Scrutiny improvement

Audit Scotland works with other scrutiny bodies to make sure the scrutiny of public sector bodies is better targeted and more proportionate in relation to identified risks. The main focus of our development work is on local government, on behalf of the Accounts Commission.

Local government scrutiny coordination

Scrutiny coordination in local government is led by the Strategic Scrutiny Group (SSG). The SSG comprises Scotland's main public sector scrutiny bodies and aims to deliver efficient and effective, well-coordinated scrutiny that supports improvement. It is convened and chaired by the Accounts Commission and is supported by the Operational Sub-group (OSG).

The members of the SSG are set out below along with a link to their respective scrutiny plans, where available.

Accounts Commission work programme

Audit Scotland work programme

Care Inspectorate

Annual Programme of Scrutiny 2022/23

Healthcare Improvement Scotland scrutiny activity 2022/23

HM Fire Service Inspectorate Chief Inspector's Plan, 2022-25

HM Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland Scrutiny Plan 2022-2025

HM Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland recent and upcoming inspections

HM Inspectorate of Prosecution in Scotland Strategic Plan 2022-25

Scottish Housing Regulator risk assessment of social landlords: summary outcome, March 2022

Scottish Public Services Ombudsman

Local government scrutiny programme

Click on the council name to see a summary of scrutiny activity from 2024/25:

Sharing intelligence

Shared Risk Assessment (SRA)

Scrutiny bodies share intelligence and agree scrutiny risks in each of Scotland's 32 councils using the shared risk assessment process (SRA). The process is designed to identify where we think scrutiny will make the most difference in terms of helping councils to improve and providing assurance to the public. It also provides a focus for more coordinated engagement between councils and scrutiny bodies.

Local government scrutiny bodies work together through local area networks (LANs) to share local intelligence and to carry out the SRA process. There are 32 LANs, one for each council area. The LAN is led by the council's appointed auditor.

The Sharing Intelligence for Health and Social Care Group

Data about health and social care services is shared and considered by the Sharing Intelligence for Health and Social Care Group. Audit Scotland works with the Care Inspectorate, Healthcare Improvement Scotland, the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland, NHS Education for Scotland, Public Health Scotland and Scottish Public Services Ombudsman on this group which aims to:

• provide a forum to identify potential or actual risks to the quality of health and social care and, where necessary, initiate further action in response to these risks, and
• promote coordination of activity between these partner organisations, respecting the statutory responsibilities of each.
• Download the group's summary report for 2020-21 - PDF 1.1Mb - Opens in a new window

Scrutiny collaboration

A wide range of our work is carried out collaboratively, for example joint inspections of services for children and young people and joint inspections of adult support and protection services. The SSG is committed to this approach and plans to explore broader opportunities for scrutiny collaboration around important issues facing councils and the public, where all scrutiny bodies have an interest.

Reports

Covid-19 has changed our lives. Responding to it has changed how public services are delivered and how we scrutinise them.

This paper, from the Strategic Scrutiny Group, sets out: key areas of risk facing the sectors we scrutinise; how we have adapted our approaches to scrutiny in response to Covid-19; how we plan to capitalise on the advances made in our working practices and how we can build on the increased joint-working that has taken place.

Principles for community empowerment

The Principles for community empowerment document, from the Strategic Scrutiny Group aims to raise awareness of community empowerment and promote such a shared understanding across scrutiny bodies to support high-quality scrutiny of community empowerment.