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NHS FOUNDATION providing an opportunity for governors to discuss key
TRUST CODE OF
GOVERNANCE
The NHS Foundation Trust Code of Governance, was
first published by Monitor in 2006. The purpose of the
Code of Governance is to assist NHS foundation trust
boards in improving their governance practices by
bringing together the best practice of public and private
sector corporate governance. The Code is issued by
Monitor/NHS Improvement as best practice advice, but
imposes some disclosure requirements which are set
out in the sections below.
Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust has applied
the principles of the NHS Foundation Trust Code of
Governance on a ‘comply or explain’ basis. The NHS
Foundation Trust Code of Governance, most recently
revised in July 2014, is based on the principles of the
UK Corporate Governance Code issued in 2012.
The arrangements put in place by the Trust in response
to the Code are set out in the sections below and
elsewhere in the report as appropriate.
OUR COUNCIL OF
GOVERNORS
2017/18 again saw a number of changes on the
Council of Governors following the annual elections. A
comprehensive Induction programme continues to be
delivered to enable incoming governors to understand
their new role as rapidly as possible. This training is also
offered to existing Governors annually as a means of
refreshing their skills. A number of Alder Hey governors
also took advantage of the ongoing GovernWell
development programme offered by NHS Providers,
which is an invaluable resource.
The Council has continued to work alongside the Board
to understand and contribute to the Trust’s plans for
the future. The governors’ extranet provides a rapid
and accessible mechanism for the Board to share
information with them ensuring that they are kept up
to date between formal meetings. It also equips the
governors with the information they require to give
feedback about the Trust’s activities to members and
other stakeholders, including the host organisations
of appointed governors. The governors use a variety
of mechanisms to canvass the view of members and
the wider community; some of these are informal
and carried out through individuals’ networks and
others more formal such as inviting comments via
the newsletter and direct engagement at the Annual
Members’ meeting. Such views are fed back to the
Board throughout the year at regular formal meetings,
Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust 58
strategies with Board members.
The Council met formally five times during the year; one
of the meetings was held to seek approval to amend
the Trust’s Constitution to ensure that appropriate
governance was in place to support the Alder Hey
Board’s role at Liverpool Community Health NHS Trust.
Executive and Non-Executive Directors attend the
Council of Governors’ meetings and the Chair and Chief
Executive report on the Trust’s performance and on key
strategic and operational issues and developments.
This ensures that the agendas of the two bodies remain
closely interlinked and appropriate decisions taken by
each in accordance with its Standing Orders.
The 2017 Annual Members’ Meeting was held in
November at the Institute in the Park, with keynote
speaker Dr. Steve Ryan, Medical Director. The title of
his inspiring talk was ‘The Medical Director’s Tale -
Reflections on a long and eventful NHS Career’ which
was followed by presentation of the Trust’s Annual
Accounts 2016/17 and the report of the Council of
Governors delivered by Lead Governor, Kate Jackson.
The Council re-appointed three of the existing Non-
Executives during 2017/18, one for a second term of
three years and two reappointments of twelve months;
this was to ensure stability and continuity on the Board.
The Council also re-approved the appointment of the
Chairman for a final twelve month period.
The governors have also continued to input into a
fully inclusive process for the Chair’s appraisal and
agreement of annual objectives, led by the Senior
Independent Director. In addition to its statutory role,
the Council contributes to the life of the hospital in a
variety of ways, for example as members of the judging
panel for the annual staff awards, participating in the
PLACE inspection of the hospital environment and
attending various assurance committee meetings.
The Lead Governor continued to hold regular
meetings with the governors without members of
the Board present; these discussions generate items
for discussion at formal Council meetings to provide
governors with additional assurance on key topics such
as future car parking proposals and the plans for the
development of Springfield Park.
In addition to the full Council meetings, governors have
been involved in the Membership Strategy Committee,
whose activities area summarised overleaf, as well as
time-limited working groups focused on specific issues.
Annual Report & Accounts 2017/18