Governors raising concerns regarding operational failures (including non-clinical)

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K Magee
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Dear Monitor,

Governor’s from both Staff and Public perspectives across multiple trusts are often frustrated because the Chairman, Executives and Membership Offices use the clause “Governors are not to get involved in the operations” to keep from providing assurance to Governors regarding the concern raised. I understand this is a widely held belief.

I understand the intention of this clause is to ensure that Governors are not working and physically doing work at the organisation (unless employed to do so like a staff governor). It my understanding correct? I hope so. It makes more sense this way as if the organisations policies and strategies are being implemented well then there shouldn’t be these concern. Operational concerns should be linked to a policy or strategy that perhaps needs a review or needs to be implemented more thoroughly.

Yours faithfully,

K Magee

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Dear K Magee

 

Thank you for your email dated 16 April which we will be treating as an
enquiry as opposed to a request for information under the Freedom of
Information Act.

 

As you correctly state, governors do not play an operational role within
an NHS foundation trust. The board of directors remains ultimately
responsible for the trust’s operations and performance. It is the
overriding role of the council of governors to hold the non-executive
directors, individually and collectively, to account for the performance
of the board of directors and to represent the interests of foundation
trust members and of the public. However, some NHS foundation trusts may
choose to involve governors in activities such as hospital visits or
providing a governor’s perspective on aspects of the trust’s performance.

 

Although not playing an operational role, governors should still feel able
to raise any potential concerns with either the trust’s chair or senior
independent director. In addition if governors have serious concerns with
how a trust is being run and they feel unable to raise their concerns
internally, they can contact us under our [1]whistleblowing policy.

 

I hope this information is of help.

 

 

Kind regards

 

Claire Upton | Enquiries Manager

T 020 3747 0097
E [email address] | W [2]improvement.nhs.uk
Wellington House,133-155 Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8UG

NHS Improvement
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________________________________________

From: K Magee ([5][FOI #478035 email])

Sent: 16 April 2018 13:00:18 (UTC) Dublin, Edinburgh, Lisbon, London

To: FOI

Subject: Freedom of Information request - Governors raising concerns
regarding operational failures (including non-clinical)

 

Dear Monitor,

 

Governor’s from both Staff and Public perspectives across multiple trusts
are often frustrated because the Chairman, Executives and Membership
Offices use the clause “Governors are not to get involved in the
operations” to keep from providing assurance to Governors regarding the
concern raised. I understand this is a widely held belief.

 

I understand the intention of this clause is to ensure that Governors are
not working and physically doing work at the organisation (unless employed
to do so like a staff governor). It my understanding correct? I hope so.
It makes more sense this way as if the organisations policies and
strategies are being implemented well then there shouldn’t be these
concern. Operational concerns should be linked to a policy or strategy
that perhaps needs a review or needs to be implemented more thoroughly.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

K Magee

 

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