Audits
Adams Integra provides two forms of audit – a “Health Check” and a Compliance Audit.
We are well known for providing advice, help and assistance to registered provider development departments; we work with the Homes and Communities Agency and understand fully the requirements of the regulators.
Adams Integra have provided a “Health Check” – a voluntary compliance audit of Development Departments for many years but now, in response to the Homes and Communities Agency’s new self certification regime, we provide the Compliance Audit.
The Homes and Communities Agency has said that their expectation is that the certification is completed by an “independent, suitably qualified, experienced and professionally indemnified consultant and auditor”. It expects the “auditor” to be conversant with development procedures and understand the development process. Our unique experience and knowledge of the social housing movement makes us a most suitable organisation to provide this service.
Whichever audit is required we agree with our client a timetable for the audit of the individual schemes and attend a scoping meeting to discuss how the audit will progress.
On satisfactory completion of the audit we provide a report to the association and, where appropriate or required, certification to the Homes and Communities Agency.
At all times we discuss our findings with the client and, of course, we will not communicate any aspect of it to another party without our client’s knowledge and agreement. We will report immediately any significant issues which we feel should be drawn to the client’s attention.
It consists of a review of the following:
Project risk assessment
Board reporting
Scheme appraisals
Compliance with Homes and Communities Agency Capital Funding
Guide and Scheme Development Standards
Compliance with the registered provider standing orders and finance
Regulations and good practice
Tendering procedures and monitoring and performance indicators including OJEU
Compliance with internal and external procedures
Sustainability, HQIs and EcoHomes
We examine issues of probity, accountability and certification in the commissioning and managing of the development programme.
In the course of the review due regard will be given to the adoption of good practice.
We recommend that Health Checks are undertaken on behalf of the lead or host registered provider when registered providers are in, or forming, development consortia or mergers. This is to reduce risk for the lead registered provider by ensuring that all partners can comply with the latest regulatory requirements and have robust and up-to-date procedures and processes and financial ability to develop.