NHSCFA Board meeting 8th August 2022

Date:08/08/22

Meeting time: 14:00 – 14:30

Meeting title: NHSCFA Public Board Meeting (virtual)

Members:

• (TT) Tom Taylor (Non-Executive Director – Chair, NHSCFA)
• (JS) Jayne Scott (Non-Executive Director, NHSCFA)
• (AF) Andrew Flanagan (Non-Executive Director, NHSCFA)
• (GH) Gaon Hart (Non-Executive Director, NHSCFA)
• (AR) Alex Rothwell (Chief Executive Officer, NHSCFA)
• (MJB) Matthew Jordan-Boyd (Director of Finance & Corporate Governance, NHSCFA)
• (TM) Tricia Morrison (Director of Performance & Improvement, NHSCFA)

Attendees:

• (PG) Paul Golightly (Head of DHSC AFU)
• (JA) Jon Arnold (Deputy Policy Manager, DHSC AFU)
• (AS) Ann Sturgess (Head of Business Support & Board Secretary, NHSCFA)
• (SS) Sonia Sousa (Governance & Assurance Assistant, NHSCFA) note taker

Apologies:

• (MS) Martin Spencer (Non-Executive Director, NHSCFA)
• (AC) Alyson Coates (Non-Executive Director, NHSCFA)

Welcome

TT opened the virtual public Board meeting at 2pm and welcomed all those present.

Apologies

Apologies were received from Martin Spencer and Alyson Coates.

Declarations of interest

No new declarations of interest were made.

Opening remarks

TT provided an overview of the 2021-22 year noting the addition of three new NEDs and also a new CEO during this period. He also highlighted all the work involved in:

• the move to a new estate in the Government Hub in London office
• collaboration work with the Department of Health & Social Care (DHSC) to prepare for the introduction of Integrated Care Boards
• successfully laying the Annual Report and Accounts before the summer recess.

On behalf of the Board TT noted his thanks to all NHSCFA staff for the work delivered and to colleagues at the DHSC for their continuous support. TT then formally handed over to AR.

Presentation of Annual Report & Accounts

AR commenced by echoing TT’s words of thanks and then briefly summarised how he had set his personal goals for his first few months with the organisation to listen and learn. He finalised by saying he now feels prepared to develop the future operating model of the organisation.

AR provided keynote remarks concerning the 2021-22 NHSCFA Annual Report & Accounts and highlighted the following:

• the importance of building relationships with other Trusts and Audit Consortia directors
• the fact we no longer need to obtain parliamentary approval to renew our Special Health Authority status
• the importance of developing CFA’s relationship with the wider Counter Fraud community
• completion of the Cloud migration project and the interlinked move to new premises
• progress on the delivery of the organisational Evolution Programme to ensure operating models are able to respond in an agile manner
• the implementation of an in house Human Resources advisory function
• good financial performance by the investigation teams

After thanking TM for professionalising CFA’s approach to performance reporting, AR acknowledged that whilst delivery on performance fell short it had excelled in some areas and had been impacted by COVID 19

AR finalised by mentioning the opportunity to consolidate project and workstreams will now be taken forward within the delivery of the business plan for 2022-23.

MJB briefly described the financial position for the past year including the reasons for underspending on the capital funds. TT noted it was a very solid performance.

TT noted this will the last public Board meeting PG will be attending. On behalf of the Board TT thanks PG for all his support to the organisation as well as his support to the Chair and Non Executive Directors.

TT invited questions from the virtual floor, however none were tabled in advance or on the day.

TT thanked all for attending and formally closed the meeting.