External Review of ASH Scotland 2014

Executive Summary

Background

1. The purpose of this light touch review was to examine and assess ASH Scotland's performance in providing value for money in relation to the grant funding provided by the Scottish Government. It was carried out between April and June 2014. Evidence was taken from stakeholder interviews, focus groups and document reviews.

Vision and Strategic Direction

2. ASH Scotland has a strong vision which is closely aligned with the Scottish Government ambitions stated in Creating a Tobacco Free Generation: A Tobacco Control Strategy for Scotland. Stakeholders consulted during this review identified the importance of ASH Scotland maintaining its independent position in order to be fully effective and the significant contribution it makes to tobacco control. ASH Scotland is perceived as having a robust process for developing and agreeing its strategy and vision which is based on wide stakeholder consultation.

Effectiveness of partnerships

3. The organisation works effectively with a wide range of partners and alliances. ASH Scotland is seen as highly effective at coordinating and supporting partnerships, such as the Scottish Coalition on Tobacco (SCOT) and the Scottish Tobacco Control Alliance (STCA), and to work well with academia. Partnership working helps ASH Scotland achieve greater national and local impact than it could working alone, and increases the sustainability of its work.

Balance of local, national and international work

4. All three levels of work are considered important; they inform and support each other and contribute to ASH Scotland's impact and profile. There is wide agreement on the unique and important contribution of ASH Scotland's national and international roles, but there is potential to further articulate and clarify how it works at the local level.

Governance and accountability

5. Governance within the organisation is strong, with clear arrangements which are regularly reviewed to ensure clarity and probity. The Board provides robust and appropriate challenge, and functions effectively in providing oversight and strategic direction. Internal decision making processes are effective and reviewed regularly.

Use of resources

6. Financial governance and decision making are framed by a clear set of procedures and reporting requirements. Financial instructions and controls are well managed and consistently used; recent improvements have been made to ensure greater accountability and alignment with organisational and funding priorities. Staffing levels and staff deployment are regularly reviewed to ensure that they are clearly contributing to priority areas of work. The calibre of staff is generally considered to be high, and their work is well respected by external stakeholders.

Using resources to deliver the Scottish Government objectives

7. The Scottish Government is the largest single funder of ASH Scotland, providing contributions to both core and project funding. The work undertaken by ASH Scotland on the Information and Research, the Inequalities, and the Youth projects has delivered to, and in some cases exceeded, Scottish Government requirements. The longstanding PATH partnership which included youth and inequalities work as well as leading the smoking cessation training programme came to a formal end in 2013. Funding for youth and inequalities work continues as a separate project. Funding for training has been extended into 2014 pending the issue by the Scottish Government of a revised tender and specification for the contract for cessation services.

Performance management framework

8. There is scope to clarify and improve ASH Scotland's performance management framework and its underlying structure. While the current model is comprehensive and well used, it does not enable ASH Scotland to fully assess the impact of its activities, and systematically identify areas for improvement. It will be important for ASH Scotland to develop a framework which allows it to assess the contribution of its work to national outcomes for tobacco control.

Equality and diversity

9. The recognition of smoking as a health inequalities issue is embedded across ASH Scotland's approach and there is a high commitment to tackling inequalities and related tobacco control topics. ASH Scotland has developed a wide number of activities to support the reduction of health inequalities, working closely with alliances and local organisations, and particularly with young people.

Conclusion

10. Overall ASH Scotland is effective in achieving its aims, and in delivering value for money for the Government. ASH Scotland has a unique role, and can be seen to provide value, both in terms of its immediate work and impact, but also in contributing to the wider reduction of tobacco use and its associated harm and costs to society.