The latest news and information for governors from NHS Providers
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Happy New Year and welcome to our sixth newsletter for NHS governors. It has been developed by NHS Providers, the membership organisation and trade association for the acute, ambulance, community and mental health trusts that treat patients and service users in the NHS. We were pleased to hear the positive feedback from governors around the usefulness of this publication in a recent member survey. As an organisation that strives to be evidenced-led we take a proactive approach to understanding governor needs that result in articles for this newsletter.
In this issue, we respond to feedback from governors keen to better understand competition and the governance of significant transactions. We also reflect on the key programme headlines from 2016. Finally the chair from East London NHS Foundation Trust examines how governors can play their part in achieving the challenge of race equality.
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Review of 2016
Reflecting on the end of the calendar year, a total of 457 governors have attended 36 GovernWell training courses. Feedback has been consistently positive as 100% of delegates have scored them good or very good and 100% would recommend it to other governors.
Feedback included:
“Excellent course, networking was invaluable’’
“All new governors should come to GovernWell courses’’
“Everything was of a very high standard – content, organisation, venue and catering’’
“Extremely helpful day, I wish I had done this sooner! Presenters were good at adjusting the timetable to fit with our groups’ needs”
Importantly, following our recent governor training impact survey, 93% of trusts noticed a significant improvement in the knowledge and skills of their governors after attending GovernWell courses. Our 2016 Governor focus conference looked at the governor role now and in the future. The event was attended by nearly 200 governors from across the country and feedback received was positive including comments such as: "excellent conference; topical and educational, with ample opportunity to share experience and ideas". Over 80% of delegates scored the event good/excellent (4/5).
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New course for 2017
Foundation trusts are seeking to tackle issues that are more complex than in any time in the history of the NHS. To help support governors in this process we are launching a new half day trust based course, Sustainability and transformation plans: understanding the external environment. This is a tailored, interactive session with time for group reflection, questions and exercises to stimulate thinking. This course was piloted in autumn 2016 and received 100% recommendation from governors. As this is a trust-based tailored course, trust secretaries/membership managers are advised to contact Claire Mescia to book.
Ten years of governor training
This year marks the 10-year anniversary of governor training within NHS Providers. The national training programme for foundation trust governors has received a 98-100% recommendation rate from governors for the past three years, and we look forward to welcoming more governors keen to improve their knowledge and skills on our future courses. A list of all our courses, including the new 2017/18 dates are listed in the GovernWell training courses section of this newsletter.
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Spotlight on our governor policy board
As you know our work is guided by our governor policy board which comprises eight elected foundation trust governors and two foundation trust chairs. We are pleased to welcome foundation trust chair of Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust, Dr Nick Marsden, to our governor policy board. Nick is also an NHS Providers board member and will provide a valuable link to the trustees. He has considerable NHS experience having come from University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust where he was a non-executive director and vice chair. Nick has an engineering PhD and also commercial experience having held several senior executive roles at IBM before becoming senior vice president for service at Danka Europe. He was appointed by the council of governors at Salisbury in January 2014. Details of our governor policy board meetings can be found on our
website.
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Save the date!
Our annual national Governor focus conference will take place on 4 May in central London. The agenda is currently being finalised and trusts will be notified when bookings are open. Places are free for member organisations, and trusts will be guaranteed one governor place and can nominate two others for a waiting list.
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Welcome to our new team member
The governor support team welcomes Deepa Mistry to our team as programme development administrator. Deepa will administer our GovernWell training courses, and you can contact her with any course enquires via governors@nhsproviders.org
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Competition in the NHS
Competition is viewed as a way of providing choice and giving providers an incentive to improve. Former policy officer Martha Everett gives us a better understanding of what competition means, what it means for trusts, whether new care models raise competition concerns, and importantly, what competition means for governors. Read more on our website.
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The governance of significant transactions
NHS foundation trusts can decide individually what constitutes a significant transaction and may choose to set out the definition(s) in the trust’s constitution. Alternatively, with the agreement of the governors, trusts may choose not to give a definition, but this would need to be stated in the constitution. This article by Paul Devlin, chair of Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, explores the governance of significant transitions, helping governors to get the 'big stuff' right. Read more on our website.
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The governor role in helping trusts achieve race equality
With so many priorities for boards race equality may not be seen as a top priority for board agendas. Yet the introduction of a new Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) puts this issue squarely on the 'must do' list for all NHS provider boards. Maire Gabriel, chair of East London NHS Foundation Trust, reflects on the key role governors can play in delivering this new standard. Read more on our website.
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If there is a particular policy area that you would like covered in a future edition please contact us via governors@nhsproviders.org
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Governors and trusts told us that they would like us to provide more local meetings. Taking this on board, we planned a series of regional events so that we can meet you locally. Two out of the three regional development days have been successfully delivered in London and the South East and the South West, both were well attended and received positive feedback including comments such as:
“Very useful; excellent event for governors who have gained some experience in the role’’
”It is always good to have an opportunity to share good practice’’
”The event is well delivered’’
Date for your diary
3 March, Conference Centre, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
The agenda is currently being finalised, and we will advise trusts when bookings are open. In the meantime if trusts and their governors in the area have any good practice they wish to share at this event please contact Claire Mescia .
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The national training programme for foundation trust governors has received a 98% recommendation rate from the 2,019 governors who have participated so far, and we look forward to welcoming more governors on the courses outlined below. For more information and to book onto on any of these courses, please contact your trust secretary or membership manager or visit our website
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Core skills
This one-day course is suitable if you are a governor in your first year or if you require a refresher. At the end of the course you will have:
• an understanding of the structure of the NHS and the your role within this context
• knowledge of the statutory role and associated duties
• an understanding of public accountability and local ownership
• an understanding of NHS finance
• the skills to hold the board to account.
Upcoming courses
16 March – London
13 July – Birmingham (NEW)
26 October – Newcastle (NEW)
21 November – London (NEW)
16 March 2018 - London (NEW)
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Member and public engagement
This half-day workshop will help you to gain an improved appreciation of the importance of member, staff, carer, and public engagement. At the end of the course you will:
• be clear on your duties in this area as laid out in the Health and Social Care Act 2012
• understand the reasons behind why trusts have members and need to engage with them
• explore examples of good practice
• recognise the challenges to member/patient engagement
• reflect on what you as governors can do to support engagement activities.
Upcoming courses
15 June – London (NEW)
28 February 2018 – London (NEW)
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Accountability
This one-day course will help you to build a dynamic and effective accountability relationship with their board of directors. Using a range of interactive learning methods, we will look at how you can be effective in holding non-executive directors to account for board performance.
Upcoming courses
28 February – Leeds
1 June – Newcastle (NEW)
11 October – London (NEW)
17 February 2018 - York (NEW)
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Effective questioning and challenge
This one-day course will help you work confidently and effectively with your directors in posing effective questions to hold the board to account. Using a range of interactive learning methods, we will look at listening skills, questioning styles, and how to frame effective questions, specifically within the context of the governor role.
Upcoming courses
17 February – Durham
18 May – Birmingham (NEW)
28 November - London (NEW)
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NHS finances and business skills
This one-day course will help you learn more about the detail of a provider's finances and their business operations, through a range of interactive learning methods and shared experience. We will look at funding flows, analysing financial information and asking questions of the financial reports. We will explore the external factors influencing a provider's operations and how they might respond strategically - including making decisions on increasing non-NHS income and significant transactions, viewed specifically within the context of your governor role.
Upcoming courses
16 February – London (NEW)
25 May - Birmingham (NEW)
16 November - York (NEW)
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Recruitment: the governor role in non-executive appointments
This one-day course, aimed at governors serving on nomination committees and/or sitting on selection panels, will help you to understand the process and procedures for the appointment of non-executive directors and the chair. It offers practical ‘how to’ advice, includes an update on relevant legislation, and provides an opportunity to practise formulating interview questions and participate in a mock interview.
Upcoming courses
9 March 2017– London (NEW)
22 September 2017 – York (NEW)
7 December 2017 – London (NEW)
As well as our open course programme, we can deliver bespoke GovernWell courses at your trust. If you think this would benefit your council of governors, speak to your trust secretary or membership manager.
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