PHW 1:12
Committees
Standing Orders state that "The Board may, and where directed by the
Assembly Government must, appoint committees of the Trust either to
undertake specific functions on the Board's behalf or to provide advice and
assurance to the Board on the exercise of its functions".
Trusts are required to establish a committee structure that it determines best
meets its own needs, taking account of any regulatory or Assembly Government
requirements. As a minimum, Trusts must establish committees that cover the
following aspects of Board business:






Quality and Safety;
Audit;
Information Governance;
Charitable Funds;
Remuneration and Terms of Service;
Mental Health Act requirement (as appropriate).
N.B. It is not necessary to have a separate Committee for each of the aspects
of Board business listed above. One Committee could for example have
responsibility for either more than one of the functions listed or combine this
with other activities.
Each committee established by or on behalf of the Board must have
detailed terms of reference and operating arrangements, which must be
formally approved by the Board. These must establish its governance and
ways of working, setting out, as a minimum:








the scope of its work (including its purpose and any
delegated powers and authority);
membership;
meeting arrangements;
relationships and accountabilities with others (including the
Board, its committees and any Advisory Groups);
any budget and financial responsibility, where appropriate;
secretariat and other support;
training, development and performance; and
reporting and assurance arrangements.
For each of the mandatory areas of Board business mentioned above, a
brief outline of the recommended role and membership is as follows:
PHW 1:12
Quality and Safety
Role:
The committee will focus on all aspects aimed at
ensuring the quality and safety of healthcare,
including activities traditionally referred to as ‘clinical
governance’.
Membership: Chair (non-Executive), Vice-Chair (Non-Executive) plus
at least 2 other Non-Executive Directors, to include
the Chair of the Audit Committee and the Vice Chair
(where appointed) of the Trust Board.
The committee may also co-opt additional
independent ‘external’ members from outside the
organisation to provide specialist skills, knowledge and
expertise.
Attendees:
The Chief Executive and all Executive Directors holding
portfolios containing aspects of quality and safety of care.
Other Executive Directors should attend from time to time
as required by the Committee Chair
Audit Committee
Role:
Advise and assure the Board and the Accountable Officer on
whether effective arrangements are in place - through the
design and operation of the Trust’s assurance framework to support them in their decision taking and in discharging
their accountabilities for securing the achievement of the
Trust’s objectives, in accordance with the standards of
good governance determined for the NHS in Wales.
Membership: Chair (non-Executive), Vice-Chair (Non-Executive) plus
at least 1 other Non-Executive Director, to include a
member of the Quality and safety Committee.
The committee may also co-opt additional
independent ‘external’ members from outside the
organisation to provide specialist skills, knowledge and
expertise.
Attendees:
The Chief Executive (as accounting officer), Director of
Finance, Head of Internal Audit, Head of Clinical Audit (if
applicable) and a representative of external audit. Other
PHW 1:12
Executive Directors should attend from time to time as
required by the Committee Chair.
Information Governance
Role:
Providing advice and guidance to the Board on all aspects
of information governance including the quality and
integrity, safety and security and appropriate access and
use of information. This will include patient and personal
information.
Membership: Chair (non-Executive), Vice-Chair (Non-Executive) plus
at least 1 other Non-Executive Director.
The committee may also co-opt additional
independent ‘external’ members from outside the
organisation to provide specialist skills, knowledge and
expertise.
Attendees:
Executive Director with responsibility for information
governance. Officer designated Caldicott Guardian. Senior
staff member(s) responsible for health records and
informatics.
Charitable Funds Committee
Role:
The Committee will be responsible for making and
monitoring arrangements for the control and management
of the Trust’s charitable funds.
Membership: Chair (non-Executive), Vice-Chair (Non-Executive), at
least 1 other Non-Executive Director, Chief Executive,
Director of Finance and at least one external member
The committee may also co-opt additional
independent ‘external’ members from outside the
organisation to provide specialist skills, knowledge and
expertise.
Attendees:
The Committee may require the attendance for advice,
support and information routinely at meetings from, for
example, the Director of Planning, Charitable Funds
Advisor, Trust Investment Advisor.
PHW 1:12
Remuneration & Terms of Services Committee
Role:
To advice the Board on remuneration & terms of service for
the Chief Executive, Executive Directors and other senior
staff within the framework set by the Welsh Assembly
Government.
To provide assurance to the Board in relation to the Trust
arrangements for the remuneration and terms of service,
including contractual arrangements, for all staff in
accordance with the requirements and standards
determined for the NHS in Wales.
Membership: Chair (Chair of the Board), Vice-Chair (Non-Executive)
and at least 2 other Non-Executive Directors. One of
the aforementioned must also be the Chair of the
Audit Committee.
Attendees:
The Committee may also invite the Chief Executive, the
Director responsible for workforce planning, other official
or others from outside the organisation.
Mental Health Act Requirements.
It is understood that a Committee to address the requirements of the
Mental Health Act only applies to local health Boards. This will be
confirmed at the Board meeting.