MEETING DATE:
ITEM NO.
10.51
MEETING
TITLE OF PAPER
International Committee Report
PRESENTED BY
Kathleen McCourt
International; Committee: Kathleen McCourt (Chair), Saffron Brown, Maura
Buchanan, Andrew Clarke, Alan Finnegan, Paula Hancock, Judith Malan
1.
The first meeting of the new International Committee was held on 24 March 2010.
2.
A second meeting was held on 17 May 2010 and the third meeting of 2010 is scheduled
for 19 July.
Composition and status of Committee
3.
The Committee is made up of three Council members: Kathleen McCourt (Chair),
Saffron Brown and Maura Buchanan and four appointed RCN members: Andrew
Clarke, Alan Finnegan, Paula Hancock and Judith Malan.
4.
Several invited external advisers also attend: Scott Greer, University of Michigan;
Monika Kosinska, General Secretary, European Public Health Alliance, Brussels; Pia
MacRae, Chief Executive, Tropical Health & Education Trust (THET); Kwalombota
Kwalombota, Manager, UK International Health Links Centre, Liverpool School of
Tropical Medicine.
5.
The Committee is a sub-committee of Council. It is an advisory committee with no
delegated decision-making powers. The Committee carries out work delegated to it by
Council and makes recommendations to Council on any actions needed.
Guiding documents
6.
The Committee has worked hard to agree guiding documents on the purpose and
principles of the Committee. These have informed the terms of reference and will
inform the future work of the committee. These documents are attached as Appendix
1.
Future activities and annual work plan
7.
The purpose and principles of the Committee have also guided the preparation of a
document setting out the Committees key areas of activity. This is attached as
1
Appendix 2. This document has been prioritised to produce a work plan for 2010 and
2011 which is set out below:
July

International Alliances
December
 Membership review – international affiliate/associate membership
 International development role
 EU mutual recognition review
2011
 Advocacy agenda (priorities)
The Committee will review its key activities and work plan at each meeting to ensure
that emerging issues are captured and priorities addressed.
Terms of reference
8.
The terms of reference have been informed by the purpose and principles of the
committee and are attached as Appendix 3 for approval by Council.
9.
Council is asked to approve
-
the purpose and principles of the Committee set out in Appendix I
the key activities set out in Appendix II and the priorities identified in
paragraph 7 of the report
the terms of reference at Appendix III.
Kath McCourt
Chair
Originated by Emily Pollinger, Governance Adviser
2
Appendix I
RCN INTERNATIONAL PURPOSE AND PRINCIPLES
This paper proposes a reworded RCN international purpose and
principles, based on the discussions and comments from the March
2010 inaugural International Committee meeting.
INTERNATIONAL PURPOSE
1.
Represent, advocate for and strengthen the status of the nursing
profession internationally
2.
Enhance patient care and health and wellbeing in the UK and
elsewhere by improving professional policy and practice internationally
3.
Improve the health of communities internationally by working with
nursing and other organisations to shape health policies
PRINCIPLES UNDERPINNING THE RCN’S INTERNATIONAL WORK

enables

demonstrates collaborative working,

is sustainable/shows a
especially with sister organisations
positive impact over time

is evidence based

respects and values

based on understanding of political,
others
economic and social context
 Seeks to do no harm e.g.

demonstrates clear added value of
careful scoping
RCN engagement and cost
effectiveness
(These principles also incorporate some of the comments made in the March
committee meeting on the five areas of activity and the suggested “do’s” and
“don’ts” for the RCN).
Members of International Committee are asked to approve the purpose and
principles to recommend to Council
Susan Williams
Head of International Affairs
May 2010
3
Appendix II
KEY AREAS OF ACTIVITY
TO ACHIEVE THE RCN INTERNATIONAL PURPOSE
This paper provides a summary of the activities proposed at the March
International Committee to achieve the RCN’s international purpose. It also
shows where these fit with Council’s 2010/11 priorities, in addition to
Council’s priority 4 to refocus international work in the RCN. It also integrates
the draft 2011/2012 priorities
KEY AREAS OF ACTIVITY
1) Developing and harnessing UK nursing expertise and experience to
improve health outcomes globally
2) Addressing EU and international policies that impact on UK nursing and
population
3) Learning from other countries to improve nursing and health in the UK
4) Strengthening nursing’s voice and influence globally
5) Supporting RCN as a business
6) Becoming an organisation that thinks globally
SIX KEY AREAS OF ACTVITY
1) Developing and harnessing UK nursing expertise and experience
to improve health outcomes globally (Council priority 3, nurse
leaders, 7 membership review, 10 diversity)
o Influence NHS strategically to support nursing participation in
development links
o Capacity build nursing based on RCN core skills: association
building, leadership, learning and development, influencing,
o Develop the RCN as an internationally accessible nursing ideas
hub/think tank, including accessing RCN library and developing
reciprocal arrangements (also developing RCN as a business)
o Develop International associate/affiliate membership
o Monitor and understand UK foreign and development policy and
priorities and national health priorities of other countries relevant
to the RCN
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2) Addressing EU and international policies that impact on UK nursing
and population (Council priority 5 stakeholder management, 6 research, 9
policy work, 11 workforce modernisation, 14, education, 15 quality and
professional standards)
Areas to consider under priority setting:
EU – legislation/policies/good
practice
EU and future workforce/workforce
planning
Nurse education and mutual
recognition legislation
Quality and safety of healthcare and
cross border care in EU
EU four freedoms and tension with
sustainability of health services in
Europe
e-health in Europe
Nursing evidence for policy
Public Health
International –
policies/guidance/good practice
Health worker replacement/generic
worker/task shifting
Workforce mobility and shortages
Population mobility
Global economic crisis
Chronic disease
Emerging and re-emerging
diseases
Ageing/demographic change
3) Learning from other countries to improve nursing and health in the
UK (Council priority 5 stakeholder management, 9 policy work, 11
workforce modernisation, 14, education, 15 quality and professional
standards)

Horizon scanning for opportunities and pitfalls

Identify the common issues eg new roles, new pathways of care,
/health and social care, professional boundaries, nurse education

Support work of Council and priorities of policy committees

Build/sustain international networks and alliances to access evidence
and good practice

Promote understanding of international relevance for nurses in media,
and RCN communications – ‘What does it mean for me?’

Support Health Education for All (HIFA) 2015 and consider other ways
RCN might contribute to bringing down cost of accessing high quality
health care information.
4) Strengthening nursing’s voice and influence globally (Council priority 5
stakeholders)
5

Develop strategic alliances with organisations wider than nursing

Widen membership of and develop future role of our key alliances
ICN/EFN/CNF/EPSU-PSI

Develop the international elements of the RCN website

Work with and engage in mutual learning with other NNAs, including
sharing and gaining recognition for nursing innovation and research

work with UK Government, NGOs, EU, WHO, other international
organisations to promote nursing’s contribution

Map/find out where key nurses are working in international
agencies/networks
5) Supporting RCN as a business (Council priority 7, membership review,
13 legal/governance review)

Clearly identify RCN international public benefit versus for profit activity

Develop RCN international marketing strategy

Recognise and build on the added value of English as a marketable
global language and RCN’s intellectual property

maintain/develop RCN reputation and brand internationally

Develop international associate/affiliate membership

build on RCN consultancy service working with UK Government and
NGOs, EU, WHO, other international organisations
6) Becoming and organisation that thinks globally (Council priority 4) and
2011 priority

Integrate better our UK, EU and international policy work, at
governance and operational level.

Build a wider understanding of the impact of international policies and
agencies on health at governance and staff level

Engage in a high impact global health initiatives based on members’
choices/votes
ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE THE RCN’S INTERNATIONAL SCOPE


delivering direct patient care and services
acting as an implementation development NGO
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Appendix III
Draft Terms of Reference: International Committee
Role and Main responsibilities of the Group
To develop an international strategy for the RCN and to oversee a work plan to
deliver the priorities it identifies. To review this strategy and work plan regularly to
take into account current issues.
To ensure that the work of International Committee reflects the strategic objectives
and priorities of the RCN and the RCN’s international purpose.
To champion the international agenda within the RCN and to promote the role of the
RCN and its impact on healthcare issues in the EU and internationally.
To represent the international position in the decision making process and across the
governance structure.
To ensure that any projects commissioned by the Committee are delivered in
accordance with the approved brief and to agreed timescales.
Main Tasks
1. To report to the RCN Council after every meeting so that the priorities and
concerns of the Committee are reflected in the decision making process of
Council.
2. To represent, promote and support the policies and policy making processes
of the RCN Council.
3. To develop ways of working to guide how other parts of the governance
structure respond to international issues, and to advise on the value of
international alliances and networks.
4. To advise when EU or international legislation will impact on RCN priorities
and to influence the production of this legislation.
5. To recommend project bids for submission to the RCN Foundation and
external funding bodies such as the Department for International
Development, and to liaise with these bodies as appropriate.
6. To oversee the commissioning and delivery of priority work.
7. To contribute to the recruitment, retention and representation of international
members within the framework agreed by RCN Council.
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