– The important thing for us is to make sure that the funds are used for the purpose and not for other purposes than what has been determined, says Øyvind Alseth, acting head of department in the Norwegian Directorate of Health. Annually, the directorate distributes public money to voluntary organisations. Until now, the recipients have only been asked to submit annual accounts for approval. This autumn, the control of these will be increased, says Alseth. Among those to be checked further is the Association for Children’s Palliative Care (FFB). They are behind the children’s hospice “Andreas Hus” in Kristiansand, and have received 90 million in the last three years. In September, the association and several other organizations were notified of a so-called local inspection. This means, among other things, that accounting documents must be reviewed. So far, only municipalities have been subjected to this type of control. Last year eleven pieces, according to Alseth. On Saturday, news revealed that the Association for Children’s Palliative Care has, among other things, spent 14 million on PR consultants, advertising, marketing and information work in two years. FFB: – Supports stricter control Founder of FFB, Natasha Pedersen, has been clear that she does not recognize the calculation and the sum of news. – We will take criticism for some of our priorities, but awareness and information work is a core activity that we have invested heavily in, says Pedersen. She adds that it includes everything from brochures, guides and books to documentaries, advertisements and debate. – Since 2014, we have applied for and been granted funds earmarked for such work. In any case, the debate is important for all organizations and public bodies that carry out information work, she says. The Norwegian Directorate of Health has previously had questions about certain items in the association’s accounts. – We support stricter controls and have welcomed this. The Norwegian Directorate of Health has previously gone into specific items they had questions about, and received answers they were satisfied with, before paying out the subsidy. This applies, among other things, to information, advertising, recruitment and rent, says Pedersen. Secretary General of FFB Natasha Pedersen founded the association in 2009. Photo: John-Andre Samuelsen / news Among those who have received the most money The local inspection will take place on 14 November. The Directorate of Health will then carry out a random check of vouchers and bank transactions. This is what divisional director Sissel Husøy tells news. – The control means that we will investigate whether the grant funds have been used for the purpose, which is the establishment and operation of a children’s hospice. And that the conditions for the grant are complied with, she says. Husøy states that they have the option of reclaiming grants if the money has not been used for the purpose. FFB was among the ten organizations that received the most money from the Directorate of Health last year. The association has 201 members and received NOK 33 million. These organizations and foundations received the most grants from the Norwegian Directorate of Health last year Pillar: The competence service for mental health and child welfare – 154 million. The Salvation Army – 103 million. Camphill village foundation in Norway – 86 million. Blue Cross Norway – 66 million. Mental Health – 58 million. National knowledge center on violence and traumatic stress – 57 million. KS municipal sector’s organization – 48 million. The Gospel Center foundation – 35 million. Stiftelsen Kirkens Bymisjon Oslo – 34 million. The Association for Child Palliation (FFB) – 33 million. According to figures obtained by news, the directorate paid out NOK 1.5 billion last year. That is an increase of 600 million from 2017. – We will make a selection based on a risk assessment when we choose who to check. We will carry out more checks where the risk is high, says Alseth. Head of department Øyvind Alseth in the Norwegian Directorate of Health says it is natural to strengthen control activities since they have become a huge grant manager. Photo: Private The National Audit Office informs news that they have not investigated the specific grant to Andreas Hus. – But we note that the Directorate of Health has taken the initiative for an inspection and will follow up on it, says expedition manager Tora Jarlsby. Has carried out few checks so far The Directorate states that they check those who receive grants in two areas: Activity and finances. – First, the accounts are compared with the budget. If there are major deviations, case managers will make contact to investigate further, says Alseth. – To what extent have you checked whether there has been a breach of allocated funds so far? – It mainly happens in connection with reporting and when we receive notifications. Alseth states that they handle between four and five notification cases each year, related to finances. A consequence of non-compliance can be a police report, according to the grant statutes. Alseth doesn’t think this has ever happened. – I can’t say for sure, but I don’t think it has happened since the directorate was established in 2002. Division director Sissel Husøy states that they have not considered reporting the Association for Children’s Palliative Care to the police. – We have to do things in the right order, she says. Sissel Husøy in the Directorate of Health. Photo: Thomas Marthinsen Wants to control large amounts The Norwegian Directorate of Health will also look at the size of the grant when they assess who should be controlled. – It is more important to control large amounts than small amounts, says Alseth. Who they control is also linked to the size of the organisation. They assume, for example, that a municipality with large administrative resources has better control than a small, voluntary organisation. – So small, voluntary organizations that receive a lot of money can be exposed to more control? – Yes, but it may also be that we want to check complex grant schemes more closely. Because the arrangement can be difficult to understand. – To what extent are grants based on trust? – It is desirable that grants should be based on trust. The state must not impose too many guidelines and regulate volunteering in detail. A win-win situation Marie Viken, senior lecturer in public accounting at Oslo Met School of Economics, believes that it is a win-win situation that the controls are now being increased. – It is good for the organizations that are exposed to it and for the Norwegian Directorate of Health, which has to build up its expertise in the area, says Viken. She points out that it will be important to find the balance between trust and control. – I think it is positive to have more control, but it must not go too far. Then you use too many resources on the control.
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The Directorate of Health steps up checks on grant recipients – news Sørlandet – Local news, TV and radio
