Agenda item

Report by the Director of Finance, Performance and Procurement.

The Committee is asked to review the information detailed in the report and the current Corporate Risk Register, and provide comment as necessary.

17.1   The Committee considered a report by the Director of Finance, Performance and Procurement (copy appended to the signed minutes).

17.2   Mrs Curry, Executive Director Children, Adults, Families, Health & Education, attended the meeting to talk through specific risks on the risk register.

17.3   Mrs Curry spoke through risk CR55 which referred to work which recognised the peer review recommendations relating to compliance and governance.  The 100 day programme had sought to address the issues and the effectiveness of the programme was currently being reviewed.  The momentum from the programme would continue.

17.4   The Committee made comments including those that follow.

•    Sought clarity on home closures, the level of notice received, and the proactive work to identify problems.  – Mrs Curry explained that the County Council rarely received notice of a home closure; citing Horncastle House where there had only been 24 hours notice.  The County Council monitored homes within its capacity, but it was the Care Quality Commission (CQC) with the ultimate responsibility and access to homes’ financial health.  Contracts were with individuals, not homes, which ensured that individual needs were met.  Individuals had an allocates social worker and an annual review of their contract.

•    Queried what the County Council had done in the case of Horncastle House.  – Mrs Curry reported that officers had stopped sending people there when it was aware of safeguarding concerns.  The County Council would work with the CQC to facilitate homes and their registration status.  The County Council was operating in the best way possible within its parameters.

17.5   Mrs Curry spoke through risk CR56 and specially the issues relating to the backlog work for Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).  The criteria for DoLS had changed which had raised problems for all authorities.  Efforts were being made to streamline the process.  Mrs Curry explained that when she joined the County Council in January she asked Internal Audit to look into DoLS.  The 100 day programme had included work on DoLS and the move was now to introduce this work into the general day to day work.  Staff were being retrained and officers were looking into induction arrangements.

17.6   Ms Eberhart, Director of Finance, Performance and Procurement, introduced the report and highlighted the changes in the risk register following requests made at the previous meeting; with high scoring risks being highlighted.  Processes were in place to review financial standards for suppliers, with a report on this going to the Procurement Board.

17.7   Ms Eberhart reported that progress was being made with risk management e-learning and lunch and learn sessions.  Dr Dennis reported that he had met with Mr Pake to discuss this and would continue to have meetings every 6 months to ensure this is embedded.  It was reported that Mr Pake was happy to meet with committee members individually if they wished.

17.8   The Committee made comments including those that follow.

•    Queried the progress of improving risk culture across the County Council.  – Ms Eberhart reported that having a dedicated risk manager had made a big difference as Mr Pake met with officers regularly.  The Executive Leadership Team also had a weekly discussion on risk.  Mr Pake was working towards ensuring consistency across the authority.

•    Questioned the status for Risk CR53.  – Ms Eberhart explained that the risk ownership change was linked to the Director leaving.  Once the re-appointment had taken place the risk would be reallocated.

•    Noted the list of suppliers in Appendix B and queried company 34.  – Ms Eberhart explained that this supplier was linked to children with learning difficulties and there was an issue linked with financing/ hedge fund movements.

17.9   Resolved – That the Committee notes the information detailed in the report and the current Corporate Risk Register.