Agenda item

The purpose of this report is to inform Members of the Internal Audit reports that have been completed since this Committee last considered a Completed Internal Audit Reports item in May 2016 - as attached at Annex 1. 

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Declarations of interest:

None

Witnesses:

Sue Lewry-Jones, Chief Internal Auditor

Charlotte Langridge, Business Intelligence Lead, Adult Social Services

Key points raised during the discussion:

1.    A verbal update was provided on what adult social services had done following the audit report.  The Business Intelligence Lead explained that the e-brokerage system went live in May and that there had been positive feedback from the market for the system on initial testing.  Engaging providers with e-brokerage needed to be done in stages as the system was rolled out.  There was no more development required as the software was created and managed externally.  The e-brokerage system was necessary to provide savings and to deliver home based care efficiently. Staff and providers were being taught how to use the system.  The management team were aware of the challenge of staff turnover and were ensuring that all were aware of how to use new systems.  It was expected that the roll out would be completed by the end of the year.  There would be a further follow up report from Audit when there were enough providers on board.  At that point a discussion would take place as to what to bring back to committee.

2.    The Chief Internal Auditor gave an overview of audit reports issued since the last meeting of the committee.  Council Overview Board (COB) had discussed the Youth Centres audit report and were keen to see another report as soon as possible.  There would be a follow-up audit in six months time.

3.    Members expressed concern about monitoring of the Hillcrest contract to which is was reported that a Management Action Plan had been agreed and audit were looking to ensure that recommendations were addressed through progress updates which would, in turn, be reported to the committee.

4.    The committee sought assurance that staff were not on zero hours contracts.  The Chief Internal Auditor to provide a response on what assurances the council sought on provider staff management and employment conditions.

5.    Members expressed concern about the appearance of an extended delay with Property Asset Management System (PAMS) income module and were told that it could take up to a year before PAMS was operational enough to be audited.  The Council Overview Board had been given assurances that no income had been lost due to it not being operational but equally not realising the savings that were expected from the system.  PAMS was being implemented in modules so some were operational and others not.  Members queried if there was still a partnership with Hampshire County Council.

6.    The committee asked if there was someone dedicated to overseeing PAMS and was told that this was the case but there had been an issue due to capacity constraints created by Orbis.  Denise Le Gal undertook to provide an informal update to the committee.

Actions/ further information to be provided:

1.    The Chief Internal Auditor to provide a response on what assurances the council sought on provider staff management and employment conditions and information regarding duplication of hospital discharge teams of the council and the NHS.

2.    Adult social care IT follow up report to this committee early 2017.

3.    The Chief Internal Auditor to provide a response on whether there was still a partnership with Hampshire CC.

4.    Denise Le Gal to provide committee members with an informal update on the overseeing of PAMS.

Resolved:

The committee noted the report.