Walsingham
We have been working with Walsingham over a number of years as internal auditors. As a provider of services to individuals with learning disabilities, they face many challenges in the current climate with the increase of commissioning, downward pressure on costs as well as the personalisation agenda. These issues impact directly on how services are delivered to their client group as well as the back office functions.
Our initial work focussed on a review of their approach to risk management. This had a dual purpose - firstly to add value to the risk assessment and management process and secondly to form the basis of an internal audit programme.
The internal audit programme then focussed on key risk areas such as voids management and recruitment; combined with an assurance approach to the operation of core systems such as payroll and income processing. The ongoing programme has also examined quality assurance systems and the involvement of service users in the running of the organisation. The last year has seen a review of the management of funding and contracts, in particular looking at bidding process as well as ongoing contract management.
Recently we have supported them with more strategic reviews looking at organisational structure. These were outside the routine internal audit cycle and aim to support major changes for the organisation. These reviews and the ongoing internal audit programme aim to assist Walsingham in being fit for purpose in the context of challenges facing the health and social care organisations.
"Sayer Vincent have been Walsingham's internal auditors since 2007 and throughout this time through a variety of reviews and other commissioned pieces of work have been invaluable in the organisaiton's overall development and continual quest to do things better. Sayer Vincent's team of consultants have between them a wealth of experience and expertise which has proved extremely helpful. Through working in partnership, the consultants have also learnt a thing or two about the learning disability sector."