Good practice: Good practice by Topic
Subjects on which we have produced guidance are listed below with links to the relevant parts of published reports or Focus magazine.
- Acquisitions
- Asset sales
- Change Management
- Commercialisation
- Communication
- Construction projects
- Efficiency
- Establishing new bodies
- Fines Collection
- Fraud and corruption
- Grants
- Innovation
- Inventory management
- IT projects
- Joined up working
- Overseeing NDPBs
- Performance measurement
- PFI/PPP
- Planning
- Policy making
- Procurement
- Project management
- Property management
- Prisons
- Public Services
- Regulation
- Risk management
- Sickness absence
- Third Sector
- Web sites and intranets
- Welfare, Work and Education
- Vehicle Crime
Many of the publications from the NAO are in Adobe Acrobat format.
Download the latest version. You can also read more about Acrobat and
accessibility on our accessibility page.
Acquisitions
-
Monitoring investments made with the
private sector (99 Kb)
[The full issue of
Focus magazine, issue 9, from which this article is taken, is also available (769 Kb)] -
Steps for an acquirer to take (46 Kb)
[This document is taken from Appendix 5 of the NAO report
The Acquisition of German Parcel
(1,998 Kb)]
Asset sales
-
Recommendations of the use of auctions in the
public sector (17 Kb)
[This document is taken from page 10 of the NAO report
The Auction of Radio Spectrum for the
Third Generation of Mobile Telephones (1079 Kb)] - The following articles have been taken from
Focus magazine, issue 8 (415 Kb)
Change Management
Commercialisation
-
Recommendations on the
commercialisation of public sector science (38Kb)
[This document is taken from pages 10-11 of the NAO report
Delivering the Commercialisation
of Public Sector Science (1,361 Kb)] -
Making joint ventures work (121Kb)
[The full version of
Focus magazine, issue 10, from which this article is taken, is also available (797 Kb)] -
Key success factors when entering into
partnerships (113 Kb)
[This document is taken from pages 8-9 of the NAO report
The Radiocommunication Agency's
joint venture with CMG (1,030 Kb)]
Communication
Construction projects
-
Homebuilding: Measuring Construction Performance (June 2007)
-
Full Report
(219 KB)
-
-
Using modern methods of construction to build homes more quickly and efficiently.
A National Audit Office report showing the potential
for modern methods of construction to provide good quality homes quickly
and efficiently. The NAO also provides guidance on identifying and managing the
risks associated with modern methods of construction.
-
Full Report
(1520 KB)
-
Executive Summary
(136 KB)
- Supporting files
-
The NAO produced a Value for Grant Comparator to help the Housing Corporation
assess the efficiency of the Social Housing Grant. Our report with recommendations to the Housing
Corporation is published here.Value
for Grant Comparator [2005]
-
Extracts from the NAO report
Modernising construction (1,597 Kb)
-
Getting Value for Money from Construction
Projects through Design: How Auditors Can Help (1.15Mb)
This guide has been developed by the NAO, the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE), and the Office of Government Commerce (OGC), in association with the Audit Commission. -
Achieving concrete savings (83Kb)
[The full issue of
Focus magazine, issue 10, from which this article was taken, is also available (797 Kb)] -
Lessons from a hospital building project (52 Kb)
[The full issue of
Focus magazine, issue 7, from which this article was taken, is also available (428 Kb)]
Efficiency
- NAO Efficiency Toolkit - provides practical guidance on assessing an organisation's efficiency
Establishing new bodies
-
Wider
lessons for public sector mergers of regulatory authorities [Good practice
section extracted from NAO report:
The creation of Ofcom:
Wider lessons for public sector mergers of regulatory agencies HC 1175,
2005-06]
-
Establishing financial control in innovative
new bodies (50Kb)
[The full issue of
Focus magazine, issue 10, from which this article was taken, is also available (797 Kb)] -
Lessons when setting up innovative new bodies (40 Kb)
[This article is taken from page 3 of the NAO report
Education Action Zones - Meeting the challenge
- the lessons identified from auditing the first 25 zones (578 Kb)]
Fines Collection
-
(137 KB) Improving
fines collection through better information on defendants' ability to pay,
please We should welcome feedback from court staff on the usefulness of the
leaflet. Please use the
feedback form
to comment on this guide. -
(137 KB) Improving
fines collection through better information on defendants' ability to pay
- Welsh version
Fraud and corruption
-
Good practice in tackling external fraud (1.01 MB)
The NAO and HM Treasury guide 'Good Practice in tackling external fraud' has been revised.
The new edition was launched at the 'Taking Forward the Fight against Fraud' Conference on 24 and 25 June 2008. -
Following the enactment of the 2006 Fraud Act, there is for the first time a
legal definition of fraud. The National Audit Office'sCombating
Fraud Position Statement, approved by the Comptroller & Auditor General in
March 2007, covers client fraud identified in the course of financial audit
and value for money examinations and links to our already well established
approach towards money laundering. This statement also covers controls in
place to prevent fraud and money laundering within our own organisation. (Published by the NAO
March 2007) (86 Kb)
-
Department for Culture, Media and
Sport: Tackling External Fraud in Grant-Making (192KB)
-
General lessons from a case of
agricultural fraud (14 Kb)
[This article is taken from pages 14-15 of the NAO report
Agricultural fraud:
The case of Joseph Bowden (416 Kb)] -
Tips for minimising the risk of corruption (98 Kb)
[The full issue of
Focus magazine, issue 7, from which this article was taken, is also available (428 Kb)] -
Preventing fraud in property management (49 Kb)
[This article is taken from pages 3-4 of the NAO report
Ministry of Defence: The Risk of
Fraud in Property Management (568 Kb)]
Grants
-
Good practice models for monitoring and
evaluation (24 Kb)
[This document is taken from pages 60-61 of the NAO report
Grants made by the
National Lottery Charities Board (580 Kb)]
Innovation
-
Good Practice Briefing: Innovation
Special Focus (December 2006) (908 Kb)
Inventory management
-
Best practice decision model (215 Kb)
[The full issue of
Focus magazine, issue 7, from which this article was taken, is also available (428 Kb)]
IT projects
-
Lessons from the Public Accounts
Committee’s examination of 25 projects (151 Kb)
[The full issue of
Focus magazine, issue 9, from which this article was taken, is also available (769 Kb)] -
Tips for managing risk in IT projects (52 Kb)
[This document is taken from pages 46-57 of the NAO report
Supporting Innovation: Managing Risk in Government
Departments (1,055 Kb)]
Joined Up Working
-
Key questions to achieve successful joint
working (26 Kb)
[This document is taken from pages 14-15 of the NAO report
Joining Up to Improve Public Services (2025 Kb)] -
Improving Service Delivery - how
auditors can help (1060 KB)
This guide has been developed by the NAO in collaboration with HM Treasury
Overseeing NDPBs
-
Recommendations for sponsoring
departments (42 Kb)
[This document is taken from pages 6-7 of the NAO report
The operation and wind up of
Teesside Development Corporation (946 Kb)]
Performance measurement
-
Setting Key Targets for Executive
Agencies: A Guide (515 Kb)
-
Measure for measure (64Kb)
[The full version of
Focus magazine, issue 10, from which this article was taken, is also available] (797 Kb) -
Key questions for Departments on
implementing Public Service Agreements (12Kb)
[This document was taken from pages 10-12 of the NAO report
Measuring the Performance of Government Departments (1,345 Kb)] -
Choosing the right FABRIC - a framework for
performance information (joint publication by the NAO, HM Treasury,
Cabinet Office, Audit Commission and Ofice for National Statistics)
(1,902 Kb)
- Improving performance information (published by HM Treasury)
-
Good practice criteria (221 Kb)
[The full issue of
Focus magazine, issue 7, from which this article was taken, is also available (428 Kb)] -
Key characteristics of good quality and well
presented performance information (115 Kb)
[The full issue of
Focus magazine, issue 9, from which this article was taken, is also available (769 Kb)] -
Checklist for Chief Executives of Agencies
and NDPBs in setting up and reviewing their performance measurement systems
and presenting results (37 Kb)
[This document was taken from pages 7-9 of the NAO report
Good Practice in
Performance Reporting in Executive Agencies and Non-Departmental Public Bodies (850 Kb)]
Planning
-
Planning for joint ventures (11 Kb)
[This document was taken from page 7 of the NAO report
The Public Private Partnership for National Air Traffic Services
Ltd (724 Kb)] -
Key points on contingency plans for all departments (44 Kb)
[This document was taken from page 11 of the NAO report
The 2001 outbreak of foot and mouth disease (2242 Kb)]
Policy Making
- Extracts from the NAO report
Modern Policy-Making (1418 Kb)]
Prisons
Private Finance Initiative / Public Private Partnerships
-
Good Practice Briefing for PFI/PPP (PFI &
PPP Focus, April 2006)
(667 Kb)
-
Managing PFI refinancing (55 Kb)
[This document is taken from page 6 of the NAO report
PFI refinancing update (625 Kb)] -
Assessing PFI deals (59 Kb)
[This document is taken from page 4 of the NAO report
The PFI contract for the redevelopment of West Middlesex Hospital (652 Kb)] -
How to secure successful partnerships in
PFI projects (37 Kb)
[This document is taken from pages 46-47 of the NAO report
Managing the relationship to secure a
successful partnership in PFI projects (611 Kb)] -
How to ensure financing packages are
competitive (104 Kb)
[This document is taken from pages 4-5 of the NAO report
Innovation in PFI Financing:
The Treasury Building Project (834 Kb)] -
Profiting from PPPs (pages 18-19 Focus
Edition 10) (147Kb)
[The full version of
Focus magazine, issue 10, from which this article was taken is also available] (797 Kb) -
Learning points from the Royal Armouries Museum
deal (70 Kb)
[This document is taken from page 8 of the NAO report
The re-negotiation of the PFI-type deal for
the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds (736 Kb)] -
Lessons in preparing and using a Public
Sector Comparator (102 Kb)
[This document is taken from pages 2-3 of the NAO report
The financial analysis for
the London Underground Public Private Partnerships (515 Kb)] - The following articles have been taken from
Focus magazine, issue 8 (415 Kb)
- The following articles have been taken from
Focus magazine, issue 9 (769 Kb)
-
Refinancing: learning points from Fazakerley
prison deal (42 Kb)
[This document has been taken from pages 6-7 of the NAO report
The Prison Service: the Refinancing
of the Fazakerley PFI prison contract (812 Kb)]
Procurement
-
Getting value for money from procurement -
how auditors can help (1 Mb)
-
Key questions when buying professional
services
[This document was taken from pages 15-16 of the NAO report
Purchasing Professional Services (1,893 Kb)] -
Purchasing equipment (p 6 of Focus issue 8)
(64 Kb)
[The full issue of
Focus magazine, issue 8, from which this article was taken, is also available (415 Kb)] - The following extracts are from the NAO report
Modernising Procurement (1,371 Kb)
Project management
-
Large
Scientific Facilities: Strengthening the Preparation of Project Proposals
(452 Kb)
-
Implementing innovative projects (39 Kb)
[This document is taken from page 11 of the NAO report
Individual Learning Accounts (752 Kb)] -
Using call centres to deliver public
service (369 Kb)
[This document is taken from pages 9-10 of the NAO report
Using call centres to deliver public
services (1496 Kb)] -
Invest to save (48 Kb)
[This document is taken from pages 10-11 of the NAO report
The Invest to Save Budget (1301 Kb)] -
Managing major projects (47 Kb)
[This document is taken from page 10 of the NAO report
The Millennium Dome (842 Kb)]
Property management
-
Good practice in managing and selling land
and property (pp 4-5 of Focus issue 7) (129 Kb)
[The full issue of
Focus magazine, issue 7, from which this article was taken, is also available (428 Kb)]
Public Services
Regulation
-
Wider
lessons for public sector mergers of regulatory authorities [Good practice
section extracted from NAO report:
The creation of Ofcom:
Wider lessons for public sector mergers of regulatory agencies HC 1175,
2005-06]
-
Key questions when preparing a Regulatory
Impact Assessment
[This document was taken from pages 12-13 of the NAO report
Better Regulation: Making Good Use of Regulatory Impact Assessments (1145 Kb)]
Risk management
-
Good practice in the application of risk management - self assessment
questions for departments (166 kb)
- Joining up to improve public services (C&AG's report, HC 383, 2001-2002)
- Managing risk in government departments (Committee of Public Accounts, 2001-02, First Report)
- Modern policy making: ensuring policies deliver value for money (C&AG's report, HC 289, 2001-2002)
- Reinforcing positive approaches to risk management in government departments (Annual lecture to the Institute of Risk Management, 19 June 2001)
- The following articles were taken from
Focus magazine, issue 10 (797 Kb)
-
Conferring on risk management (132 Kb)
-
Risk taking: the PAC view (85 Kb)
- Reward without risk? (Public Service Review magazine, April 2001)
-
The risks of not taking risks
(115 Kb)
[The full issue of
Focus magazine, issue 9, from which this article was taken, is also available (769 Kb)] - Supporting innovation: managing risk in government departments (C&AG's report, HC 864, 1999-2000)
Sickness absence
-
Current
thinking on Managing Attendance (2005)(368 Kb)
-
14 guidance principles (67 Kb)
[The full issue of
Focus magazine, issue 8, from which this article was taken, is also available (415 Kb)]
Third Sector
- Better Funding: Financial relationships with third sector organisations. A decision support tool for public bodies in England
[This is also available as a downloadable document
(668Kb)]Web sites and intranets
-
What counts as an active web site? (38 Kb)
[This document was taken from page 7 of the NAO report
Government on the Web
- The following articles have been taken from Focus magazine, issue 9 (769 Kb)
-
Getting the most from your web site
(115 Kb)
-
Intranet success factors
(115 Kb)
Welfare, Work and Education
-
Welfare, Work and Education - Social
Policy Focus (Autumn 2006) (560 Kb)
Vehicle Crime
-
Using communication to tackle theft from vehicles - as published (266 KB)
-
Using communication to tackle theft from vehicles - print friendly version
(199 KB)
-
Using communication to tackle theft from vehicles -
Welsh version
(326 KB)
-
Theft from Motor Vehicles - Identifying Potential Offenders - as published
(284 KB)
-
Theft from Motor Vehicles - Identifying Potential Offenders
- print friendly version (192 KB)
-
Theft from Motor Vehicles - Identifying Potential Offenders
- Welsh version (305 KB)
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