6.1 We are committed to ensuring that all investigations are undertaken to the highest professional standards and in compliance with the relevant legislation.
6.2 Our policy is to provide opportunity and support for all of our investigators and Counter-fraud Section managers to attain accreditation in the nationally recognised Professionalism in Security (PINS) standards.
6.3 In line with Council policy, our Counter-fraud staff's continuous development will be supported by personal development plans and a focused training programme to help them to deliver the objectives of this policy.
6.4 We will provide our Counter-fraud staff with comprehensive written guidelines and staff will operate within the standards set out in the Council's Code of Conduct. All investigations will be monitored and controlled by our Principal Officer and Senior Counter-fraud Officers to ensure that investigations are conducted correctly and to the letter of the law.
6.5 We will systematically set and review challenging targets to assist continuous improvement in our counter-fraud performance. In particular, in increasing the number of frauds uncovered by our investigators and maximising the number of sanctions applied to offenders.
6.6 Our key performance indicators are set out in our 3-year Benefits Service Delivery Plan. We also have key Performance Indicators aligned to the measures set out in the Department for Work and Pensions' Performance Standards for the management of counter-fraud activities.
6.7 We will provide quarterly reports on our counter-fraud performance to our senior managers and the Department for Work and Pensions. Annual reports will be provided for elected Members.