Our current budget provides funding to cover all expenditure associated with operating SCoSS within the guidance of an NDPB.

We are supported by a small secretariat. This, along with our operational costs and members’ fees, is funded from a Commission budget. To accommodate an additional Board member, and secretariat staffing resource agreed with the Minister for Social Security and Local Government, we anticipate an increase over and above our 2021-22 budget which was £340,000.

Our governance, assurance and risk management approaches should be robust, proportionate and accord with relevant principles and legislation. To ensure that this is the case, we will:

• Deliver on our corporate responsibilities, ensure that we create a sound governance framework and demonstrate value for money through our audited accounts.
• Deploy our audit adviser to provide independent scrutiny and advice on governance, risk management, the control environment and the integrity of financial statements and our annual report.
• Review our corporate documents in accordance with agreed review period.
• Ensure professional development plans are in place for Board members as part of annual appraisals and where possible provide training opportunities for members to support them in their role as a NDPB board member.
• Identify new areas of learning and development as well as any work practice efficiencies collectively as a Board.
• Ensure SCoSS core values are embedded in our working practice.
• Deliver our agreed workplan efficiently and effectively in a timely manner and with adequate resource to do so.