Issue - meetings

That the overall findings of the Internal Audit report published in August 2013 and management actions taken to address improvements and application of existing controls be noted.      

The Head of Adult Services introduced a report to provide Members with an opportunity to consider the outcome of the internal audit of Adult Safeguarding Arrangements which was completed in July 2013.

He detailed the background to the report and explained that the audit reflected on areas of good practice, where improvement was needed and areas where management needed to ensure full application of existing controls.  Paragraph 3.05 detailed the actions which had been taken in response to the improvement areas noted and the need for application of existing controls to ensure that there was no likelihood of increased risk materialising in this area.

In response to a comment from Councillor Dave Mackie about timings for electronic connectivity for all partner agencies needs to be prioritised and actively pursued, the Head of Adult Services said that it was not possible to include a timescale but added that guidance was now in place from Welsh Government on a simplified assessment process. 

The Chair spoke about a meeting of Chairs and Vice-Chairs where it had been suggested that Internal Audit consider the risk to the Council from Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.  

Councillor Hilary McGuill spoke of the responsibility of the authority under Protection of Vulnerable Adults (POVA) in relation to the sexual health of adults in sheltered accommodation or with learning disabilities.  She felt that there should be a process in place.  In response, the Head of Adult Services said that the issue would be managed and that steps would be put in place but added that he would speak to the team to establish whether further structures would be appropriate..  The Internal Audit Manager said that it was the role of Internal Audit to see that processes were in place, not to design them but if it was an area of concern, the overall system could be looked at.  He said that the Internal Audit report was good and said that at the time of writing the report in May 2013 there had been four recommendations outstanding.  He welcomed the good progress that had been made. 

The Chair welcomed the opportunity for the Committee to be able to refer issues to Internal Audit and Audit Committee. 

RESOLVED:

That the overall findings of the Internal Audit report published in August 2013 and management actions taken to address improvements and application of existing controls be noted.