Housing and Council Tax Benefit in Wales Presentation to IRRV South Wales Association Lisa Williams April 2008

Lisa Williams Slide 2 Introduction Opportunity to provide current thoughts on developing WAO’s work in respect of HB/CTB Builds on previous presentations at various forums

Lisa Williams Slide 3 Overall Approach Key principle has been to ‘rationalise and integrate audit and inspection work’ wherever possible by: –Fully integrating the inspection of HB and CTB into the Wales Programme for Improvement (WPI) –Developed a risk based approach to inspection activity –Aligning this inspection activity to the audit work WAO already undertakes e.g. subsidy claim certification, PI work –Use existing information better (Collect Once, Use Numerous Times - COUNT)

Lisa Williams Slide 4 Progress to date Who Partner – Jane Holownia Project Manager – Lisa Williams Support from experienced WPI specialist following BFI secondee returning to BFI in Jan 2008 HB Performance Specialist joining WAO mid May 2008 Stakeholder Group Ongoing Liaison with the Audit Commission and Audit Scotland Continuing to learn from each other’s proposals and consider common issues together including: –Risk assessment –Inspection methodologies – Audit Commission KLOEs –Reporting –Links with PDT and ongoing DWP monitoring arrangements

Lisa Williams Slide 5 Progress to date WAO / DWP Roles Changing roles – learning for both DWP and WAO Refocus of ‘Engagement Board’ to ‘Performance Review Board’ – first meeting in January Two way discussion of ‘concerns’ Now have dedicated Welsh liaison contact – Tony Withers (also covering Audit Scotland) and ongoing links with LAPT (Phil Mercer) Regular meetings with Tony Withers to discuss issues prior to the Performance Review Board. Will be developed into a MOU. Intervention arrangements protocol New data collection arrangements and implications for our risk assessment model

Lisa Williams Slide 6 Where to Inspect? Clear risk based approach – in line with principles of WPI Issues that are considered in the Risk Assessment Model: –Performance – PIs, Performance Standards –Internal Audit reports, DWP concerns, subsidy claim issues, NFI –Services, outcomes or users at risk? –Ministerial directions Emerging picture for Wales is a positive one with overpayments as a possible main thematic for 2008 plus some specific issues to follow up at individual sites. If risks identified cannot be addressed by other means

Lisa Williams Slide 7 Risk Assessments Progress: Completed 22 initial site visits Completed 2 round table meetings – several more drafts sent and awaiting confirmation of dates/ sign off Round table meetings format – need for physical meeting at all sites to sign off the assessment? Inspection programme will be drawn up when all RAs have been signed off

Lisa Williams Slide 8 Draft Inspection Framework Draft Framework has been developed based on the KLOEs Developed into 4 main questions: –Is it clear what the service aims to achieve? –Is the service meeting the needs of the community and/or users? –Is the service delivering outcomes for users and the community? –Is the service delivering value for money? Questions will be applied to the specific aspect identified as a risk in the risk assessment only – not necessarily the whole service Exact questions will be agreed at the start of the inspection at an ‘issues analysis’ meeting with the council Consultation closes 9 th May 2008

Lisa Williams Slide 9 Reporting Will follow WAO house style and methodology – i.e. drawing conclusions with the client present based on agreed ‘findings’ Will not be giving a ‘fair’, ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ rating as will be the case in England (WAO framework doesn’t give descriptors of these) Will give clear conclusions that relate to the questions agreed and covered in the inspection activity. Will form a view on the councils’ prospects for improvement Will provide reports to DWP for consideration by Secretary of State.

Lisa Williams Slide 10 Use of Resources Audit Commission will include HB/CTB in their Use of Resources (UoR) and Direction of Travel assessments – no plans to undertake these in Wales Risk assessment methodology will be developed over time and this may include more data re spend, caseload, deprivation

Lisa Williams Slide 11 Stakeholder engagement Nationally WAO will continue to attend meetings and conferences to update on developments in Wales and keep up to date with national issues. Regulators Will continue to maintain close links with Audit Commission and Audit Scotland Welsh developments Will continue with our Stakeholder Group

Lisa Williams Slide 12 Future developments Finalise Inspection Programme for 2008/09 Complete round table meetings Integrate new staff Strong LA background Liaison with WAO Housing Association Inspection teams Risk assessment model Refine reporting format Develop value for money theme – benchmarking? Detailed review of costs and structures? Timing of updates in line with JRA Impact of performance standards and PI changes.

Lisa Williams Slide 13 Future developments Subsidy audit Possible changes and more integrated with inspection work in accordance with COUNT principle Good Practice Exchange Shared learning forum

Lisa Williams Slide 14 Contacts Lisa Williams, Project Manager –24 Cathedral Road, Cardiff, CF11 9LJ – or