The Audit Commission has a long history
of working with other professional inspectorates and agencies.
During the 1990s, closer partnerships have been developed
to get the most out of the powerful contribution that such
co-operation can make to the maintenance of public standards.
In October 1998, the Public Audit Forum was launched to
provide a focus for developmental thinking about, and to
enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of, public audit.
Its members include the four national audit agencies: the
National
Audit Office (NAO), the Northern
Ireland Audit Office (NIAO), the Audit Commission and
Audit
Scotland. The Forum provides a strategic focus on issues
cutting across the agencies' work and is developing common
principles for public audit.
Partnerships can provide a powerful combination of skills
- the Commission's cross-sectoral experience and ability
to assess arrangements for managing resources, with the
professional expertise of inspectorates. Partnerships also
give greater impetus for change through the simultaneous
delivery of a joint message. As this type of work expands,
the challenge for the growing number of audit, inspection
and other regulatory bodies will be to work together effectively
in Wales in the same way that providers of services are
increasingly being required to do.
An example of the way that the Commission operates in partnership
is the work undertaken with the National
Assembly's Social Services Inspectorate. We undertake
Joint
Reviews of a number of local authority social services
departments each year and will review every social services
authority in Wales over a five-year period.
The reviews provide an independent assessment of how well
the public is being served by social services locally, identifying
what authorities do well and highlighting areas where they
could improve.
Reports are made available to the public as well as to those
providing the service. The review team also publishes an
annual report, regular bulletins on good practice and leaflets
informing the public and councillors of a review's details.
The Commission also works in a similar way with Estyn
on the inspection of LEAs and is developing opportunities
for joint working with the Commission
for Health Improvement.
Working closely with other government partners in Wales
such as the Welsh
Local Government Association (WLGA) and Syniad
in order to share experiences, collaborate on support for
local authorities, and ensure no duplication of effort,
is a key part of working practices in Wales.
The Commission also works in collaboration with the National
Audit Office on a number of projects in Wales. |