HMIE Management Board
Tuesday 26 May
Apex Hotel, Edinburgh
Present: Graham Donaldson (GHCD)
Kenneth Muir (KBM)
Wray Bodys (JWSB)
Annette Bruton (AB)
Neil McKechnie (NMM)
Morag Gunion (MG)
Stuart Robinson (SAR)
Chris McIlroy (CM1)
Frank Crawford (FC)
Sir Andrew Cubie (AC)
Gary Kildare (GK)
Shirley Young (SY)
Gill Robinson(GR)
Apologies:
Alistair Marquis
Minutes:
Eileen Quigley
GHCD opened the meeting by giving Alistair Marquis’s apologies and advising
Management Board that Gill Robinson will be returning to HMIE from her secondment
in July. The re-configuration of the Chief Inspectors’ roles should also happen around
this time. GHCD informed MB that he had met with the
Non-Executive Board Members prior to this meeting to discuss HMIE’s governance
and he will prepare a summary paper to outline the detail of those discussions.
1. Minutes of the meeting held on 18 March 2009
Noted: A number of minor amendments to the minutes of the meeting were raised
but otherwise they were accepted as accurate.
2. Matters Arising
5. Second cycle of child protection inspections
Noted: NMM reported that Ministers have endorsed HMIE’s proposed approach to
child protection. Feedback indicates that the proposed approach is commanding
confidence in our key stakeholders.
7. Validated self-evaluation
Noted The validated self-evaluation trials are coming to a conclusion but we are not
yet in the position to fully report to the Board. The feedback has been positive and
we are receiving more requests from local authorities
Action: AB will bring full analysis to the next Management Board meeting.
9. Finance
Action: SAR is working on a paper on future budgets given the current economic
climate and this will be brought to Management Board.
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12. Fatal Accident Inquiry
Noted: Dundas Wilson (Solicitors) will represent HMIE at the forthcoming Fatal
Accident Inquiry. KBM has met with them to give them all the evidence that we hold
and he advised that the enquiry is now likely to take place September-October time.
Dundas Wilson will brief the team involved on what to expect at the inquiry.
Substantive discussion items
3.
Planning for new scrutiny bodies 2011
Noted: GHCD formally welcomed Shane Rankin to Management Board. Shane
reminded the Board of the reasons for the scrutiny reform and the decision to create two
new scrutiny bodies. He went on to explain that the changes will be in two stages; firstly
preparing the legislation for the new bodies then secondly looking at how the bodies will
work. The latter is being taken forward by the Change Delivery Group. Senior key
stakeholders and unions are represented on this group. He explained that it would be
important for HMIE to be involved in developing the new policies, future approaches and
methodology to help ensure scrutiny bodies work together. After Shane presented his
overview, there were questions from Management Board members. These included how
Shane saw joint working in pre-school being affected by the creation of the new bodies;
is there any indication as to the cost savings that are envisaged; and how it will be
possible to measure the extent to which the new bodies will create better outcomes for
individuals. Shane explained that it was difficult, at this stage in the process, to provide
firm answers. NMM explained that HMIE has been involved in drafting the legislation
governing the bodies and that there still remains the possibility of staff from Directorate 6
transferring to one of the new bodies. HMIE’s direction of travel sits well with the
intended work of the post Crerar groups.
4.
Audit and Risk
Noted: Audit and Risk Committee are now obliged to give a formal report on their work
to Management Board. AC noted that the committee would be strengthened by the
arrival of the new Non-Executive Board Member, David Morrison, who will attend his first
Audit and Risk Committee meeting tomorrow. AC also advised that there are no issues
that the Audit and Risk Committee need to bring to the attention of the Board and noted
that credit should go to the Finance Team for the successful sign-off of the accounts
within a tight timeframe, with a clean audit opinion from Audit Scotland and for managing
expenditure so that the outturn was so close to budget. AC recommended that the
Board should approve the annual accounts subject to any significant issues being raised
at the Audit and Risk Committee meeting. The Board approved the accounts on that
basis.
5.
Information Management
Noted: Information Management will be a standing item on the agenda of Management
Board at the request of the Cabinet Office. SAR gave the Board an overview of his
summary paper highlighting some key issues. The Certificates of Assurance have been
signed off. The corporate level risks have been reviewed and updated for 2009-10. The
new traffic light system for risk management is currently being trialled. The business
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continuity team has been working on HMIE’s possible response to the Swine Flu
Pandemic. SAR also provided an update on the security policy framework.
Noted: GHCD noted that the traffic light system fulfils his requirements. He also felt that
the Security Policy Framework was a helpful document but care would be required to
ensure that it was used proportionately. GHCD also indicated that further work would be
required on business continuity on the assumption that the pandemic may become worse
in the Autumn.
6.
HMIE Annual Report
Noted: MG explained that the Annual Report is similar in format to previous years but
that some content had been scaled back to reduce the size of the report with the aim of
reducing costs. Further performance data will still be available on HMIE’s website. MG
invited comments from the Board. The Board agreed the report.
7.
HMIE Policy and Strategy Framework
Noted: The Policy and Strategy Framework has been updated in response to previous
discussions. The framework now includes the need for an equality impact assessment to
be undertaken on any new policy that is developed. The Board agreed the Policy and
Strategy Framework.
8.
Update on inspections
Noted: JWSB gave MB an overview of the summary paper highlighting several key
points. He explained that RIF have not yet been shared with schools but that this should
begin in the next inspection block. This was followed by detailed discussion on the
publication of National Performance Framework data. JWSB explained that it is too early
to bring an extensive paper to Management Board but highlighted some key points in the
paper. This was followed by discussion on the implications of how NPF figures might be
used once they are in the public domain. It was agreed that care would need to be taken
to spell out clear ‘health warnings’ given that the sample is not yet large enough to be
representative and the data from one year is not enough to show trends.
Noted: JWSB explained to MB that HMIE will begin inspecting DWP funded training
provision from later this year.
Agreed: We should wait until the point of publishing the first inspection report on DWP
funded training before seeking any significant media coverage.
9.
HMIE post-Crerar Action Plan
Noted: JWSB invited the Board to comment on the early draft of the Action Plan and
advised that there will be substantive discussion at the next Management Board meeting
when the Board will be asked to approve a more refined plan.
10.
Research Policy
Noted: FC gave Management Board an overview of his paper on the research policy,
asking if the Board was content for him to develop it further.
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Action: FC to contact Peter Connelly to speak to him about the work that he previously
did on research. FC will develop the policy further.
11.
Policy on Equality and Diversity
Noted: KBM gave MB an overview of the Equality and Diversity Policy, explaining that
HMIE subscribe to The Scottish Government’s scheme on Equality and Diversity but that
we also establish our own action plans. He recommended that Management Board
approve the Policy. The Board agreed the Policy.
Action: KBM to consider adding reference to future consideration of equity with regard to
socio-economic factors.
Items for noting
12.
Quarterly Reports
Noted: SAR gave MB an overview of the quarterly reports. He highlighted that the yearly
complaint figure had reduced and that general enquiries continued to increase. He also
advised that a review of the format of the reports would be carried out. MB noted the
quarterly reports.
13.
HMIE Publications
Noted: MB noted the publications.
14.
Any other business
Noted: GHCD advised Management Board that this was the last Board meeting that
JWSB would be attending as he retires in August. He formally wished him well for the
future and thanked him for his very positive contribution to HMIE, the rigorous approach
he always brought to his work coupled with humorous observations on aspects of our
work. The Board thanked JWSB for his huge contribution over the years.
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