19 July 2002
The new Directorate of Operations is intended to provide a 'single unified service' to audited bodies and will co-ordinate all auditing of accounts and individual service inspections.
But corporate assessments, which will form the basis of Comprehensive Performance Assessments, will be conducted by a separate team.
Adrienne Fresco, the commission's acting chair, said the organisation stood by its decision to introduce inspection as an activity distinct from audit, but added that it was time to join the two together. 'Now that inspection has been firmly established, it is clear that in order to get the most out of both services it is better to have them more closely co-ordinated,' she said.
The integrated department will introduce a corps of 'relationship managers', who will act as a single point of contact between each local authority and the commission.
Three other directors will be appointed to run the commission's activities in relation to local government, the NHS and the criminal justice system. Below these will be ten heads of service: five covering areas of local government, such as housing and education; three for health, overseeing services such as acute and primary care; and two for the criminal justice system.
There will also be a further six directors, taking charge of areas such as strategy and resources.
PFjul2002
