The purpose of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee (ARAC) is advise and assure the Board and the Accountable Officer on whether effective arrangements are in place, through the design and operation of the University Health Board’s system of assurance, to support them in their decision taking and in discharging their accountabilities for securing the achievement of the University Health Board’s objectives, in accordance with the standards of good governance determined for the NHS in Wales.
The Committee independently monitors, reviews and reports to the Board on the processes of governance, and where appropriate, facilitates and supports, through its independence, the attainment of effective processes.
Where appropriate, the Committee will advise the Board and the Accountable Officer on where, and how, its system of assurance may be strengthened and developed further.
The Committee’s principle duties encompass the following:
- Review the establishment and maintenance of an effective system of good governance, risk management and internal control across the whole of the organisation’s activities, both clinical and non-clinical.
- Seek assurance that the systems for financial reporting to Board, including those of budgetary control, are effective, and that financial systems processes and controls are operating.
- Work with other Committees of the Board, including the Regional Joint Committee, to ensure that governance and risks are part of an embedded assurance framework that is ‘fit for purpose’.
- Receive an assurance on delivery against relevant Planning Objectives aligned to the Committee accordance with Board approved timescales, as set out in Health Board’s Annual Plan.
- Receive assurance on delivery against the areas of Welsh Government escalation criteria, and the required elements for de-escalation, related to governance
The full role of the Committee is detailed in the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee Terms of Reference (PDF, 376Kb, opens in new tab)
Click here to view the approved and the latest unapproved minutes of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee (opens in new tab)
Meetings of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee will be held on the following dates and papers can be accessed via the links below when available::
2026
- Audit and Risk Assurance Committee meeting 10 December 2026
- Audit and Risk Assurance Committee meeting 15 October 2026
- Audit and Risk Assurance Committee meeting 13 August 2026
- Audit and Risk Assurance Committee meeting 23 June 2026
- Audit and Risk Assurance Committee meeting 7 May 2026
- Audit and Risk Assurance Committee meeting 14 April 2026
- Audit and Risk Assurance Committee meeting 10 February 2026 (opens in new tab)
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019