What is the Controls Assurance Review Process (CARP)?
Under the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, the HSE must complete a formal annual review of the effectiveness of its system of internal controls. One of the tools that is used to measure the effectiveness of the HSE’s system of internal controls is the Annual Controls Assurance Review Process (CARP).
The key components of the CARP are:
- The Internal Controls Questionnaire (ICQ)
- Controls Assurance Statement (CAS)
- Statement of Positions held
The CARP allows us not only to identify potential areas and activities which may require additional support and focus but also assists in allowing us to highlight the strengths of our controls environment.
All components of the CARP are completed within the survey site. There is no requirement to print and manually sign any documents. The sign-offs and any related notes are captured within the survey site.
However, if you would like to review these documents in advance of completing the questionnaire they are available to access here:
Who participates in this process?
Staff of Grade VIII or equivalent salary scale and above are requested to complete the review. However we would encourage anybody who undertakes managerial activities such as having staff responsibility, purchasing authority or budget responsibility to complete where relevant. If you are Grade VII or below and believe you should be involved in this process, please discuss with your line manager in advance. Similarly, a manager may request their staff to complete this process if deemed appropriate.
TIP: Consider engaging your full team with the process. The ICQ is an excellent educational tool assisting staff in their awareness of controls which should be in place. As an exercise it can provide insight into the processes, procedures and related controls that are relevant to your area.
