REGISTERED NUMBER: |
Report of the Directors and |
Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023 |
for |
THE ASSOCIATION OF DIRECTORS OF |
CHILDREN'S SERVICES LIMITED |
REGISTERED NUMBER: |
Report of the Directors and |
Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023 |
for |
THE ASSOCIATION OF DIRECTORS OF |
CHILDREN'S SERVICES LIMITED |
THE ASSOCIATION OF DIRECTORS OF |
CHILDREN'S SERVICES LIMITED (REGISTERED NUMBER: 06801922) |
Contents of the Financial Statements |
for the Year Ended 31 December 2023 |
Page |
Company Information | 1 |
Report of the Directors | 2 |
Report of the Independent Auditors | 4 |
Income Statement | 8 |
Balance Sheet | 9 |
Notes to the Financial Statements | 10 |
THE ASSOCIATION OF DIRECTORS OF |
CHILDREN'S SERVICES LIMITED |
Company Information |
for the Year Ended 31 December 2023 |
DIRECTORS: |
SECRETARY: |
REGISTERED OFFICE: |
REGISTERED NUMBER: |
AUDITORS: |
Century Buildings |
14 St Mary's Parsonage |
Manchester |
M3 2DF |
THE ASSOCIATION OF DIRECTORS OF |
CHILDREN'S SERVICES LIMITED (REGISTERED NUMBER: 06801922) |
Report of the Directors |
for the Year Ended 31 December 2023 |
The directors present their report with the financial statements of the company for the year ended 31 December 2023. |
PRINCIPAL ACTIVITY |
Through the contributions of its members, The Association of Directors of Children's Services Ltd (ADCS) provides the collective voice of professionals in children's services leadership roles in local authorities in England on policy, practice and the commissioning and resourcing of the wide variety of local, regional and national services for children, young people and their families In doing so, the Association works closely with Ministers, government officials, the community and voluntary sectors, local government organisations and other professional bodies |
The work of the Association is undertaken through a comprehensive policy committee structure that spans the full remit of the statutory Director of Children's Services |
The Board of Directors of ADCS Ltd directs the affairs of the Association in such a way as to promote the Objects of the Association, which are: |
- To promote the education of the public in matters of education, social and health care policy for children, young people, their families and carers, |
- To promote the better care and upbringing of children in need and the preservation of family life for the benefit of the public, and |
- To promote improved outcomes for children, young people and their families and carers so that for the benefit of the public they are healthier and safer, achieve highly and enjoy their education, are able to make a positive contribution to society, and are enabled to achieve economic wellbeing |
DIRECTORS |
The directors shown below have held office during the whole of the period from 1 January 2023 to the date of this report. |
Other changes in directors holding office are as follows: |
STATEMENT OF DIRECTORS' RESPONSIBILITIES |
The directors are responsible for preparing the Report of the Directors and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations. |
Company law requires the directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the directors have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). Under company law the directors must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company and of the surplus or deficit of the company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the directors are required to: |
- | select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; |
- | make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent; |
- | prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will continue in business. |
THE ASSOCIATION OF DIRECTORS OF |
CHILDREN'S SERVICES LIMITED (REGISTERED NUMBER: 06801922) |
Report of the Directors |
for the Year Ended 31 December 2023 |
STATEMENT OF DIRECTORS' RESPONSIBILITIES - continued |
The directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the company's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. |
STATEMENT AS TO DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION TO AUDITORS |
So far as the directors are aware, there is no relevant audit information (as defined by Section 418 of the Companies Act 2006) of which the company's auditors are unaware, and each director has taken all the steps that he or she ought to have taken as a director in order to make himself or herself aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the company's auditors are aware of that information. |
This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies. |
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD: |
Report of the Independent Auditors to the Members of |
The Association Of Directors Of |
Children's Services Limited |
Opinion |
We have audited the financial statements of The Association Of Directors Of Children's Services Limited (the 'company') for the year ended 31 December 2023 which comprise the Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Notes to the Financial Statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). |
In our opinion the financial statements: |
- | give a true and fair view of the state of the company's affairs as at 31 December 2023 and of its surplus for the year then ended; |
- | have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and |
- | have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006. |
Basis for opinion |
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditors' responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC's Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. |
Conclusions relating to going concern |
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the directors' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate. |
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue. |
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the directors with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report. |
Other information |
The directors are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information in the Report of the Directors, but does not include the financial statements and our Report of the Auditors thereon. |
Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. |
In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard. |
Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006 |
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit: |
- | the information given in the Report of the Directors for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and |
- | the Report of the Directors has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements. |
Report of the Independent Auditors to the Members of |
The Association Of Directors Of |
Children's Services Limited |
Matters on which we are required to report by exception |
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Report of the Directors. |
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion: |
- | adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or |
- | the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or |
- | certain disclosures of directors' remuneration specified by law are not made; or |
- | we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or |
- | the directors were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies regime and take advantage of the small companies' exemption from the requirement to prepare a Strategic Report or in preparing the Report of the Directors. |
Responsibilities of directors |
As explained more fully in the Statement of Directors' Responsibilities, the directors are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the directors determine necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. |
In preparing the financial statements, the directors are responsible for assessing the company's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the directors either intend to liquidate the company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so. |
Report of the Independent Auditors to the Members of |
The Association Of Directors Of |
Children's Services Limited |
Auditors' responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements |
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue a Report of the Auditors that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements. |
The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below: |
Our approach to identifying and assessing the risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, was as follows: |
- we identified the significant laws and regulations applicable to the company which we considered could have a direct material effect on the financial statements or the operations of the company. Said laws and regulations include but are not limited to, the Companies Act 2006, taxation legislation and data protection, anti-bribery and employment legislation; |
- the identified laws and regulations were communicated within the audit team regularly and the team remained alert to instances of non-compliance throughout the audit. |
We assessed the susceptibility of the company's financial statements to material misstatement, including obtaining an understanding of how fraud might occur. We also addressed the risk of fraud through management bias and override of controls by; |
- updating and reviewing our knowledge of the company, its officers and internal financial function, together with their systems and internal controls. This included making enquiries of management as to their knowledge of actual, suspected and alleged fraud; and |
- considering the internal controls in place to mitigate risks of fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations. We concluded that whilst the company had controls in place that were appropriate to its size and the nature of its activities, we could not rely on those systems and internal controls exclusively for the purposes of our audit work. We therefore adopted a substantive and transactional approach to our audit, seeking to verify figures in the balance sheet to third party evidence and transactions within the Income Statement to external independent documentation; |
- We did not review every transaction. However, we adopted an approach based on testing a sample of transactions. In choosing our sample, we tested transactions that were material in nature and in addition a random sample of other transaction. By choosing transactions of a material nature, our audit work is designed to detect material misstatements. The use of random testing on other transactions is designed to detect other irregularities and the operation of the company's internal control systems generally. If exceptions were noted, our audit work was expanded to test more transactions with a view to determining whether the exception was of an isolated nature; |
- We performed analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships; |
- We tested journal entries to identify unusual transactions and investigated the rationale behind significant or unusual transactions. |
There are inherent limitations in our audit procedures described above. The more removed that laws and regulations are from financial transactions, the less likely it is that we would become aware of non-compliance. Auditing standards also limit the audit procedures required to identify non-compliance with laws and regulations to enquiry of the directors and other management and the inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence, if any. |
Material misstatements that arise due to fraud can be harder to detect than those that arise from error as they may involve deliberate concealment or collusion. |
A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council's website at www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our Report of the Auditors. |
Report of the Independent Auditors to the Members of |
The Association Of Directors Of |
Children's Services Limited |
Use of our report |
This report is made solely to the company's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the company's members those matters we are required to state to them in a Report of the Auditors and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the company and the company's members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed. |
for and on behalf of |
Century Buildings |
14 St Mary's Parsonage |
Manchester |
M3 2DF |
THE ASSOCIATION OF DIRECTORS OF |
CHILDREN'S SERVICES LIMITED (REGISTERED NUMBER: 06801922) |
Income Statement |
for the Year Ended 31 December 2023 |
31.12.23 | 31.12.22 |
£ | £ |
TURNOVER |
Administrative expenses |
OPERATING SURPLUS |
Interest receivable and similar income |
SURPLUS BEFORE TAXATION |
Tax on surplus |
SURPLUS FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR |
THE ASSOCIATION OF DIRECTORS OF |
CHILDREN'S SERVICES LIMITED (REGISTERED NUMBER: 06801922) |
Balance Sheet |
31 December 2023 |
31.12.23 | 31.12.22 |
Notes | £ | £ | £ | £ |
FIXED ASSETS |
Tangible assets | 4 |
CURRENT ASSETS |
Debtors | 5 |
Cash at bank |
CREDITORS |
Amounts falling due within one year | 6 |
NET CURRENT ASSETS |
TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES |
RESERVES |
Dowry accumulated fund |
Income and expenditure account |
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on |
THE ASSOCIATION OF DIRECTORS OF |
CHILDREN'S SERVICES LIMITED (REGISTERED NUMBER: 06801922) |
Notes to the Financial Statements |
for the Year Ended 31 December 2023 |
1. | STATUTORY INFORMATION |
The Association Of Directors Of Children's Services Limited is a |
2. | ACCOUNTING POLICIES |
Basis of preparing the financial statements |
Turnover |
Income is recognised when the company has entitlement to the funds and it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably against an invoice. |
Income attributable to the financial period is recognised as follows: |
- Local Authority contributions are accounted for in the period to which they relate. |
- Subscriptions contributions are accounted for in the period to which they relate. |
- Annual conference income is accounted for in the period to which it relates. |
- Investment income is accounted for over the period in which it is earned. |
- Other revenue streams are accounted for as earned or as the services are performed. |
Tangible fixed assets |
Office equipment | - |
IT equipment | - |
Tangible fixed assets are initially recorded at cost. |
Hire purchase and leasing commitments |
Rentals paid under operating leases are charged to surplus or deficit on a straight line basis over the period of the lease. |
Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits |
The company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the company's pension scheme are charged to profit or loss in the period to which they relate. |
Financial instruments |
Financial instruments are classified and accounted for, according to the substance of the contractual arrangement, as either financial assets, financial liabilities or equity instruments. An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the company after deducting all of its liabilities. |
3. | EMPLOYEES AND DIRECTORS |
The average number of employees during the year was |
THE ASSOCIATION OF DIRECTORS OF |
CHILDREN'S SERVICES LIMITED (REGISTERED NUMBER: 06801922) |
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued |
for the Year Ended 31 December 2023 |
4. | TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS |
Office | IT |
equipment | equipment | Totals |
£ | £ | £ |
COST |
At 1 January 2023 |
Additions |
At 31 December 2023 |
DEPRECIATION |
At 1 January 2023 |
Charge for year |
At 31 December 2023 |
NET BOOK VALUE |
At 31 December 2023 |
At 31 December 2022 |
5. | DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR |
31.12.23 | 31.12.22 |
£ | £ |
Other debtors |
6. | CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR |
31.12.23 | 31.12.22 |
£ | £ |
Trade creditors |
Taxation and social security |
Other creditors |
7. | LEASING AGREEMENTS |
Minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases fall due as follows: |
31.12.23 | 31.12.22 |
£ | £ |
Within one year |
Between one and five years |
8. | ULTIMATE CONTROLLING PARTY |
The controlling party is the board of directors. |
9. | LIMITED BY GUARANTEE |
The company is limited by guarantee and the liability of the members is limited. Every Ordinary Member promises, if the Association is wound up whilst they are an Ordinary Member or within one year after ceasing to be an Ordinary Member, to contribute such amount as is required up to a maximum of £1 towards the costs of winding up the Association and liabilities incurred whilst the contributor was an Ordinary Member. |