Strategic plans: statutory guidance - consultation

4. Monitoring performance (section 42)

Section 42 of the 2014 Act outlines that integration authorities must produce an annual performance report that sets out an assessment of performance in planning and carrying out integration functions for the reporting year.

While there is a great degree of flexibility in how integration authorities may present their annual performance report, a number of key aspects must be covered. Performance must be assessed in the context of the arrangement set out in the integration authority's strategic plan and financial statement. The annual performance report must relate to the national health and wellbeing outcomes. Performance should be monitored against the core suite of integration indicators. Integration authorities may wish to take these requirements into account when compiling their strategic plan to ensure the two documents are clearly and effectively aligned.

Further detail on annual reporting requirements is set out in the statutory guidance on performance reporting.

Reflecting on performance

To ensure appropriate performance monitoring against strategic plans, integration authorities should take into account the performance reporting requirements and statutory guidance early in the formation of their strategic plan's vision and priorities.

A key aim of performance reporting is for integration authorities to reflect and use findings in a proactive way.

Integration authorities should consider their performance against the ambitions communicated in their strategic plans and use insight and learning to inform future strategic direction, service design, and delivery in a meaningful way.