{"id":3224,"date":"2026-02-25T09:52:47","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T09:52:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/research.northumbria.ac.uk\/scan\/?p=3224"},"modified":"2026-03-19T08:55:44","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T08:55:44","slug":"scan-nhs-counter-fraud-authority-lcfs-conference-2026-conference-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/research.northumbria.ac.uk\/scan\/scan-nhs-counter-fraud-authority-lcfs-conference-2026-conference-report\/","title":{"rendered":"SCAN &#8211; NHS\u00a0Counter Fraud Authority\u00a0LCFS Conference 2026 Conference Report"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"3224\" class=\"elementor elementor-3224\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7503be74 e-flex e-con-boxed wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no wpr-column-slider-no wpr-equal-height-no e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"7503be74\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7b908afb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7b908afb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Authors: Diana Bociga gelvez , Nicholas Lord and Katie Benson<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Date of event : 28\/01\/2026\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Location: Hilton Leeds City, Leeds\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Members of the SCAN team,\u00a0Katie Benson, Nick Lord and Diana Bociga,\u00a0attended the NHSCFA Local Counter Fraud Specialist (LCFS) Conference 2026 in Leeds, where they hosted a stand allowing attendees to learn more about the project and register their interest\u00a0in\u00a0participating\u00a0in the\u00a0research.\u00a0The conference brought together LCFSs from across England\u00a0and Wales\u00a0under the theme\u00a0<em>Building Collaboratively: Local Insight, National Impact.<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><strong>Key reflections from the conference<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:list {\"ordered\":true,\"start\":1} --><\/p>\n<ol start=\"1\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ol start=\"1\"><!-- wp:list-item --><\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<ol start=\"1\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ol start=\"1\">\n<li><strong>From reaction to prevention:\u00a0<\/strong>A strong focus on shifting counter\u00a0fraud work towards prevention and proactive risk identification was set out in a workshop led by Richard Rippin (Associate Director for Operational Services, NHSCFA). This included discussion of national data-driven initiatives such as Project Athena and Project WISE, and the role of analytics in supporting local decision-making.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list --><!-- wp:list {\"ordered\":true,\"start\":2} --><\/p>\n<ol start=\"2\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ol start=\"2\"><!-- wp:list-item --><\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<ol start=\"2\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ol start=\"2\">\n<li><strong>Local priority fraud risks:<\/strong>\u00a0Workshop discussions with LCFSs highlighted a range of priority fraud areas, including\u00a0staffing fraud of various kinds (e.g. false credentials or non-declaration of previous sanctions in recruitment, impersonation fraud, timesheet fraud, and dual working); fraud in ICB-managed care packages and Section 12 Mental Health Assessment processes; and procurement fraud.\u00a0Discussions\u00a0also raised concerns about\u00a0the challenges of\u00a0investigating alleged fraud involving senior NHS staff, particularly where Trusts may be reluctant to pursue cases that risk the loss of specialist\u00a0expertise.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list --><!-- wp:list {\"ordered\":true,\"start\":3} --><\/p>\n<ol start=\"3\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ol start=\"3\"><!-- wp:list-item --><\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<ol start=\"3\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ol start=\"3\">\n<li><strong>Investigative challenges:\u00a0<\/strong>In a session on managing impersonation fraud, Claire Smallman (Head of Investigations, Mersey MIAA) presented case studies illustrating investigative practice alongside ongoing challenges. These included reliance on standard police reporting routes, as well as inconsistencies in local support where LCFS funding or capacity is reduced during investigations.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list --><!-- wp:list {\"ordered\":true,\"start\":4} --><\/p>\n<ol start=\"4\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ol start=\"4\"><!-- wp:list-item --><\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<ol start=\"4\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ol start=\"4\">\n<li><strong>Professionalisation and future direction:<\/strong>\u00a0Andy Gowens (Centre of Specialist Learning Lead, NHSCFA) outlined efforts to professionalise the LCFS role through standards, career pathways, and skills development. Participants raised concerns about the cost of training, prompting reflection on the potential implications for uneven access to professional development across Trusts.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:list --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Mark Cheeseman (Chief Executive, Public Sector Fraud Authority) spoke about the current public sector fraud landscape and the future direction of reform and response.<\/p>\n<p>Closing reflections from Alex Rothwell (Chief Executive Officer, NHSCFA) emphasised prevention, collaboration, increased use of technology, and the importance of building organisational capability as key future priorities and the importance of strengthening organisational capability as key priorities for the future of counter-fraud work.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>For the SCAN team, the conference\u00a0provided\u00a0valuable opportunities to interact with LCFSs and understand the reality of local counter fraud work, as well as to raise awareness of the project within the LCFS community.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>The\u00a0conference\u00a0further\u00a0provided\u00a0the SCAN team\u00a0valuable opportunities to engage with LCFSs, deepen understanding of the realities of local counter\u00a0-fraud work, and raise awareness of the project within the LCFS community.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><span data-teams=\"true\"><b>Please note: This project is funded by the NIHR Health and Social Care Delivery Research programme (NIHR159714). The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Authors: Diana Bociga gelvez , Nicholas Lord and Katie Benson Date of event : 28\/01\/2026\u00a0 Location: Hilton Leeds City, Leeds\u00a0 Members of the SCAN team,\u00a0Katie Benson, Nick Lord and Diana Bociga,\u00a0attended the NHSCFA Local Counter Fraud Specialist (LCFS) Conference 2026 in Leeds, where they hosted a stand allowing attendees to learn more about the project and register their interest\u00a0in\u00a0participating\u00a0in the\u00a0research.\u00a0The conference brought together LCFSs from across England\u00a0and Wales\u00a0under the theme\u00a0Building Collaboratively: Local Insight, National Impact.\u00a0 Key reflections from the conference\u00a0 \u00a0 From reaction to prevention:\u00a0A strong focus on shifting counter\u00a0fraud work towards prevention and proactive risk identification was set out in a workshop led by Richard Rippin (Associate Director for Operational Services, NHSCFA). This included discussion of national data-driven initiatives such as Project Athena and Project WISE, and the role of analytics in supporting local decision-making.\u00a0 \u00a0 Local priority fraud risks:\u00a0Workshop discussions with LCFSs highlighted a range of priority fraud areas, including\u00a0staffing fraud of various kinds (e.g. false credentials or non-declaration of previous sanctions in recruitment, impersonation fraud, timesheet fraud, and dual working); fraud in ICB-managed care packages and Section 12 Mental Health Assessment processes; and procurement fraud.\u00a0Discussions\u00a0also raised concerns about\u00a0the challenges of\u00a0investigating alleged fraud involving senior NHS staff, particularly where Trusts may be reluctant to pursue cases that risk the loss of specialist\u00a0expertise.\u00a0 \u00a0 Investigative challenges:\u00a0In a session on managing impersonation fraud, Claire Smallman (Head of Investigations, Mersey MIAA) presented case studies illustrating investigative practice alongside ongoing challenges. These included reliance on standard police reporting routes, as well as inconsistencies in local support where LCFS funding or capacity is reduced during investigations.\u00a0 \u00a0 Professionalisation and future direction:\u00a0Andy Gowens (Centre of Specialist Learning Lead, NHSCFA) outlined efforts to professionalise the LCFS role through standards, career pathways, and skills development. Participants raised concerns about the cost of training, prompting reflection on the potential implications for uneven access to professional development across Trusts.\u00a0 Mark Cheeseman (Chief Executive, Public Sector Fraud Authority) spoke about the current public sector fraud landscape and the future direction of reform and response. Closing reflections from Alex Rothwell (Chief Executive Officer, NHSCFA) emphasised prevention, collaboration, increased use of technology, and the importance of building organisational capability as key future priorities and the importance of strengthening organisational capability as key priorities for the future of counter-fraud work.\u00a0 For the SCAN team, the conference\u00a0provided\u00a0valuable opportunities to interact with LCFSs and understand the reality of local counter fraud work, as well as to raise awareness of the project within the LCFS community.\u00a0\u00a0 The\u00a0conference\u00a0further\u00a0provided\u00a0the SCAN team\u00a0valuable opportunities to engage with LCFSs, deepen understanding of the realities of local counter\u00a0-fraud work, and raise awareness of the project within the LCFS community.\u00a0\u00a0 Please note: This project is funded by the NIHR Health and Social Care Delivery Research programme (NIHR159714). The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":1144,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[34,48,49,47,45,38,41,42,29,19,20],"class_list":["post-3224","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-past-events","tag-conference-report","tag-counter-fraud-nhs","tag-counter-fraud-research","tag-diana-bociga-gelvez","tag-katie-benson","tag-nhscfa","tag-nhscfa-conference","tag-nicholas-lord","tag-northumbria-university","tag-scan","tag-strengthing-counter-fraud-in-the-nhs-in-england"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>SCAN - NHS\u00a0Counter Fraud Authority\u00a0LCFS Conference 2026 Conference Report - SCAN - Strengthening counter fraud \u0003across the NHS in England<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/research.northumbria.ac.uk\/scan\/scan-nhs-counter-fraud-authority-lcfs-conference-2026-conference-report\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"SCAN - NHS\u00a0Counter Fraud Authority\u00a0LCFS Conference 2026 Conference Report - SCAN - Strengthening counter fraud \u0003across the NHS in England\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Authors: Diana Bociga gelvez , Nicholas Lord and Katie Benson Date of event : 28\/01\/2026\u00a0 Location: Hilton Leeds City, Leeds\u00a0 Members of the SCAN team,\u00a0Katie Benson, Nick Lord and Diana Bociga,\u00a0attended the NHSCFA Local Counter Fraud Specialist (LCFS) Conference 2026 in Leeds, where they hosted a stand allowing attendees to learn more about the project and register their interest\u00a0in\u00a0participating\u00a0in the\u00a0research.\u00a0The conference brought together LCFSs from across England\u00a0and Wales\u00a0under the theme\u00a0Building Collaboratively: Local Insight, National Impact.\u00a0 Key reflections from the conference\u00a0 \u00a0 From reaction to prevention:\u00a0A strong focus on shifting counter\u00a0fraud work towards prevention and proactive risk identification was set out in a workshop led by Richard Rippin (Associate Director for Operational Services, NHSCFA). This included discussion of national data-driven initiatives such as Project Athena and Project WISE, and the role of analytics in supporting local decision-making.\u00a0 \u00a0 Local priority fraud risks:\u00a0Workshop discussions with LCFSs highlighted a range of priority fraud areas, including\u00a0staffing fraud of various kinds (e.g. false credentials or non-declaration of previous sanctions in recruitment, impersonation fraud, timesheet fraud, and dual working); fraud in ICB-managed care packages and Section 12 Mental Health Assessment processes; and procurement fraud.\u00a0Discussions\u00a0also raised concerns about\u00a0the challenges of\u00a0investigating alleged fraud involving senior NHS staff, particularly where Trusts may be reluctant to pursue cases that risk the loss of specialist\u00a0expertise.\u00a0 \u00a0 Investigative challenges:\u00a0In a session on managing impersonation fraud, Claire Smallman (Head of Investigations, Mersey MIAA) presented case studies illustrating investigative practice alongside ongoing challenges. These included reliance on standard police reporting routes, as well as inconsistencies in local support where LCFS funding or capacity is reduced during investigations.\u00a0 \u00a0 Professionalisation and future direction:\u00a0Andy Gowens (Centre of Specialist Learning Lead, NHSCFA) outlined efforts to professionalise the LCFS role through standards, career pathways, and skills development. Participants raised concerns about the cost of training, prompting reflection on the potential implications for uneven access to professional development across Trusts.\u00a0 Mark Cheeseman (Chief Executive, Public Sector Fraud Authority) spoke about the current public sector fraud landscape and the future direction of reform and response. Closing reflections from Alex Rothwell (Chief Executive Officer, NHSCFA) emphasised prevention, collaboration, increased use of technology, and the importance of building organisational capability as key future priorities and the importance of strengthening organisational capability as key priorities for the future of counter-fraud work.\u00a0 For the SCAN team, the conference\u00a0provided\u00a0valuable opportunities to interact with LCFSs and understand the reality of local counter fraud work, as well as to raise awareness of the project within the LCFS community.\u00a0\u00a0 The\u00a0conference\u00a0further\u00a0provided\u00a0the SCAN team\u00a0valuable opportunities to engage with LCFSs, deepen understanding of the realities of local counter\u00a0-fraud work, and raise awareness of the project within the LCFS community.\u00a0\u00a0 Please note: This project is funded by the NIHR Health and Social Care Delivery Research programme (NIHR159714). 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This included discussion of national data-driven initiatives such as Project Athena and Project WISE, and the role of analytics in supporting local decision-making.\u00a0 \u00a0 Local priority fraud risks:\u00a0Workshop discussions with LCFSs highlighted a range of priority fraud areas, including\u00a0staffing fraud of various kinds (e.g. false credentials or non-declaration of previous sanctions in recruitment, impersonation fraud, timesheet fraud, and dual working); fraud in ICB-managed care packages and Section 12 Mental Health Assessment processes; and procurement fraud.\u00a0Discussions\u00a0also raised concerns about\u00a0the challenges of\u00a0investigating alleged fraud involving senior NHS staff, particularly where Trusts may be reluctant to pursue cases that risk the loss of specialist\u00a0expertise.\u00a0 \u00a0 Investigative challenges:\u00a0In a session on managing impersonation fraud, Claire Smallman (Head of Investigations, Mersey MIAA) presented case studies illustrating investigative practice alongside ongoing challenges. These included reliance on standard police reporting routes, as well as inconsistencies in local support where LCFS funding or capacity is reduced during investigations.\u00a0 \u00a0 Professionalisation and future direction:\u00a0Andy Gowens (Centre of Specialist Learning Lead, NHSCFA) outlined efforts to professionalise the LCFS role through standards, career pathways, and skills development. Participants raised concerns about the cost of training, prompting reflection on the potential implications for uneven access to professional development across Trusts.\u00a0 Mark Cheeseman (Chief Executive, Public Sector Fraud Authority) spoke about the current public sector fraud landscape and the future direction of reform and response. Closing reflections from Alex Rothwell (Chief Executive Officer, NHSCFA) emphasised prevention, collaboration, increased use of technology, and the importance of building organisational capability as key future priorities and the importance of strengthening organisational capability as key priorities for the future of counter-fraud work.\u00a0 For the SCAN team, the conference\u00a0provided\u00a0valuable opportunities to interact with LCFSs and understand the reality of local counter fraud work, as well as to raise awareness of the project within the LCFS community.\u00a0\u00a0 The\u00a0conference\u00a0further\u00a0provided\u00a0the SCAN team\u00a0valuable opportunities to engage with LCFSs, deepen understanding of the realities of local counter\u00a0-fraud work, and raise awareness of the project within the LCFS community.\u00a0\u00a0 Please note: This project is funded by the NIHR Health and Social Care Delivery Research programme (NIHR159714). The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.","og_url":"https:\/\/research.northumbria.ac.uk\/scan\/scan-nhs-counter-fraud-authority-lcfs-conference-2026-conference-report\/","og_site_name":"SCAN - Strengthening counter fraud \u0003across the NHS in England","article_published_time":"2026-02-25T09:52:47+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-03-19T08:55:44+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2100,"height":872,"url":"https:\/\/research.northumbria.ac.uk\/scan\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/horizons.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Amy Cameron","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Amy Cameron","Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/research.northumbria.ac.uk\/scan\/scan-nhs-counter-fraud-authority-lcfs-conference-2026-conference-report\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/research.northumbria.ac.uk\/scan\/scan-nhs-counter-fraud-authority-lcfs-conference-2026-conference-report\/"},"author":{"name":"Amy Cameron","@id":"https:\/\/research.northumbria.ac.uk\/scan\/#\/schema\/person\/da438d069efbf489c8da73517197e2dd"},"headline":"SCAN &#8211; 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