COG17/2014

Council of Governors

Review of the Year 2013/14

The roles and responsibilities of the Council of Governors as detailed in the CNWL constitution:

  • To appoint or remove the Chair and the other non-executive Directors
  • To decide the remuneration and allowances, and the other terms and conditions of office, of the Non-Executive Directors
  • To appoint or remove the Trust’s Auditor
  • To be presented with the Annual Accounts, any report of the Auditor on them and the Annual Report
  • To consider resolutions to remove a Governor
  • To approve an appointment by the Non-Executive Directors of the Chief Executive
  • To hold the Non-Executive Directors to account for the performanceof the Board of Directors
  • To represent the interests of the membersof the Trust and the interests of the public
  • To be consulted by the Board of Directors regarding the information to be given to Monitor as to the Trust’s forward planning in respect of each Financial Year and to give their views to the Board of Directors for the purposes of the preparation by the Board of Directors of any document containing such information which is to be given to Monitor
  • To approve an application to enter into a merger acquisition separation or dissolution
  • To decide whether the Trust’s non-NHS work would significantly interfere with its principal purpose (to provide goods and services for the Health Service in England)
  • To approve amendments to the constitution
  • To respond as appropriate when consulted by the Directors
  • To support the Board of Directors in setting the longer-term vision for the Trust, to influence proposals to make changes to services and to act in a way that is consistent with NHS and Trust values and the terms of the Trust’s licence
  • To engage in dialogue with and provide advice to the Board of Directors with regard to the Trust’s future vision and strategy and to act as a source of ideas about how the Trust can provide its services in ways that meet the needs of the community it serves
  • To review annually the extent to which the Trust is meeting its objective of delivering high quality services
  • To work with the Board of Directors on such other matters for the benefit of the Trust as may be agreed between them
  • To exercise other functions at the request of the Board of Directors.

Statutory functions carried out in 2013-2014

  • Appointment of Non-Executive Directors

  • Development of the Annual Plan and strategic priorities

  • Reviewing performance to hold the NEDs to account

Review of the year

There have been seven Council of Governors’ meetings during the year. At each the Chief Executive updated Governors on recent events and activity. Major items from each meeting are listed below.

16 September 2013

  • AGM Theme: Listening to our patients
  • Annual Report and Accounts
  • Review of the Year
  • Election of Lead Governor

5 December 2013

  • Presentation: Learning Disabilities
  • Carer Development Briefing
  • Forward Plan

27 January 2014

  • Appointment of a Non-Executive Director

19 March 2014

  • Quality Account
  • Forward plan
  • Appointment of Auditors

22 May 2014

  • CQC and Monitor update
  • Appointment of a Non-Executive Director

19 June 2014

  • CQC update
  • Monitor investigation
  • Forward Plan

22 July 2014

  • Appointment of Non-Executive Director

Governors have been supportive of the Trust through a challenging year. They have been realistic about the tough choices facing the Trust and keen to be kept informed on the issues and problems faced in this difficult financial climate.Governors have taken a keen ongoing interest in the Trust’s financial position and its plans to meet future challenges. Governors were also particularly interested to remain informed on the Trust’s ongoing compliance issues with the CQC with respect to Beatrice Place and the Campbell Centre, and the subsequent Monitor investigation. Governors have continued to be active outside of the formal meetings and they have supported staff more directly through their interest in services and their visiting programme.

Appointments

This was another busy year for the Appointments Committeeand the Council of Governors, during which the Governors fulfilled one of their most important statutory functions, the appointment of a new Non-Executive Director and the re-appointment of current Non-Executive Directors. The appointments Committee have been diligently pursuing the recruitment to the vacant Non-Executive Director positions. One has been recruited and a new recruitment process has been initiated to recruit to the second vacant position. A number of reappointments have also arisen this past year and the Appointments Committee have considered these and made recommendations to the Council of Governors.

Governors have diligently attended special meetings of the Council of Governors on three separate occasions this past year to approve these appointments.

Other Governor groups which wereactive during the year:

Forward Plan

All Governors were invited to the Forward Planning Group which again met 4 times this year to review the Trust’s current strategic position and contribute to the development of the Trust’s strategic objectives as part of the annual planning process.

Code of Conduct

Fortunately there has been no need for The Code of Conduct Group to meet in this period.

Quality

In addition to discussing the Quality Account at a number of general meetings, Governors attended the major stakeholder eventorganised by the Trust which considered emerging priorities. They then had the opportunity to review the priorities and attend the feedback session. Governors were also involved in the identification of the Trust’s local quality indicator for the Quality Account. Governors have reported that this involvement in setting and reviewing our quality aspirations has been a very fulfilling part of their role.

Carers Council

The Carer’s Council has continued its work to seek to improve interaction with Carers and has met regularly over the last year. The Carer’s Council is chaired by a Carer Governor.

Breakfast and Tea with the Chair

The new Chair, Professor Dorothy Griffiths, has initiated a series of breakfast and tea events for Governors to meet with her and discuss their role as a Governor, any difficulties they have faced, and any issues they may wish to raise. These have been well-attended and we have a programme of regular sessions in place.

Governor Activity

Governors have been involved in a range of activities including speaking at and attending conferences, holding surgeries and other activities. Some examples include:

  • Innovation Scheme Panel
  • Senior staff appointments
  • Monthly and annual judging of the ‘Hidden Gems’
  • Contributing to the Members magazine
  • Carers Council
  • Staff LGBT Forum
  • Attending public consultation meetings
  • Attending local user and carer groups

Vice chair/Lead governor

Cllr Ketan Sheth was reappointed as Lead Governor in September 2013 and has been actively engaged throughout this year. This appointment is for a 2-year period.

Joint meeting of the Council of Governorsand the Board

In May there was a very well attended joint meeting of the Council of Governors and the Board.

The meeting first considered the Trust’s workforce priorities and the behaviours Directors and Governors would expect to see in a workforce as exemplified by a doctor, a nurse, a manager and a support worker.. The meeting went on to consider the ’15 steps challenge’, that is, what we would want to see or experience within 15 steps of entering a ward which is being developed as a tool for future Governor visits. Governors also undertook a self assessment of their capacity and performance. Overall this was a very positive assessment with Governors feeling that they are confident in making a useful contribution to the work and development of the Trust. However they did note that they sometimes feel it is difficult to hold the Non-Executive Directors to account and a discussion was held as to how best facilitate this.

Governor visits

In 2013/14 there were 13different visits and 16different Governors are listed as attending sites over those visits. Some Governors have made a number of visits. The visits have covered our community services in Hillingdon and Camden as well as mental health and allied specialties. In each year we try to ensure that Governors have the opportunity to visit services in each service line and across our geographic spread.

There is an ongoing programme of visits and all Governors are encouraged to try and make at least one visit each year. Those Governors who have visited services have found it a very rewarding and informative experience and they have encouraged fellow Governors to take advantage of the opportunities.

Membership development

Since becoming a Foundation Trust in May 2007, the membership of the Trust has grown as a result of various recruitment campaigns and now stands at15,555public, service users, carers, and staff members. The membership is broadly representative of our local populations but we will continue to seek to attract members with an interest in or affiliation with our new community services. We are looking to consolidate and improve engagement with our current membership.

Member Events

There was a members event on 25th February 2014 which focused on eating disorders.

Governor Changes

There have been a number of Governor changes during the year. We really do appreciate the time and energy that Governors devote so freely to the trust. This year we have said goodbye to Bridget Clarence-Smith, Cllr Peter Kemp, Cllr Christopher Buckmaster, and Cllr Ruth Jury.

Current Governors are as follows:

Constituency / Names
Service users from the Boroughs of Hillingdon, Harrow, Brent, Ealing Hounslow / Jatinder Saran
Service users from the Boroughs of Hillingdon, Harrow, Brent, Ealing Hounslow / Bob Walker
Service users from the Boroughs of Hillingdon, Harrow, Brent, Ealing Hounslow / Kenneth Pollington
Service users from the Boroughs of Hillingdon, Harrow, Brent, Ealing Hounslow / Angela Hook
Service users from the Boroughs of Hillingdon, Harrow, Brent, Ealing Hounslow / John Clark
Service users from the boroughs of Westminster K&C,H&F,Camden, Enfield and the rest of the GLA / Timothy Seale
Service users from the boroughs of Westminster K&C,H&F,Camden, Enfield and the rest of the GLA / Elvira De Souza
Service users from the boroughs of Westminster K&C,H&F,Camden, Enfield and the rest of the GLA / Lina Christopoulou
Service users from the boroughs of Westminster K&C,H&F,Camden, Enfield and the rest of the GLA / Michael O'Dwyer
Service users from the boroughs of Westminster K&C,H&F,Camden, Enfield and the rest of the GLA / Ezzat Jalili
Carers / Molly Bandah
Carers / Horton Kennedy
Carers / Janet Seale
Public - London Borough Brent / Stephen Chamberlain
Public - London Borough Harrow / Irene Leeman
Public - London Borough Hillingdon / Samuel Whiteside
Public - Royal Borough Kensington & Chelsea / vacant
Public - London Borough Westminster / Cheryl Prax
Public Borough of Milton Keynes / Peter Bradley
Public - London Boroughs Ealing Hounslow Hammersmith & Fulham / Howard McFarlane
Public London Borough Camden / vacant
Public - Boroughs within England & Wales excluding those named above / Henry Arthurs
Nursing staff (including healthcare assistants) / Paul Byrne
Nursing staff (including healthcare assistants) / Carina Sheridan
Medical Staff / Karim Dar
Allied Health professionals / Charlotte Green
Social care / Ann Sheridan
Other Staff / vacant
LA Brent / Ketan Sheth
LA Harrow / Margaret Davine
LA Hillingdon / Nick Denys
LA K&C / Charles Williams
LA Westminster / Sheila D'Souza
LA Milton Keynes / Nigel Long
LA Camden / Vacant
Terrance Higgins / Daisy Ellis
Age UK / vacant
NHS Commissioning collaborative / Vacant
Mencap / Vacant
Imperial College / Mike Crawford

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