Agenda item

The purpose of this report is to inform Members of the Internal Audit reports that have been completed since the last meeting.

Declarations of interest:

None

Witnesses:

David John, Audit Performance Manager

Russell Banks, Chief Internal Auditor

Liz Mills, Assistant Director, Schools & Learning

Mary Burguieres, Continuous Improvement and Change Strategic Lead

Mary Lewis, Cabinet Member for Education

Key points raised during the discussion:

1.    The Audit Performance Manager presented the report, featuring seven completed audits, six of which were rated as reasonable assurances and invited Members to comment.

2.    The Chairman commented on the Members Allowances and expenses audit and suggested that Members’ non-compliance of procedure should be highlighted to political group leaders in order to address the issue.

3.    There was a discussion about how receipts would be provided once the electronic Member expense system went live.

4.    Members commented on the Revenue Budget Monitoring audit, raising concern that one of the actions listed appeared to be a one-off rather than an ongoing process.  The Audit Performance Manager explained that managing access was part of a much larger piece of work around managing leavers which will be undertaken later in the year.

5.    The Chief Internal Auditor explained that the process was also affected by staff transferring to new roles internally within the organisation and therefore the scope of work would include transfers as well as leavers.  

There was a short adjournment to wait for officers and the Cabinet Member to attend to introduce the SEND2020 audit.  Meeting adjourned at 11:53am and reconvened at 12:01pm.

6.    The Audit Performance Manager explained that it had previously been agreed that CSF audit findings be shared with management to allow for remedial action to be undertaken before the report was shared publicly.

7.    Members were informed that field work for parts of this audit began in May 2016 and there were concerns around the time taken in addressing some of the key findings.

8.    The Assistant Director for Schools & Learning explained that she had identified the lack of a quality assurance framework soon after taking up post in July 2016 and had started to implement changes within the service to address key issues.  This included the recent appointment of the Continuous Improvement and Change Strategic Lead officer and working towards changing the culture of the service. 

9.    The Committee asked the officers to summarise their key areas of focus for the coming six months.  The Assistant Director of Schools & Learning stated that the service planned to complete the five priorities as set out in the Council’s Written Statement of Action by December 2017.

10.  The Continuous Improvement and Change Strategic Lead officer highlighted that a Rapid Improvement Event had been held to improve the process of delivering Education and Health Care Plans, working with families to streamline the service.  Timely delivery has increased from 28% to 62% as a result.

11.  The Cabinet Member informed Members that the key areas of focus that had been pledged to the Minister for Children and Families were:

·         To deepen and expand the scope for change

·         Drive improvements in the timeliness and quality of assessments

·         To further reduce waiting times for therapies

·         To improve experience for families.

·         To better communicate the local offer.

12.  The Audit Performance Manager indicated that some parts of the service would receive follow-up visits from audit towards the end of 2017, whilst the Quality Assurance framework would be re-audited later to allow time for it to be embedded.

Action/Further information to be provided:

None

Resolved:

1.    The Committee noted the results of the completed internal audit reports.

2.    The Committee was supportive of the approach being taken by officers in addressing the key findings of the SEND2020 audit report.