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11 September, 2008
10.00 - 15:15
Jephson Housing Association Group, Central Office, Stoneleigh Road, Blackdown, Leamington Spa, Warks, CV32 6RE

The day includes a detailed analysis of the problems that led to Ujima’s demise; a discussion about the National Anti-Fraud Network and how the RSL sector might benefit from the services it might offer; a case study description of financial crime investigation, internal audit adding value; and consideration of procurement and contract audit in the sector and CIPFA’s new Contract Audit Forum.  

The seminar is kindly being hosted in Blackdown, Leamington Spa by Christine Davison at Jephson Housing Group. Attendance is free for up to three people from member organisations.    

If you are interested in attending this event please contact christine.davison@jephson.org.uk  Places will be allocated in the order of applications received.  Additional delegates and non-members are offered places, subject to availability, at a cost of £35 per person.

The timetable is:
 
10.00  Coffee on arrival

10.30  Forum Business

10.45  “Ujima: Causes and Lessons Learned" – Chris Mansfield, Managing Consultant, Hargreaves Risk & Strategy (HRS)

Chris will highlight the main issues for associations arising from the Report of the Ujima Inquiry published on 28 July 2008, and make recommendations on how housing associations may wish to respond to the report.  You may be able to tick off the majority of the recommendations as already in place, in which case this should give your organisation assurance that you are not at risk from the higher intensity of regulatory intervention expected as a result of the fall out from the events concerning Ujima.

Chris joined HRS after a long career in the social housing sector. He has in-depth operational knowledge of the workings of RSLs as well as of the risk environment for housing associations and Care/Support businesses.  He designed the risk profiling model used by the Housing Corporation as part of their risk-based regulation system, and has implemented risk management systems in a number of associations.

He was previously with the Metropolitan Housing Trust, where he became Group Risk Manager.  During his four years in this post he was responsible for risk management, business risk assessment, health and safety, insurance and the management of governance issues. 

11.25   “The National Anti-Fraud Network (NAFN)” – Jeremy Frost, UK South Regional Intelligence Manager, National Anti-Fraud network        

Members of the HIAF Executive Committee have met a couple of times with NAFN representatives to explore the scope for their services to be made available in the RSL sector.  Given the mobility of clients, contractors and staff between the RSLs and local authorities, we could well find access to NAFN services a useful asset in the fight against fraud.  Jeremy is based at Brighton and Hove City Council and will explain how NAFN works as well as the potential for RSLs involvement.

Since its formation, NAFN has helped councils identify numerous frauds which have resulted in considerable savings to the taxpayer. Currently, approximately 340 Local Authorities in England, Wales and Scotland are fully paid up members of NAFN.  Within local government NAFN:

• Provides an instant circulation service from one local authority to all local authorities with a view to obtaining further information and locating fraudulent activities.
• Offers local authorities access to services that they may not have, in order to assist with investigation work.
• Passes on information relating to fraud from external agencies to local authorities.
• Collates fraud intelligence from local authorities and external agencies.
• Provides regular bulletins containing intelligence on actual fraud cases.
• Maintains a national fraud database for access only by local authorities.
• Obtains intelligence to assist with serious fraud investigations by local authorities

12.05  Coffee

12.15  “Carrying out a Financial Crime Investigation” – Detective Inspector Shane Roberts, Head of Economic Crime, Bedfordshire Police

Shane Roberts is currently Detective Inspector with Bedfordshire Police and Head of Economic Crime for the Constabulary. His specialist investigation area is in relation to the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) and one of his current responsibilities is the Strategic Co-Ordination and Operational delivery of POCA performance across all business areas of the Force.

He has been involved in money laundering and asset recovery Investigations for five years, proactively investigating organised crime groups and terrorist financing at local, regional, national and international level and was recently awarded a Crown Court Judge's Commendation for his leadership and investigative ability on Operation Navigate, the case about which he will speak today.

He has trained lawyers, executive officers and practitioners in a host of government agencies in using the provisions of POCA for law enforcement and provided anti-money laundering awareness training to individuals and businesses within the public and private sector.
 
13.00  Lunch

14.00  “Internal Audit Adding Value” – Afzal Ismail, Group Risk and Compliance Director, Orbit Housing Group
   
Afzal heads up the risk and compliance function for the group and is responsible for Risk, Audit, Insurance, Governance, H&S, Research & Business Information.  He is a respected speaker in the sector and has contributed to board member training for the NHF as well as being well known within HIAF as a long-standing supporter of, and contributor to, the Forum.

He will talk about how internal audit can add value to an organisation in how it goes about its business.

14.40  “Procurement and Contract Audit in RSLs /   CIPFA Procurement and Contract Audit Forum (PCAF)” – speaker to be advised

This new Forum has been established in response to a view that the contracting activities of public sector organisations have increased substantially over the years, leading to a corresponding increase in associated risks, yet less contract audit work is being undertaken.  There is a perceived need to significantly raise the profile of contract audit in the UK and PCAF is seen as being a suitable catalyst for achieving this.

The purpose of PCAF is to discuss and identify the current ‘state of the art’ of contract audit, and to look at ways in which we can raise the profile of contract audit through, for example, establishing a network across organisations/regions/sectors with firm links to other professional bodies (e.g. Constructing Excellence). The Forum is to comprise a small group of people representing either regional UK audit groups or sectors, and HIAF is represented.  This session will explore how the housing sector can contribute to and benefit from this new initiative.

15.15  Close

Contact

Christine Davison
Email christine.davison@jephson.org.uk

 

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