Accountability & Governance for Arm’s Length Bodies

The course explains the rationale for arm’s length bodies, latest government policy regarding the relationship between sponsor departments and ALB, and best practice regarding departmental oversight. The course addresses all the essential governance requirements for those working in and with ALB.

Accountability & Governance for Arm's Length Bodies is from our signature Accountability & Governance series. At the Civil Service College, we tailor our courses to each participants’s role and organisation, ensuring that each participant gets the most out of the training. Our courses and trainers are continuously updated and evaluated to ensure that we are always delivering the best service possible. 

Key Training Features

Who Can Attend

Learning Outcome

Key Training Features:

• The role of the Accounting Officer
• The rationale for ALBs
• Current government policy
• The oversight role of the sponsoring department
• The Board - Board Governance Training
• The audit and risk assurance committee
• Current developments in ALB governance

Who Can Attend:

This course is suitable for executive and non-executives throughout all UK jurisdictions with governance responsibilities in the ALB sector (including public corporations and unclassified public bodies). This course is also suitable for departmental staff who have responsibility for ALB sponsorship and oversight

Pre-Requisites:

This course is designed for those who are either involved in the sponsorship of ALBs or those who have responsibility for governance and financial management within the ALB sector.

Learning Outcomes:

Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the different types of ALB and key aspects of the relationship between ALB and their sponsoring departments. The course provides the opportunity to focus on public sector governance and accountability arrangements and how these might differ from a private sector entity as well as a better understanding and appreciation of the governance responsibilities of board members and senior managers (including the Accounting Officer). Attendees will also gain a good insight into the fiduciary duties of public servants as expressed in Managing Public Money and other central government guidance which relates to ALB.

Who will run the course?:

Brian Whalley is a former accountant and civil servant and holds an MA in Management Learning.   Brian has 20 years’ experience in the provision of induction training and board development programmes for non-executive board members of government departments, executive agencies, non-departmental public bodies, NHS bodies and public corporations. He has run programmes for over 120 Non-Departmental Public Bodies, and other arm’s length bodies, and is experienced in working in all UK jurisdictions. He also provides training for newly appointed Accounting Officers throughout the UK central government sector. Brian also runs courses concerned with Managing Public Money and the proper conduct of public business.