Internal Security
BFI REF.	REPORT RECOMMENDATION	ACTIONS	BY WHEN	OUTCOME	PROGRESS
6.6	Urgently revises its post opening procedures taking account of the weaknesses surrounding supervision and assurance, segregation of duties and items of value received, particularly ensuring that each returned HB cheque is entered as an individual entry.	Post opening staff not involved in processing benefits. Draft  and agree procedures	May 04	More secure post arrangements	Completed
6.6	Introduces a formally documented monthly management check of compliance with post opening good practice.	Checks carried out and reported	Apr 04	Meet standards	Completed
6.12	Introduces and applies the recruitment checks recommended by Audit Commission for all Benefits service staff, including agency staff.	Check on previous employers now being carried out for all new staff and new procedures set by HR Section	Jul-04	Better internal control	Completed and Ongoing
6.12	Introduces management controls to ensure that a register of interests declared by staff is set up, maintained and kept up-to-date and secure arrangement are in place for benefit claims affected by such declarations.	Line managers to monitor	Jul--04	More secure post arrangements	Corporate requirement from February 2004
6.2	Ensures its recruitment and vetting procedures are reviewed annually by Internal Audit or another independent body.	Procedure set corporately	Jul--04	Include in Audit report	Completed
6.2	Ensures its Internal Audit function includes the size of HB and CTB payments in the risk assessment that informs its annual work programme,   maintains an up-to-date model of key internal controls and carries out annual tests of their effectiveness, and uses Performance Standards to assess the performance of the Benefits service.	Review Audit programme - Number of days allocated to benefits increased for 2004/5.	Sep 04	Better controls	Ongoing
6.41	Cheques are handled securely at all stages of the cheque dispatch process:	Access restricted to Systems staff, Print room has security lock	Mar-04	Management checks	Completed
6.41	Ensures that the record book for cheques to be delivered by hand is fully maintained and that regular management checks are introduced and recorded.	Cheques are not now delivered	Oct-03	Management checks	Completed
6.41	Ensures that procedures are implemented to investigate cheques that remain un-cashed 3 months after issue.	Improve format of report from Financial system	Jun-04	Management checks	Completed