Blackpool Council CounterFraud Team

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Blackpool Council Counter-Fraud Team

• CIPFA Audit Group
• Fraud Forum
• Park Hall
• 18th November 2005

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SUMMARY

• Outstanding sanction performance
• Extensive and successful joint working
• Proactive approach to training and development
  and marketing

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Performance (1)

• Top performance nationally in recent DWP sanction
  league table
• Continued strong results with expansion in team
  size
• Retained CPA 4 in recent re-inspection
• Good proactive / reactive mix

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Performance (2)

• Self-contained and self-sufficient, cover own
  costs comfortably
• Good sifting criteria, use of DWP and Visiting
  Teams as avenues
• 2004/5 294 sanctions
• Stable, experienced team
• Team targets and SMART individual targets

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Partnerships (1)

• Tradition of partnership working Blackpool
  Assist then FAIT
• Support for Benefits Beacon bid and subsequent
  best practice workshops
• Joint Chair of Lancs Fraud Operational Board
• AGMA prosecution file preparation unit
• LAIOG and NFI involvement
• Host and chair multi-agency group

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Partnerships (2)

• Working with DWP since 1999, including living
  together strategy and co-location
• 77 joint sanctions with DWP last year, and
  benefits for core work from close ties
• Insurance claims investigation
• Positive approach to police joint working
• Corporate investigation work with internal audit

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Development

• Consolidation on PINS Bond Solon Advanced
  Investigative Practice certificate
• Eleven staff with PINS qualification including
  Intelligence Officer
• Inclusion of fraud training on Council risk
  management programmes
• Use of Council management and supervisory
  development programme

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Technology

• Latest fraud management system
• INSEARCH data searching tool
• Internal payroll / benefits matching before NFI
• Dedicated HBMS and NFI investigators
• Joint working with NFI

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Surveillance

• Effective joint working with DWP on living
  together
• Favourable surveillance commissioner inspection
• Positive approach to training and surveillance

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Planning

• Comprehensive annual investigations business plan
• Feed through into financial services and
  corporate business plans
• Quarterly reporting to members on progress
  against actions
• Use of EFQM

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Equipment / facilities

• Two Benefits processing staff located in office
  to optimise efficiency
• Dedicated interviewing room
• Technology including bagcams
• Home IUC facilities

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Marketing (1)

• Innovative culture
• Circulation with payslips
• Annual fraud awareness training
• Results driven press coverage
• Development of DVD
• Council Open Day

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Marketing (2)

• Bookmarks
• Poster Magic board at leisure centre
• Annual job shadowing with Visiting Team staff
• Quarterly benefit fraud newsletter available to
  all Council staff
• Electronic referral form on Council website
• Landlords Forum

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Future developments

• Increased collaboration with neighbouring
  authorities
• Further expansion of team
• More effective admin support balance
• Continuing innovation in methods and marketing
• Retention of top performance status in north
  west, aim to be best nationally

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The big day (1)
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The big day (2)