Paul Higton Acma Fcmi Email & Phone Number

Doncaster, Gb

Caistor Lincolnshire

Independant member of the Appeals Panel for Caistor Grammer school. Specific role to ensure that in the event of an appeal, the school's admission arrangements have been properly implemented and that to provide a place at the school would prejudice the provision of efficient education or the efficient use of resources.

I carry out reviews of the Crown Prosecution Service activity and its effectiveness in delivering high quality services and excellent outcomes which are responsive, equitable individual and deliver good value for money. My inspection work focuses on enhancing the quality of justice, effectiveness and fairness and provides assurance to Ministers, Government and the public on the standard of the service delivered. My specific specialism is assessing the efficiency and effective implementation of practices and new initiatives developed by agencies singly or jointly to improve working arrangements systems and I consider the expected benefits against those realised and assess whether they offer value for money and have produced the savings and efficiencies promised. I have an outcome focus and through the identification of issues where poor performance may represent a key risk to the public together with areas of good practice that can be translated to other parts of the service help contribute to the future development of the Crown Prosecution Service and the criminal justice system as a whole. I am also a mentor within my organisation providing others within my organisation with help and guidance in line with my areas of specialism.

I was responsible for conducting inspections of local authorities and supporting them in improving performance of the delivery of services to the public. In particular I focused on corporate resources and their effectiveness, performance management and improvement. I had a regional remit and although my fields of expertise are primarily Finance and Information Technology, I also covered the wider spectrum of inspections for example, in customer access, economic development and regeneration, culture and leisure, revenues, central services, environmental waste management and building and development control. I carried out comprehensive performance assessments of a range of public sector organisations which assessed their ability to serve the local community effectively. I also held specialist additional roles of Professional Coach for the region and was an established Mentor in the Commission’s nationally recognised mentoring programme.

I ensured the delivery of all required preparations, plans and actions in respect of Best Value, strategic development, corporate policy and special projectsHighlights included:-8 month secondment to project team established by Chief Executive to prepare the Council for Best Value and put systems in place to ensure rigorous and effective service reviews were undertaken and encourage continuous improvement6 month secondment to a multi-disciplinary project team established by Chief Executive to address serious concerns within the Council’s Social Services Department identified by the Social Services Inspectorate. Specific remit to lead on all financial and IT issues.

I managed and conducted audit work of all the Council’s main corporate and financial IT applications. I also had specific responsibility for maintaining a suitable and effective computer audit function. I prepared annual IT and central audit plans in line with strategic plans and lead a business unit conducting independent investigations reviews and appraisals of all accounting, financial and other procedures.