South West London CCG Annual Report and Accounts 2020/21

Statement of Accountable Officer’s responsibilities The National Health Service Act 2006 (as amended) states that each Clinical Commissioning Group shall have an Accountable Officer and that Officer shall be appointed by the NHS Commissioning Board (NHS England). NHS England has appointed the Sarah Blow to be the Accountable Officer of NHS South West London Clinical Commissioning Group. The responsibilities of an Accountable Officer are set out under the National Health Service Act 2006 (as amended), Managing Public Money and in the Clinical Commissioning Group Accountable Officer Appointment Letter. They include responsibilities for: • The propriety and regularity of the public finances for which the Accountable Officer is answerable. • For keeping proper accounting records (which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Clinical Commissioning Group and enable them to ensure that the accounts comply with the requirements of the Accounts Direction). • For safeguarding the Clinical Commissioning Group’s assets (and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities). • The relevant responsibilities of accounting officers under Managing Public Money. • Ensuring the CCG exercises its functions effectively, efficiently and economically (in accordance with Section 14Q of the National Health Service Act 2006 (as amended)) and with a view to securing continuous improvement in the quality of services (in accordance with Section14R of the National Health Service Act 2006 (as amended)). • Ensuring that the CCG complies with its financial duties under Sections 223H to 223J of the National Health Service Act 2006 (as amended). Under the National Health Service Act 2006 (as amended), NHS England has directed each Clinical Commissioning Group to prepare for each financial year a statement of accounts in the form and on the basis set out in the Accounts Direction. The accounts are prepared on an accruals basis and must give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Clinical Commissioning Group and of its income and expenditure, Statement of Financial Position and cash flows for the financial year. Annual Report and Accounts 2020/21 | 135