When to contact security or fraud specialists

If you have a security and fraud issue and don’t know who to call, this article provides a guide to ensure you get help straight away.

Anne Wright, the Local Security Management Specialist (LSMS) and Andy Reeve, the Counter Fraud Specialist (LCFS) are both trained to a high standard by NHS Protect and are accredited in their fields of specialty. 

Whilst the LSMS is a full-time employee of the Trust, the LCFS is employed by an external organisation, Baker Tilly, and has a certain amount of contracted hours of work for us.

There are some cross-over areas on which both will work, but generally they have different roles to perform in the Trust. Here is a guide to their areas of expertise:

Local Security Management Specialist

Everything relating to the protection of the Trust’s assets – both people and property – falls under the LSMS’ remit. This includes acts of violence and aggression against staff, security of all items and theft of its property. If it relates to security of the Trust, then it is the LSMS’ duty to investigate.

Examples of security related issues

• Physical assault: patients/others who physically assault staff by making actual contact with the person, whilst they are working
• Non-physical assault: threats to harm; attempted assault (where there is no actual contact with a person); verbal abuse; harassment (which is an act done more than twice); stalking
• Theft: ‘a person is guilty of theft if he dishonestly appropriates property belonging to another with the intention of permanently depriving the other of it’. This applies to all Trust equipment and uniform, e.g. any items sold on a public auction site will be treated as theft and a police investigation and internal disciplinary will commence. 

Counter Fraud Specialist

Everything relating to fraud, bribery and corruption falls under the LCFS’ remit. For fraud to occur, the offender(s) will ‘be acting dishonestly with the intention of making a gain for themselves and/or cause a loss to another’.

Examples of common fraud:

• Timesheets: inflating working hours/overtime
• Expenses: inflated travel expense claims
• Working whilst sick: working for another organisation / or oneself whilst in receipt of sick pay
• Application: making a false statement on a job application, ie. qualifications/criminal records.
• Identification: supplying false ID documents, like passports or visas
• Bribery and corruption: Bribery is generally described as giving or offering someone a financial advantage to encourage that person to perform their functions or activities improperly, or to reward that person for having done so; or requesting/agreeing to receive an advantage.

Contact details:

Anne Wright - LSMS
Tel: 01245 444499
Mob: 07768 946414
anne.wright@eastamb.nhs.uk

Andy Reeve - LCFS
Tel: 01908 687801
Mob: 07528 970222
andy.reeve1@nhs.net

Published 27th May, 2016