Worcester
Friday 24 January 2003
13-15 August 2002
The Food Service was broadly in compliance with most areas of the Standard. A comprehensive documented quality system had recently been developed, which included the policies and procedures required by the Framework Agreement. This needed to be finalised and implemented.
However, the audit identified 3 important areas for improvement. Although the quality system included a process for officer authorisation, this had not been implemented, and the Authority was unable to confirm that officers had been properly authorised. The Environmental Health Service Plan did not cover all of the required areas and did not provide an effective mechanism for planning the Food Service or for reviewing performance. The arrangements for internal monitoring of qualitative performance did not appear to be comprehensive or effective.
Key areas for improvement
Authorisation of Officers
The Authority did not have in place an effective procedure for the authorisation of officers to ensure that they were appropriately authorised and acted in accordance with their individual levels of qualifications, training and experience. Whilst measures were in place to address this, failure to ensure that officers are correctly authorised in writing could seriously undermine any enforcement action taken.
Service Planning
The Environmental Health Service Plan 2002/2003 did not cover the range or level of detail required by the Service Planning Guidance in the Framework Agreement. In addition the Plan had not been submitted for Member approval. A comprehensive Service Plan is fundamental to ensuring that national priorities are addressed, agreed and delivered locally, and to provide a framework for managing performance, enabling national and local performance comparisons to be made and for enabling a review of the service to be carried out.
Internal Monitoring
The Authority had not developed a systematic approach to qualitative monitoring of service activity, and there was no evidence that the Authority was verifying its conformance with legislation, centrally issued guidance and its own policies and procedures. The development and implementation of effective qualitative monitoring procedures covering all areas of the Standard is key to ensuring an effective food law enforcement service.
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