Annual Report 2006-2007 - Cafcass

Additional meetings between the trade unions and
Cafcass’ senior managers have been added to the work
programme in the course of the year to ensure effective
communication on Organising for Quality and the
management of change.
Work on key areas such as Service Manager workloads
and revised job roles and a review of the administrative
and business support roles across Cafcass continues.
The job description for Family Support Worker posts has
been revised and a scoping document completed setting
out role boundaries with active trade union support.
13. Health and safety
Health and safety has now assumed an appropriately high
profile within the organisation. Corporate Directors and
senior managers have attended recognised Institution
of Occupational Health and Safety courses and a range
of health and safety related courses covering personal
and office safety have been delivered to staff. An audit
undertaken by an independent safety professional
recorded a “good” standard measured against an audit
model developed from the British Safety Council. The
audit also sampled a range of fire risk assessments for
compliance with the requirements of fire safety legislation
introduced during the year. Several regional staff were
supported through their National Examination Board
in Occupational Safety Health Certificate qualification.
New core issues have been discussed both at the Health
and Safety Steering Group meetings and at Extended
Corporate Decisions Group meetings.
15. Accounting Officer confirmation
As Accounting Officer I confirm that:
• So far as I am aware, there is no relevant audit
information of which Cafcass’ auditors are unaware;
• I have taken all the steps that I ought to have taken to
make myself aware of any relevant audit information
and to establish that Cafcass’ auditors are aware of
that information.
Anthony Douglas
Chief Executive and Accounting Officer
3 July 2007
14. Timeliness in paying bills
Cafcass’ policy is to pay bills in accordance with
contractual conditions or, where no such conditions exist,
within 30 days of receipt of goods and services or the
presentation of a valid invoice, whichever is the later. In
2006–07 81.8% (2005–06: 81.5%) of invoices were paid
within 30 days of the invoice date, based on an analysis of
all invoices.
In November 1998, the Late Payment of Commercial Debts
(Interest) Act came into force, providing small businesses
with a statutory right to claim interest from large
businesses (and all public sector bodies) on payments
that are more than 30 days overdue. Amended legislation
(the Late Payment of Commercial Debts Regulations
2002) came into force on 7th August 2002, providing all
businesses, irrespective of size, with the right to claim
statutory interest for the late payment of commercial
debts. No interest has been claimed by creditors under
this Act.
Section 6: Accounts 2006–07 | 49