The Controls Assurance assessments have identified areas for improvement in the systems and processes to maintain compliance. Action plans are in place to achieve progress in 2014/15. 8.3 Corporate Risk and Assurance Report The BSO receives much of its assurance through its Corporate Risk and Assurance Report which contains the risks to the achievement of BSO Objectives, outlines the existing controls and assurances and identifies gaps in controls or assurances and outlines any necessary actions required to close these gaps. Progress on risk actions, changes to the risk profile were monitored monthly by SMT and quarterly by the BSO Board. The Corporate Risk and Assurance Report provides a structure for the Accounting Officer, the GAC and the BSO Board for acquiring and examining the evidence to support the Governance Statement 8.4 Mid-Year and Annual Governance Statements The Board evaluates it effectiveness of its risk and assurance arrangements each year through the submission of a mid-year and annual assurance statement to the DHSSPS. The mid-year statement supplements the year end Governance Statement by providing in-year assurance on the continuing robustness of the BSO system of internal governance including the identification of governance matters that have arisen. 8.5 Audit Control Process All internal and external audit reports and reviews are presented to the GAC. Management responses to the recommendations are scrutinised by the Committee. To ensure the timely implementation of actions arising from such reports the BSO implements an Audit Control Process. This involves: uploading of all audit recommendations to the Audit Reporting Tracker database; regular updates from responsible managers outlining progress made with an explanation for any delays in implementation if required; scrutiny of recommendation updates by the Director of Finance and, if necessary, a requests for remedial action; regular presentation of progress reports on recommendations to the GAC; a review of all recommendations by the Senior Management Team.
The Controls Assurance assessments have identified areas for improvement in the systems and processes to maintain compliance. Action plans are in place to achieve progress in 2014/15. 8.3 Corporate Risk and Assurance Report The BSO receives much of its assurance through its Corporate Risk and Assurance Report which contains the risks to the achievement of BSO Objectives, outlines the existing controls and assurances and identifies gaps in controls or assurances and outlines any necessary actions required to close these gaps. Progress on risk actions, changes to the risk profile were monitored monthly by SMT and quarterly by the BSO Board. The Corporate Risk and Assurance Report provides a structure for the Accounting Officer, the GAC and the BSO Board for acquiring and examining the evidence to support the Governance Statement 8.4 Mid-Year and Annual Governance Statements The Board evaluates it effectiveness of its risk and assurance arrangements each year through the submission of a mid-year and annual assurance statement to the DHSSPS. The mid-year statement supplements the year end Governance Statement by providing in-year assurance on the continuing robustness of the BSO system of internal governance including the identification of governance matters that have arisen. 8.5 Audit Control Process All internal and external audit reports and reviews are presented to the GAC. Management responses to the recommendations are scrutinised by the Committee. To ensure the timely implementation of actions arising from such reports the BSO implements an Audit Control Process. This involves: uploading of all audit recommendations to the Audit Reporting Tracker database; regular updates from responsible managers outlining progress made with an explanation for any delays in implementation if required; scrutiny of recommendation updates by the Director of Finance and, if necessary, a requests for remedial action; regular presentation of progress reports on recommendations to the GAC; a review of all recommendations by the Senior Management Team.
DraftGovernanceStatement(1).docx