SAFE win a place on NHS SBS framework
January 18, 2021
Following the submission of a successful bid, SAFE are proud to be included in the NHS SBS internal and external audit services, counter fraud, and financial assurance services framework offering very competitive pricing from leading players in the market.
The framework provides a fully OJEU compliant route to market for the provision of audit services covering a wide range of specialisms including counter fraud and ancillary services.
It offers NHS and Public Sector organisations within the UK, the ability to directly award a contract to SAFE; providing a timely and compliant route to market to meet your requirements.
NHS SBS state that the framework offers potential saving opportunities of 10-15% but in our first bid under the framework SAFE were able to offer one contracting authority a saving of over £84,000; representing a 26% reduction in spend over their incumbent provider.
SAFE has the expertise, experience and capacity to provide a high quality counter fraud service to your organisation and the NHS SBS framework makes it easier to engage our services and start realising the benefits.
Share this news story...
Section 199 of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA) introduced a new corporate offence that significantly raises the bar on fraud risk management. Large organisations can now be criminally liable if an employee, agent, or other associated person commits fraud for the organisation’s benefit—and the organisation did not have reasonable fraud prevention procedures in place. This is a strict liability offence. Prosecutors do not need to prove senior management knowledge or intent. If fraud occurs and the organisation cannot demonstrate an adequate prevention framework, liability follows. The only defence: reasonable procedures The sole statutory defence is that the organisation had reasonable procedures in place to prevent fraud, or that it was reasonable not to have such procedures. In practice, regulators have made clear that “reasonable” will be interpreted robustly. Organisations should be acting now to: Conduct a documented fraud risk assessment covering business models, revenue streams, incentive structures, third-party exposure, and jurisdictional risk. Design proportionate prevention controls aligned to identified risks, including financial controls, approval thresholds, segregation of duties, and oversight of agents and intermediaries. Set the tone from the top , with clear board ownership, senior accountability, and demonstrable commitment to fraud prevention. Implement targeted training and communications so employees and associated persons understand fraud risks, red flags, and reporting routes. Maintain monitoring, reporting, and review mechanisms , including whistleblowing channels, audits, and periodic reassessment as the business evolves. Evidence everything . Policies without implementation, or controls without records, will not support a defence.
Thank you to everyone who attended one of our fraud prevention webinars in 2025. For those who missed them, you can now watch all the recordings at your convenience on the SAFE YouTube channel. Whether you want to find out more about the drivers of fraud, or explore strategies for preventing emerging threats such as dual employment and imposter fraud, we've got a webinar for you. All the links you need are below, and we've included links to additional resources available elsewhere on the SAFE website.
SAFE – Security and Fraud Experts and Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust are proud to be part of Project WISE (Workforce Integrity and System Efficiency), a proactive initiative using data and advanced analytics to strengthen fraud detection across the NHS. The NHSCFA estimates that £1.346 billion of NHS funding is vulnerable to loss through fraud, bribery and corruption in England. With fraud posing a significant risk to NHS resources each year, we’ve joined forces with the NHS Counter Fraud Authority and four other NHS organisations across the South East and South West to pilot this first-of-its-kind initiative. The pilot is helping to identify emerging fraud risks and patterns, turning complex data into actionable intelligence that supports local and regional counter fraud teams.
