All NHS organisations are required to have one or more Local Counter Fraud Specialists – see NHS Requirement 9 under the Counter Fraud Functional Standard. The Local Counter Fraud Specialist (LCFS) is an accredited counter fraud professional who delivers both proactive work (e.g. raising fraud awareness, preventing and deterring fraud) and reactive work to hold those who commit fraud to account (e.g. fraud investigations).
An LCFS may be employed internally, shared with neighbouring NHS bodies or employed through an external contractor. The LCFS works at the frontline of the NHS fight against fraud, as an operational leader responsible for delivering a comprehensive counter fraud service to their NHS body.
An essential part of the NHS counter fraud community, LCFSs work closely with Counter Fraud Champions, Audit Committee Chairs and Directors of Finance/Chief Financial Officers (DOFs/CFOs). They are also required to work and act in accordance with NHSCFA guidance and relevant legislation.
You can contact your NHS organisation’s LCFS for advice and support on counter fraud matters. You can also report any suspicions or concerns of fraud against an NHS organisation to their LCFS (and you can always report NHS fraud to the NHSCFA).
If you are an LCFS, or about to start work as an LCFS, you can find more information on the role – including how to get nominated to the NHSCFA – on this page.
LCFS nominations
All LCFSs have to be nominated to the NHS Counter Fraud Authority by the NHS organisation(s) which employs them (or contracts them in).
In order for you to become a nominated LCFS, please send the following documents to nominations@nhscfa.gov.uk:
- a copy of your accreditation certificate or certificate number
- your completed nomination form
- the completed security information sheet (this is used to set security questions for password resets)
If possible, please send all the items above at the same time.
You will be given access to the CLUE case management system, in respect of the organisation(s) that you have been nominated by, and to NHS Counter Fraud Authority's Extranet.
If training is required, please note that we no longer deliver the Accredited Counter Fraud Specialist course. Details of course providers can be obtained from the Counter Fraud Professional Accreditation Board (CFPAB), which oversees the delivery of the course at a national level.
For more information and guidance about the nomination process, please read our Guidance on the nomination of Local Counter Fraud Specialists (updated September 2024).
If you have any queries, please email nominations@nhscfa.gov.uk.
Frequently asked questions
Below we have answered some common questions about the LCFS nomination process.
Do I need to submit a nomination form for each organisation I am nominated by?
Yes, it is a requirement for LCFSs to submit one nomination form for each organisation they are nominated by.
If you are nominated by a further organisation after your ID card has been issued, you can simply send a new nomination form to nominations@nhscfa.gov.uk (there will be no need to resend the other items listed above).
I work at a different location to my manager and the Director of Finance: do I need to obtain actual signatures?
Yes, actual signatures or digital signatures are required to verify that the nomination is authorised. Blank fields and typed signatures are not acceptable.
I am a support LCFS in an organisation, but I am about to become the lead LCFS. Do I need to complete a new nomination form?
Yes, in order to become a lead LCFS you need to complete a new nomination form to demonstrate this change has been authorised. A lead LCFS can change to a support LCFS with an email notification, however a support LCFS cannot become a lead without a nomination form.
Digital Forensic Unit
The NHSCFA's Digital Forensic Unit (DFU) can provide forensic computing and other services for investigations carried out by LCFSs. Please visit the Digital Forensic Unit section of the website for more information. Please be advised that any referral to access DFU services for investigative work will need to be made through the Fraud Hub Enforcement Team.