To establish the extent to which the key objective of the Next Steps initiative of improved management and delivery of Government services more efficiently and effectively within available resources for the benefit of taxpayers, customers and staff has been met by the Public Trust Office since its launch as an agency on 1 July 1994; to identify lessons learnt since launch; and to make recommendations for the future delivery of the services the agency provides with particular reference to the following:
an evaluation of the agency's past and current performance, taking account of any changes in its operating environment, and identifying ways of further improving performance: the extent to which the aims, objectives and key targets of the Public Trust Office have been met, and their continued appropriateness;
the extent to which improvements have been made to the economy and efficiency of the Public Trust Office; the delivery of services to and consultation with its customers; and the potential for increasing efficiency and effectiveness through partnerships with private sector and/or public service organisations;
the changes that have been made in all areas of management and training within the Public Trust Office and the effect of agency status on Public Trust Office staff;
the relationship between the Public Trust Office and (a) the Court of Protection (b) the LCD (c) Ministers and (d) Central Departments and its effectiveness;
what additional freedoms, flexibilities or delegations have been introduced and their impact on performance with emphasis on strategic management, target setting and arrangements for providing policy advice;
the recommendations of the Comptroller and Auditor General in his Report “Protecting the Financial Welfare of People with Mental Incapacity” and the subsequent recommendations of the Committee of Public Accounts as reflected in the HM Treasury Minute in response;
the potential impact on the agency of the Government's conclusion on the response to the consultation paper, "Who Decides?": Making Decisions on Behalf of Mentally Incapacitated Adults”.