Decision details

Internal Audit is currently carrying out a volume of responsive work that is well above anticipated levels. A member of the audit team has also recently left the authority. This leaves a shortfall in resources within the existing team to deliver planned audit work which is required to discharge the team’s obligations to provide an effective internal audit service and to support the Council’s Chief Financial Officer discharge some of his responsibilities set out under Section 151 of the Local Government Act.

The ideal resource required is a highly experienced Internal Auditor with experience of Audit in Adult Social Care where a lot of planned audit work is needed to be carried out, and is currently un-resourced.
A suitable person is known and has been introduced to Reed Specialist Recruitment Ltd in accordance with prescribed arrangements and is available for an immediate start. The person is anticipated to work for an approximate four month period to deliver the currently intended programme of work. This person was used previously this year with a programme of work completed in September 2017.

This support will also be helpful to the Director of Adults Health and Wellbeing in discharging his professional obligations and his internal requirements in managing the service in a controlled and efficient manner. He is aware of shortcomings in internal control arrangements in the directorate, many of which have been reported to the Audit Committee, which this resource will be helpful in mitigating.
Update June 2018 – the assignment was complete by 31st March 2018 and covered a 13 week period of January 2018 to March 2018 inclusive at a slightly higher daily rate of £382.70 due to increased National Insurance costs.

To appoint an interim resource for Internal Audit through the Council's agency contract with Reed to help manage delivery of the internal audit plan for 2017/18.

Option 1 - Recruit as normal asap
Option 2 - Use the Councils contract with Reed Specialist Recruitment Ltd Reed

Recruiting to the team will result in a delay in acquiring the additional resource needed and may be unsuccessful due to the availability of the specialist nature and experience required for the person.

A suitable person is known and has been introduced to Reed Specialist Recruitment Ltd in accordance with established procedures and is available for an immediate start upon completion of the required checks.