the information provided cover all key aspects of the organisation's operations?
• Does the information provided allow stakeholders to judge how efficiently and effectively the organisation is discharging its functions? What role does qualitative and quantitative information play in that process?
• Does the information provided allow stakeholders to compare performance against:
• • [published] objectives, targets and service outcomes?
  • past performance?
  • improvement plans?
  • where relevant, the performance of other bodies?
  • Does the information provided allow stakeholders to judge how the organisation is likely to perform in future?

• How does the organisation keep a balance between cost, quality and price in making the best use of public resources including employees, ICT, land property and financial resources?
• How does the organisation manage procurement (and its contract management approach) to ensure that it is linked to achieving its objectives?
• How does the organisation demonstrate compliance with the principles of sound financial stewardship?

Overall Summary Conclusion

• Overall, at what stage is the organisation in developing arrangements for this characteristic of Best Value?

Not yet planned Planned Under development Well developed

Risk Management

• How is the identification and management of risk fully embedded in the management processes of the organisation at all levels?
• How is carefully considered risk-taking and innovation promoted within the organisation?

Review

• How are budgets and other resources regularly allocated and monitored to ensure that they are delivering agreed objectives?

Staff

• How are employee's objectives and personal development plans aligned with corporate objectives and performance appraisal?
• How is the contribution of staff to ensuring continuous improvement supported, managed and reviewed?

Assets

• How does the organisation assess the appropriateness of its asset base to its strategic objectives?
• How does the organisation ensure that its tangible and intangible assets are maintained and recorded to appropriate standards?

Procurement

• What strategies are in place to procure goods and services, ensuring they are competitive, adopt best practice, and are linked to the corporate objectives?
• To what extent does the process ensure efficient contract management and consider sustainable development, equalities and health and safety?
• What processes are in place for the effective use of e-procurement?
• How does the organisation assess the efficiency and effectiveness of its procurement processes and current contracts to ensure it gets optimum value from its investments?
• How does the organisation ensure that it places the minimum burden on suppliers during procurement and throughout the life of a contract?

Financial Stewardship

• How does the organisation ensure appropriate compliance with the Scottish Public Finance Manual and other relevant guidance such as the HM Treasury Financial Reporting Manual?
• What frameworks are in place to provide reasonable assurance that there are effective internal control systems in operation?
• What audit procedures have been established within the organisation and is there an Audit Committee with appropriate authority and membership?
• How is financial and general performance reported to Executive and Non-executive leadership of the organisation, to bodies that provide funding and to other stakeholders?

Shared Services

• How does the organisation record the cost and performance of its support and front-line services and then compare these with similar services from others?
• How does the organisation assess the costs, weaknesses, opportunities and risks associated with possible candidates for service sharing?

• How does the organisation communicate effectively with public sector partners, sponsor departments (if appropriate), and the relevant business, the voluntary sector and other relevant stakeholders?
• How do you ensure that the organisation is responsive to the needs of your stakeholders, citizens and customers?
• How are the organisation's plans, priorities and actions informed by an understanding of stakeholder, citizen and customer needs?
• How does the organisation review the effectiveness of its approach to consultation to ensure that this delivers the required outcomes at a reasonable cost?
• In what ways are the organisation's consultation arrangements open, fair, accessible and inclusive?

Overall Summary Conclusion

• Overall, at what stage is the organisation in developing arrangements for this characteristic of Best Value?

Not yet planned Planned Under development Well developed

Stakeholders

• In what ways does the organisation recognise the diversity of its stakeholders?
• How are stakeholder perceptions and feedback used to continually improve upon performance?

Consultation

How has the organisation developed and implemented:

1. an effective and accessible complaints system
2. a methodical approach to identify who to consult and how to undertake the consultation most effectively
3. a systematic approach for co-ordinating consultation exercises and sharing information (as appropriate within legislative constraints and guided by organisational operating context) within the organisation and with other bodies.

• How does the organisation link the results from consultations into the planning cycle in order to inform the designing and improving of services and policies?
• How does the organisation ensure that there is a systematic approach to consultation?
• How does the organisation ensure all interested parties have an opportunity (and are encouraged) to consult with the organisation?
• How does the organisation communicate to stakeholders and partners e.g. actions from consultation exercises?
• What processes are in place to review the effectiveness of the organisation's approach to consultation?

• How does the organisation consider the effectiveness of policy development or the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery?
• When considering opportunities for improvement, how does your organisation demonstrate a fair and open approach in evaluating alternative forms of service delivery?
• How does the organisation prioritise areas for Review and Options Appraisal?

Overall Summary Conclusion

• Overall, at what stage is the organisation in developing arrangements for this characteristic of Best Value?

Not yet planned Planned Under development Well developed

• How does the organisation identify, prioritise and schedule services or strategic themes to be subject to review and option appraisal?
• How is review and option appraisal resourced within the organisation?
• What corporate guidance has been provided on the scope and methodology of review and option appraisal?
• How does the organisation ensure that the views, priorities and concerns of customers, partners and stakeholders are embedded in the review and option appraisal process?
• How does the organisation compare its service levels, performance standards and costs with those of other potential providers or alternative methods of enabling service?
• How is the organisation's programme of review and option appraisal monitored to ensure adequacy of progress and robustness of approach?
• How does the organisation manage implementation of the outcomes of review and option appraisal, and assess the extent to which projected benefits are realised?
• How does the organisation quantify the improvement realised following review and option appraisal, whether from service developments, efficiency gains or cashable savings?

Overall Summary Conclusion

• Overall, at what stage is the organisation in developing arrangements for this characteristic of Best Value?

Not yet planned Planned Under development Well developed

• How does the organisation meet its equal opportunities requirements?
• How does the organisation recognise the diverse needs of groups in the community and reflect these in policy development and service delivery, reviews and designs?
• How does the organisation demonstrate a commitment to mainstream equalities?
• What measures are in place to meet the current and future equal opportunities requirements and eliminate discrimination?

Overall Summary Conclusion

• Overall, at what stage do you think your organisation is in ensuring arrangements are in place to secure Best Value?

Not yet planned Planned Under development Well developed

• How does the organisation show its commitment at both Executive and Non-Executive leadership and senior management levels, to contribute to the achievement of equal opportunities?
• In what ways is your contribution to the achievement of equal opportunities reflected in your organisation's objectives and in all strategies and plans at corporate and operational levels?
• How do you ensure that you consult and engage these plans, priorities and actions with equality groups and the communities affected by them nationally and locally?
• How do your measure and report your performance in contributing to the achievement of equal opportunities?
• Do you conduct impact Assessments on any new policies, services and functions?
• How do you collect and use data on equality issues?
• How do you review activities that take account of equality issues?
• How do you ensure that all members of staff are informed of the organisation's commitment to and objectives for equal opportunities?
• How do you ensure that equal opportunities are included in your employment, process, staff policy and training?

• In what ways does the organisation demonstrate a commitment to working with partnership organisations to ensure a joined up approach?
• What measures and appraisal processes does the organisation have in place to assess the effectiveness of partnership working?
• How does partnership or joint working improve service to the organisation's communities and stakeholders?

Overall Summary Conclusion

• Overall, at what stage is the organisation in developing arrangements for this characteristic of Best Value?

Not yet planned Planned Under development Well developed

• How does the organisation work in partnership to ensure that the following areas are addressed:
  • Agreeing clear shared objectives?
  • Agreeing respective roles and commitments?
  • Checking that all relevant interests are represented in the partnership?
  • Integrated management of resources where appropriate?
  • Effective monitoring of collective performance?
  • Joint problem solving?
  • Reviewing to check that partnership is still the most effective approach?
• How have management ensured the barriers to joint working have been identified and mitigated?
• How does the organisation appraise joint working approaches with regards to the projected benefits?
• How does the organisation work across different departments to see if collaborative purchasing can achieve multiple (including social) benefits?
• How does the organisation ensure it participates effectively in Community Planning Partnerships?
• How does the organisation, through the shared services agenda, seek to promote and explore opportunities for efficiency savings and service improvements?
• How does the organisation formalise working arrangements with partnerships agreeing objectives, performance and protocols?