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enhanced this by introducing an interactive tracking tool in 2021/22 to give senior leadership a greater understanding of our progress and performance in implementing the strategic plan. The tool has also given the staff team a greater understanding of the key areas where different projects and programmes are dependent on each other for success.

You can find more information about the governance framework, including organisational structure and the workings of our committees, in the GPhC committees section of this annual report.

As chief executive and registrar, I am responsible for reviewing the effectiveness of the GPhC's governance framework, including the system of internal control. The review of effectiveness is supported by:

the work of the executive managers within the GPhC, who are responsible for developing and maintaining the governance environment

the head of internal audit's annual report, and

comments received from the external auditors and other review agencies

The Council appointed TIAA as GPhC's internal auditors in June 2019. The current external auditors, Crowe, Clark and Whitehill, were appointed by the Council on 12 October 2017, following the recommendation of the Audit and Risk Committee tender panel. future audit plans remained relevant and up to date. To make sure the review of effectiveness has a wide enough scope, the adequacy and effectiveness of the system of internal control have been assessed in relation to main service delivery areas, the management systems that enable us to deliver them, and to our core processes. The plan has been updated in February 2022 for the work to be carried out in 2022/23.

Although an internal audit plan was agreed for 2020-22, the plan for 2021/22 was updated in March 2021 to make sure that both present and We have continued to work with internal audit to make sure our system of internal control is fit for both the present and the future.

future audit plans remained relevant and up to date. To make sure the review of effectiveness has a wide enough scope, the adequacy and effectiveness of the system of internal control have been assessed in relation to main service delivery areas, the management systems that enable us to deliver them, and to our core processes. The plan has been updated in February 2022 for the work to be carried out in 2022/23.

We have continued to work with internal audit to make sure our system of internal control is fit for both the present and the future.

Overall, eight assignments were carried out by our internal auditors and reviewed by the Audit and Risk Committee during the year. One of these was following up previous recommendations and another was an advisory audit into our risk management policy and procedures. The other six reports and the ratings given were:

Substantial Assurance: There is a robust system of internal controls operating effectively to ensure that risks are managed, and that the process objectives are achieved.