NORTHERN NSW LOCAL HEALTH DISTRICT CLINICAL COUNCIL (DCC)

Terms of Reference

Notes:

•The Northern NSW DCC also acts as a Hospital Clinical Council for the Northern NSW Local Health District and incorporates the membership and objectives of Hospital Clinical Councils from the NSW Health Model By-Laws.

•This Terms of Reference is to be read in conjunction with Northern NSW Combined Clinical Council Terms of Reference with North Coast Primary Health Network.

•Refer to NNSWLHD Model By-Laws (currently under review).

PURPOSE

The purpose of the DCC is to provide the Board and the Chief Executive advice on clinical matters affecting the District and

  • provides a structure for consultation with, and involvement of, clinical staffinmanagement decisionsimpactingpublichospitalsandrelatedcommunityservices.
  • is a key leadership group for its public hospitals and is designed to participate with the management team in ensuring that the hospital/s deliver high quality health and related services for theirpatients?

ROLE

The DCC is to provide the Board and the Chief Executive with advice on clinical matters affecting Northern NSW Local Health District including:

  • improving quality and safety in the hospitals within the District;
  • consultation on planning on the most efficient allocation of clinical services within the District;
  • translating national best practice into local delivery of services;
  • developing innovative solutions that best address the needs of the local communities;
  • provision of leadership of the hospital/s and community health services by providing advice and recommendations and participating in management decisions the objective of which is to ensure:
  • the achievement of the benchmarks and targets set out in the performance agreement between the Health Secretary and the organisation as they relate to the hospital/s and community health services;
  • the implementation of effective quality and safety programs and the achievement of key quality performance indicators by departments and units within the hospital/s and community health services;
  • the implementation of models of care and evidence based clinical standards developed at a national and state level;
  • the fostering of innovative solutions at a hospital level to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the hospital/s and community health services;
  • effective linkages between hospital clinical staff and district clinicians within the organisation;
  • effective operational performance, and achievement of key operational performance indicators by departments and units, within the hospital/s and community health services;
  • The appropriate linkages between hospital services and other services provided within the organisation and appropriate linkages with external local clinicians, including general practitioners; and
  • effective communication of key decisions with staff of the hospital/s and community health services;
  • the implementation of strategies to effectively address any non-achievement of performance targets or other remedial action required within the hospital/s and community health services;
  • advise the Chief Executive and Board on planning requirements for services within the hospital/s and community health services;
  • assist in ensuring the effective implementation of Government policy and decisions of organisation within the hospital/s and community health services;
  • other related matters as the Board or Chief Executive may seek advice on from time to time.

ClinicianEngagement Forums

Clinician Engagement Forums are tobe held quarterly and report to the DCC as per meeting schedule. These Forums are to be rotated to different geographic locations. DCC Members are encouraged to attend Forums in respective location.

REPORTING

The DCC will provide reports on the council’s activities to the Chief Executive and the Board through dissemination of the minutes of the meeting of the council, or provide such reports with the frequency and in the manner determined by the Local Health District.

Presentations to the DCC from the Clinician Engagement Forums will be provided twice yearly as per Meeting Schedule.

INFORMATION

The Chief Executive/Director of Clinical Operations is to ensure the DCC is provided with such information, including operational performance reports as is necessary to enable it to properly undertake its functions.

MEMBERSHIP

  1. Chief Executive
  2. Chair of Medical Staff Executive Council
  3. Two Senior Nursing Representatives

to be from different geographic locations appointed November 2017

  1. Two Senior Medical Representatives

to be from different geographic locations. Appointed November 2017

  1. Two Senior Allied Health Representatives

to be from different geographic locations. Appointed November 2017

  1. Community Nursing Clinician – Appointed March 2017.
  2. Nursing Clinician (RN, RM, EN or AIN) – Appointed March 2017.
  3. Oral Health Representative – Appointed November 2017.
  4. Allied Health Council Representative – Nominated June 2017.
  5. Aboriginal Representative – Appointed March 2017.
  6. Junior Medical Officer Representative (two year appointment with LHD) not appointed.
  7. NNSWLHD Board Representative – Nominated August 2017.
  8. North Coast Primary Health Network Clinical Council Representative. Nominated representative – not appointed write to PHN.
  9. Midwifery Clinician. Appointed November 2017.
  10. Mental Health Clinician. Appointed November 2017.
  11. Smaller Hospitals Representative – Nominated representative. Not appointed follow up

Ex Officio members

  1. Director Clinical Governance
  2. Director Clinical Operations
  3. Director Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol

Where a member of the Council is unable to attend a particular meeting of the council, that member may nominate an alternate member to attend in their place.

TERMS OF APPOINTMENT

Members appointed through Expression of Interest/Peer voting or through nominations shall be appointed for two years with a possible reappointment for a further two years. All membership is for a maximum of two consecutive two-year terms.

VOTING AT MEETINGS

Any matter put to the vote at any meeting of the Council is to be decided by a show of hands, or by secret ballot if requested by a member present at that meeting. Where a vote is tied the Chair will have the casting vote.

QUORUM

50 % plus one

MEETING FREQUENCY,TIME AND VENUE

Frequency six weekly.

Meeting
Schedule / District Clinical Council
Chair appointed by the Board
Secretariat to be advised

6 February / Video conference and skype meeting. Time to be determined at Clinical Council Orientation.
20 March / Combined Clinical Council Meeting with NCPHN Clinical Council.
1 May / Video conference and skype meeting. Host Tweed Heads. 5.00 pm to 6.30 pm
  • Presentation from Tweed Valley Clinician Engagement Forum – half hour

12 June / Video conference and skype meeting. Host Lismore. 5.00 pm to 6.30 pm.
  • Presentation from Richmond Valley Clinician Engagement Forum – half hour

24 July / Video conference and skype meeting.5.00 pm to 6.30 pm
  • Presentation Activity and Performance.

4 September / Combined Clinical Council Meeting with NCPHN Clinical Council.
16 October / Video conference and skype meeting. Host Grafton 5.00 pm to 6.30 pm
  • Presentation from Clarence ValleyClinician Engagement Forum – half hour

27 November / Video conference and skype meeting. 5.00 pm to 6.30 pm.
Key areas for District Clinical Council Agendas in 2018 include Quality and Safety, Integrated Care, End of Life, Leading Better Value Care, Capital Works\Planning and E-Health.

COMMITTEE SUPPORT / SECRETARIAT

District Clinical Council –to be advised.

Clinician Engagement Forums – relevant General Manager