POLICY
Title
BOARD GOVERNANCE
Document #
BD-A1
Section
Governance
Application
Board of Directors
Issue date
July 1 2014
Issued By
Board of Directors
Replaces
N/A
Approved By
Board Executive
Policy Statement:
The Board provides strategic leadership with an emphasis on future orientation and a focus on outcomes
that identify to stakeholders its fiduciary competency by focusing mainly on intended long-term impacts
and directing, controlling and inspiring the organization through the careful establishment of broad
organizational values and perspectives (policies). The Executive Director and the Senior Leadership team
are responsible for the day to day operations of Bethell Hospice.
Procedures:
The Board will generate governance policies with regard to its fiduciary responsibilities, the needs of the
community and the mandate of the organization. The Board will make sound decisions to lead the
organization forward, adhering to Policy. Policies will address:
 what benefits for which needs at what cost
 boundaries of prudence and ethics to be observed by the Executive Director
 Board roles and responsibilities
 Board/Executive Director relationship; linkage between Board and the Executive Director
 enforce upon itself whatever discipline is needed to govern with excellence. Discipline will apply to
policy-making principles, respect for defined roles and to attendance at Board meetings and
functions. After subjects have been discussed and voted upon, both majority and minority will
support the action taken and the Board will speak as one voice
 be accountable to the community and stakeholders for competent, conscientious and effective
accomplishment of its obligations as a body. It will not allow any individual or Committee of the
Board to assume these roles or hinder this discipline
 systematically ensure the continuity of Board effectiveness by establishing governance process
policies and an annual governance action plan which will serve as measurable standards against
which the Board’s performance can be evaluated
 under the leadership of the Chair, at least on an annual basis, the Board will conduct a selfevaluation. As a result of this evaluation, the Board will include in its governance action plan specific
objectives for improvement to identified areas (reference BD-A2 and BD-A10)
 monitoring and discussing its adherence to its own governance process policies on a regular basis.
The Board may decide to monitor any policy at any time, however, at a minimum, the Board will
review all its policies, and monitor its own adherence to them, annually
 outside monitoring assistance may be arranged so that the Board can exercise sufficient control over
organizational performance. This includes, but is not limited to fiscal audit
 the Board Chair will set the agenda in consultation with the Executive Director for the Board meetings
 in preparation for Board meetings, materials will be distributed to the Board in advance of the Board
meeting by email no later than the Wednesday preceding the Board meeting. Board materials may
include but are not limited to Committee reports, minutes of the previous board meeting, agency
statistics, financial reports on a quarterly basis, Board correspondence, report from the Executive
Director, and any other relevant materials relating to the work of the Board and Bethell Hospice
POLICY
Title
BOARD GOVERNANCE
Document #
BD-A1
Section
Governance
Application
Board of Directors
Issue date
July 1 2014
Issued By
Board of Directors
Replaces
N/A
Approved By
Board Executive
Related Policies:
BD-A2 – Principles of Governance and Board Accountability
BD-A10 – Board Goals/Strategic Planning
Related Forms:
Board Member Self-Assessment
Annual Board Evaluation Summary
Board SWOT Analysis
Action Steps to Implement/Responsibility:
Implement process to act on assessment/Executive Committee