County Governor of Buskerud
Introduction
Theme and background Authority
About Nav Gol and Hemsedal and implementation of audit
County Department of discovery
Further follow-up of audit
Appendix Document Substrates
the County has the 2014 audited Gol Municipality v / Nav Gol and Hemsedal work with handling of applications for financial support. It will firstly say Nav Gol and Hemsedal effort to map the user’s situation and needs help, and secondly the work of assessment and granting of financial support.
Authority provided the basis for establishing one deviation:
In some situations curtailed benefits to cover the bare essentials for a longer period than regulations allow, and without documented evaluation of the individual user’s situation.
The report discusses both the realized variance and the parts of the service were examined without uncovered discrepancies or made comments.
Date: 24/04/2014
Gisle Skaaden
audit manager
Anne Cathrine Dahl
auditor
This document is electronically approved and transmitted without signature
Supervision is legality. The purpose of the audit is to enhance service and legal certainty for users. Governor is in the law of social services in Nav § 9 given the authority to oversee social service in the employment and welfare administration.
This report was prepared by system audit of Gol Municipality v / Nav Gol and Hemsedal Municipality during the period from 14 January to 6 March 2014. System audit consisted of a review of documents and case files and interviews with employees and managers. The purpose of the system audit is to assess whether services are reasonable and in accordance with legal requirements, and if the municipality operates its own adequate planning and control of the services they provide. The local authority has a statutory duty to engage in such internal controls. [1]
During the audit, we examined whether it is compiled routines in the areas audit included. We also checked whether these are available and known to the employees. Next, we assessed whether procedures are in accordance with the regulations. We controlled what is practiced, whether this is in accordance with internal procedures, and whether practices are well enough documented in the material presented.
Theme and background Authority
Theme for the audit was handling applications for financial support under the Social Services Act in Nav. It will firstly say Nav Gol and Hemsedal effort to map the user’s situation and needs help, and secondly the work of assessment and granting of financial support.
Financial support is one of five services by law Social Services in Nav. The report is not an overall assessment of the social services at Nav Gol and Hemsedal. The report also only based on what was the office’s practice at the time of completion of the audit.
the County adds at the start of plans for the Nav office shall be supervised and what should be the theme. For some of the system audits is the theme adopted by the State Board of Health, as part of the nationwide audit. In 2013 and 2014 the award and performance of the qualification program nationwide theme for the supervision of the municipal services in Nav.
the County shall also determine the topic of supervision based on knowledge of the services in their own county, and reviews of how it risk of failure in service. Supervision of Nav Gol and Hemsedal was decided in particular for two reasons. Firstly Nav Gol and Hemsedal were merged into one office from 1 January 2013. Secondly, that the County in 2013 experienced a marked increase in received complaints from both municipalities, and that the proportion of converted and canceled the decision of the appeal proceedings were over average for the county.
the County supervised the Nav Gol in 2010 and Nav Hemsedal in 2012. Results from these audits were respectively a note and one deviation. The deviation at Nav Hemsedal were corrected, and the audit completed in autumn 2012. Reports are available on www.helsetilsynet.no.
Gol Municipality and Hemsedal municipality is located north of Hallingdal, with respectively about 4600 and 2200 residents . From 1 January 2013 the municipalities entered into collaboration on joint Nav office. Gol Municipality is host by the Local Government Act, Chapter 5 A.
Nav Gol and Hemsedal is headquartered in Gol, but some of the staff are also present at the town hall in Hemsedal few days a week, and it is possible to make conversation with the supervisor also there. Bear Lac Seth was the former head of Nav Gol, and is now head of Nav Gol and Hemsedal. He reports to the chief administrative officer of Gol Municipality of municipal services and the county director of Nav Buskerud about government services. Team leader for the reception with special focus on audience reception, the law on social services in Nav, refugee services and monitoring of jobseekers with standard and specific efforts. Personal responsibility lies with the Nav-chairman, who is responsible is the municipal services in both Gol Municipality and Hemsedal Municipality.
In addition to being locally Nav office for Gol and Hemsedal, the office is also a resource unit perform state functions for Nav in Hallingdal.
Six coaches have financial support as one of its tasks, including team leader for about half position. Some more employees have duties that include managing inquiries from the public concerning financial support. Received applications and inquiries added directly to the supervisor, considering how the matter should be followed up on.
Simply by Nav Gol and Hemsedal is a weekly technical meetings where individual cases are discussed. Here attends all supervisors working with social services, as well as team leader reception. Are to be kept. Supervisors have delegated decision-making authority. The office routine manual states that the team leader will conduct random checks, and copies of all decisions together in one binder. Team Leader participates in weekly management meetings in the office.Statistics (KOSTRA figures) shows that Gol Municipality in 2012 had 148 people who received financial support, that is, 3.2 percent of the population. Of these, 66 persons received benefits for more than six months, and 42.6 percent had financial support as the main. Mean length of benefit was 5.7 months. Hemsedal Municipality had in 2012 37 people who received financial support, of which 14 people long-term recipients, and the proportion of financial support as the main income was 75.7 percent. Under supervision visit, it was stated that the office estimated approached by 2-4 new users of the social services every month.
the County audit notice sent on 8 January 2014. Summary of business documents has been submitted in advance of the supervision visit is given in the appendix to this report. The opening meeting was held on 5 March 2014. Seven people were interviewed, among them chairman and team leader. Overview of documentation were reviewed during supervision visit is given in the appendix. The final meeting was held on 6 March 2014, audit manager had telephone conversation with Chief Administrative Officer Hege Dark Gol Municipality same day. From the County participated Deputy Anne Cathrine Dahl and senior advisors Lena K. Hjelle and Gisle Skaaden, with the latter as an audit manager. Adviser Dag Kjetil Strandbo participated as an observer.
County Department of discovery
the County examined both Nav Gol and Hemsedal effort to map the user’s situation and needs help, and the work of assessment and granting of financial support.
In considering mapping work labeled the County that it is not in use survey form, checklist or other written aid as a tool of tracking the user’s situation. County Governor also noted that the quality of notes taken after discussions with users was variable.
Nevertheless County Department conclusion that Nav Gol and Hemsedal effort to map users’ circumstances and needs, in line with statutory requirements. The workforce is stable and follows their users over time. The impression from the interviews was that the staff have a good knowledge of their users and their situation. This impression was confirmed by review of case files. Many decisions about the allocation of the benefit in itself shows that the user’s and the family’s situation is well known for Nav Gol and Hemsedal and the processing time is usually so short that the specific needs of the case concerns, are addressed.
County Department concluded therefore that Nav Gol and Hemsedal effort to map users’ circumstances and needs, in line with statutory requirements.
the County assessed the Agency’s work with allocation of financial support under the Social Services Act § 18 and transfers in special cases under § 19
Like everything mentioned, experienced the County in 2013, a marked increase in received complaints from Nav Gol and Hemsedal and proportion of changed and canceled the decision was above the average for Buskerud. Upon review of the submitted resolutions supervise the visit, the County formed in a different impression than what was possible to read out the complaint statistics for 2013 alone. Among these 379 submitted resolutions were few cases where the decision alone indicate improper understanding of the law. County Department review showed that the office has the correct understanding of the costs of living man, as a starting point, you assume covered by current subsistence allowance and the expenses that must be evaluated and awarded separately.
document review and interviews during inspections showed that taking account of the expenses necessary to ensure social participation of children. Both Gol and Hemsedal is typical ski resorts, where children in low-income families may fall outside of fellowship with peers, as some activities are costly. County Governor noted that Nav Gol and Hemsedal cover expenses for these and other activities, where necessary. Individual attention is taken.
weekly technical meetings is the venue for discussion of individual cases and general issues that arise based on these. The printed abstracts in which the conclusion about the outcome of the discussion going forward. Team leader is with all these meetings, and then have the opportunity to follow the technical discussions in the office. Technical meetings are not an appropriate venue for the quality of work done with the decisions, because supervisors are delegated decision-making authority, and thus do not need immediate superior recognition of individual decisions. But as copies of all resolutions put in a binder, the team leader able to follow the decisions.
County Department concluded therefore that the office’s practice of granting of financial support was essentially in line with statutory requirements.
We still did some observations of illegal practices:
- grant restricted in some situations to the most appropriate (“emergency”) for periods of up to 14-16 days. It happens both in normal and emergency applications in response to breaches of conditions.
- granted in these cases, benefits for children 50 NOK. day for all children between 0 and 18, with no differentiation because of the child’s age or specific assessment of the child’s needs during the period the decision applies.
- Where such benefits are enforced in response to breaches of conditions, it is not documented in the decision or otherwise being made an assessment of the consequences of the reaction before it is implemented.
Total seen this constituted the County’s evaluation practices that involve deviation from the statutory requirements for service. The County formulated discrepancy as follows:
In some situations curtailed benefits to cover the bare essentials for longer periods than regulations allow, and without documented evaluation of the individual user’s situation.
This is the deviation from the law on social services Nav § § 18 and 20
Comment
That benefit may be limited to the bare essentials, the first mainly on the grounds that in some cases it is important that the matter be dealt with quickly than that done the same mapping and proceedings otherwise. Nav Gol and Hemsedal operates, like other Nav offices, with dagsatser for such cases. The rates are £ 100 per. day for couples / partners, kr75 date. day for singles and kr50 date. day for children. Under current guidelines [2]
will benefit the most appropriate, in practice only referred to as “emergencies” only be prudent in “some few days “. A period of 14 days can not be characterized as a few days and practice at this point in violation of the law.
People between 0 and 18 are children, but have very different needs. A baby needs diapers, while a youth of 17 years happily eats like an adult. An emergency kit at $ 50 per. per day. children, regardless of age, does not capture these differences. In combination with periods of using the emergency level of up to 14-16 days, entails the risk that the child’s needs during the period not covered.
steel. § 20 as conditions for granting of financial support, with the aim of making the recipient financially self-reliant. Decomposed condition without reasonable cause, it can have consequences such as reduced benefits, even down to so-called emergency level. But even in these cases the benefit to the bare essentials is limited to a few days. Alternatively, the reduction in benefits will be less, but for a longer period. In all cases it is required that there be an assessment before reaction to violation of terms taken, where it is to be emphasized that the cause of the condition has not been fulfilled, and the significance of the consequences reaction is allowed to use and user family. [3]
Such considerations did not documented in the County’s decision or otherwise.
particularly relating to benefits for large families
During the final meeting said the County Office’s special procedures for the assessment of benefits for large families. From the beginning of 2013/2014 was introduced a scheme whereby it as a base to calculate so-called economies of scale benefits to families with more than five members. The idea behind this is partly to reflect the economic reality set in savings, for example through inheritance of clothing and food purchases in larger quantities. And partly because the benefit may otherwise be so high that it becomes difficult to find work that will provide the same or higher income.
office routine manual states that it shall be a deduction of 20 percent of total family subsistence support when the family has six or more members. The starting point is the state’s recommended rates for subsistence support [4]
Routine Manual also stipulates that there should be an assessment of each case. For families with five or fewer members, made no reduction in benefit.
Taken literally means routine that a family with two adults and four children can get lower benefit than if the family still only had three children. This was the reason why the Governor sought to obtain through past cases in which it was granted support to large families. During the interviews, it quickly emerged that Nav Gol and Hemsedal had seen the impact that routine, read literally, can get. It was also clear that such matters are always discussed in the academic meeting. The County did not find that the new routine had been reflected in practice in a way that made it the basis for saying that the practice was contrary to law. And because the office had seen the possible consequences, it was our opinion no basis for saying that the risk of failure of the service was so great that this alone was reason to point out a discrepancy. Nav Gol and Hemsedal stated themselves that they saw reason to revise the handbook routine at this point.
Further follow-up of audit
the County asks that Gol Municipality v / Nav Gol and Hemsedal before 1 June 2014 the County sends a plan where the following is shown:
- What measures are planned implemented to correct deviations.
- How management will monitor and ensure that measures are taken.
- How management will ensure that the measures have worked as planned, after they have been in operation for a while.
- What limits the municipality has taken to ensure progress is being rightly deviations.
the County will terminate supervision when the municipality has corrected the discrepancy.
Appendix Document Surface
organization’s own documentation relating to the daily operations and other significant matters that were submitted during the preparation:
- Organization for Nav Gol and Hemsedal, including overview the meeting structure.
- Cooperation agreement between Gol Municipality and Nav Buskerud on operating joint local office.
- Cooperation agreement on joint Nav services in Gol and Hemsedal
- Delegations of authority under the Act on Social Services in Nav.
- Overview of managers and supervisors who take care of inquiries, surveys and makes decisions concerning economic benefit.
- Introduction Plan for new employees at Nav Gol and Hemsedal.
- Procedure manual for processing applications for financial support, revised 1/30/14.
- Minutes of weekly technical meetings.
- Procedures for evaluation of the services provided by the Social Services in Nav Nav Gol and Hemsedal.
- Template for quarterly reporting.
- Application for financial support.
- simplified application form for financial support.
- Results from local user survey, conducted in 2013.
- List of users with dependents who received financial support from Nav Gol and Hemsedal date. 1.2.14.
- 379 decisions on financial support from the period from 10/01/13 to 31/01/14.
In addition, information materials and municipal annual reports available on the municipal website.
following documentation requested the County that were presented supervised visit:
- Complete dossiers for 20 users, according to the list.
- the past ten notes for the first time calls / survey calls.
- the last ten decisions on the allocation of financial support to households with more than five members.
- dossiers in the past ten cases in which it had been reacted to the breach of conditions (for steel § 20) with stopped or reduced financial support.
[1] Statutory obligation to establish a management system was introduced on 1 January 2010, see § 5 of the Act on Social Services in the Labour and Welfare Administration. Regulations on internal control for the municipality in the labor and welfare administration was granted 19 November 2010.
[2] Labour and Welfare Directorate circular H35 paragraph 4.18.1.6.
[3] See Labour and Welfare Directorate circular H35 paragraph 4.20.2.8.
[4] See the Work Ministry circular A-1/2013.
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