Issue - meetings

This report details the work undertaken by Internal Audit in the period 15 August  to 6 October 2023 and focuses on progress on internal audit coverage relative to the approved internal audit plan, including the number of audit reports issued and finalised – work undertaken by the external provider (Mazars).

Mr Minesh Jani, Head of Audit and Risk Management, introduced the report.        

The meeting heard that:

·      It was customary for auditors to take a review six months after the work was finished. Now that the report had been issued, the recommendations would be revisited and assessments would be made as to whether the recommendations had been implemented. This would be brought that back to the Committee. There was always the opportunity to invite the relevant officer to a future meeting if it was felt that recommendations had not progressed appropriately

·      In relation to the issues around SEND, there was a plan in place to make improvements, the timeline for this would be provided to the Committee.

·      In relation to the waiting times noted for the assessments regarding Autistic Spectrum Disorder, the timeline for when the improvements would be provided to the Committee. 

·      In relation to the six-monthly review, there was a slightly different regime for schools. Where schools had been assigned the lowest level assurance, a follow up was carried out. This was usually an annual process (not a six-monthly one). All of the work done during the year would be captured and then a follow-up was completed.  This timescale could be anything from three months to 11 months.

RESOLVED:

To note the audit coverage and follow up work completed.