West London Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust Constitution

Transcription

1 West London Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust Constitution September

2 West London Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust Constitution TABLE OF CONTENTS Interpretation and definitions Name Principal purpose Powers Membership and constituencies Application for membership Public Constituency Staff Constituency Automatic membership by default staff Patients Constituency Automatic membership by default - patients Restriction on membership Annual Members Meeting... Error! Bookmark not defined. 14. Council of Governors composition Council of Governors election of governors Council of Governors - tenure Council of Governors disqualification and removal Council of Governors duties of governors Council of Governors meetings of governors Council of Governors standing orders Council of Governors referral to the Panel Council of Governors - conflicts of interest of governors Council of Governors travel expenses Council of Governors further provisions Board of Directors composition Board of Directors general duty

3 27. Board of Directors qualification for appointment as a non-executive director Board of Directors appointment and removal of chairman and other nonexecutive directors Board of Directors appointment of initial chairman and initial other nonexecutive directors Board of Directors appointment of deputy chairman Board of Directors - appointment and removal of the Chief Executive and other executive directors Board of Directors appointment and removal of initial Chief Executive Board of Directors disqualification Board of Directors meetings Board of Directors standing orders Board of Directors - conflicts of interest of directors Board of Directors remuneration and terms of office Registers Admission to and removal from the registers Registers inspection and copies Documents available for public inspection Auditor Audit committee Accounts Annual report, forward plans and non-nhs work Presentation of the annual accounts and reports to the governors and members Instruments Amendment of the Constitution Mergers etc Procedures and Protocols Indemnity Instruments etc Dispute Resolution Procedures...25 ANNEX 1 THE PUBLIC CONSTITUENCIES...27 ANNEX 2 THE STAFF CONSTITUENCY

4 ANNEX 3 THE PATIENTS CONSTITUENCY...30 ANNEX 4 COMPOSITION OF COUNCIL OF GOVERNORS ANNEX 5 THE MODEL ELECTION RULES...32 ANNEX 6 ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS COUNCIL OF GOVERNORS...64 ANNEX 7 STANDING ORDERS FOR THE PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE OF THE COUNCIL OF GOVERNORS...68 ANNEX 8 STANDING ORDERS FOR THE PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS...73 ANNEX 9 FURTHER PROVISIONS

5 1. Interpretation and definitions Unless otherwise stated, words or expressions contained in this Constitution shall bear the same meaning as in the National Health Service Act 2006 as amended by the Health and Social Care Act Unless the contrary intention appears or the context otherwise requires: words importing the masculine gender only shall include the feminine gender; words importing the singular shall import the plural and vice-versa; references in this Constitution to legislation include all amendments, replacements, or re-enactments to that legislation; references to legislation include all regulations, statutory guidance or directions made in respect of that legislation; and references to paragraphs are to paragraphs in this Constitution. the 2006 Act is the National Health Service Act the 2012 Act is the Health and Social Care Act theaccounting Officer is the person who from time to time discharges the functions specified in paragraph 25(5) of Schedule 7 to the 2006 Act. Constitution means this constitution and all annexes to it. Local Authority Governor means a Governor appointed in accordance with Annex 4 of this Constitution (which for the avoidance of doubt is not to mean a councillor of a Local Authority). Monitor is the body corporate known as Monitor, as provided by Section 61 of the 2012 Act. Secretarymeans the trust secretary or any other person appointed by the trust to perform the duties of the trust secretary including a joint, assistant or deputy secretary or such other person as may be appointed by the trust to perform the functions of the secretary under this Constitution. University Governor means a Governor appointed in accordance with Annex 4 of this Constitution. Voluntary Sector Governor means a Governor appointed in accordance with Annex 4 of this Constitution. 5

6 2. Name The name of the foundation trust is West London Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (the trust). 3. Principal purpose 3.1 The principal purpose of the trust is the provision of goods and services for the purposes of the health service in England. 3.2 The trust does not fulfil its principal purpose unless, in each financial year, its total income from the provision of goods and services for the purposes of the health service in England is greater than its total income from the provision of goods and services for any other purposes. 3.3 The trust may provide goods and services for any purposes related to the provision of services provided to individuals for or in connection with the prevention, diagnosis or treatment of illness, and the promotion and protection of public health. 3.4 The trust may also carry on activities other than those mentioned in the above paragraph for the purpose of making additional income available in order better to carry on its principal purpose. 4. Powers 4.1 The powers of the trust are set out in the 2006 Act. 4.2 All the powers of the trust shall be exercised by the Board of Directors on behalf of the trust. 4.3 Any of these powers may be delegated to a committee of directors or to an executive director. 5. Membership and constituencies The trust shall have members, each of whom shall be a member of one of the following constituencies: 5.1 a public constituency;and 5.2 a staff constituency. 6

7 6. Application for membership An individual who is eligible to become a member of the trust may do so on application to the trust. 7. Public Constituency 7.1 An individual who lives in an area specified in Annex 1 asan area for a public constituency may become or continue as a member of the trust. 7.2 Those individuals who live in an area specified for a publicconstituency are referred to collectively as apublic Constituency. 7.3 The minimum number of members in each Public Constituency is specified in Annex Staff Constituency 8.1 An individual who is employed by the trust under a contract of employment with the trust may become or continue as a member of the trust provided: he is employed by the trust under a contract of employment whichhas no fixed term or has a fixed term of at least 12 months; or he has been continuously employed by the trust undera contract of employment for at least 12 months; or he is employed by: Imperial College London; University of Oxford; Buckinghamshire New University; University of West London; or Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, and, in the case of a person identified in paragraph 8.1.3, he has continuously exercised functions for the trust for at least 12 months and his place of work is at the trust and he is acknowledged in writing by the trust as falling within the parameters of this paragraph Individuals who exercise functions for the purposes of the trust, 7

8 otherwise than under a contract of employment with the trust, may become or continue as members of the staff constituency provided such individuals have exercised these functions continuously for a period of at least 12 months. 8.3 Those individuals who are eligible for membership of the trust by reason of the previous provisions are referred to collectively as the Staff Constituency. 8.4 The Staff Constituency shall be divided into four descriptions of individuals who are eligible for membership of the Staff Constituency, each description of individuals being specified within Annex 2 and being referred to as a class within the Staff Constituency. 8.5 The minimum number of members in each class of the Staff Constituency is specified in Annex Automatic membership by default staff 9.1 An individual who is: eligible to become a member of the Staff Constituency;and invited by the trust to become a member of the StaffConstituency and a member of the appropriate class within the Staff Constituency; shall become a member of the trust as a member of the Staff Constituency and appropriate class within the Staff Constituency without an application being made, unless he informs the trust that he does not wish to do so. 10. Patients Constituency 10.1 Not used Not used Not used Not used Not used Not used. 8

9 11. Automatic membership by default - patients 11.1 Not used Not used. 12. Restriction on membership 12.1 An individual who is a member of a constituency, or of a class withina constituency, may not while membership of that constituency orclass continues, be a member of any other constituency or class An individual who satisfies the criteria for membership of the Staff Constituency may not become or continue as a member of any constituency other than the Staff Constituency An individual must be at least 14 years old to become a member of the trust Further provisions as to the circumstances in which an individual may not become or continue as a member of the trust are set out in Annex 9 Further Provisions. 13. Not used 14. Council of Governors composition 14.1 The trust is to have a Council of Governors, which shall comprise both elected and appointed governors The composition of the Council of Governors is specified in Annex The members of the Council of Governors, other than the appointed members, shall be chosen by election by their constituency or, where there are classes within a constituency, by their class within that constituency. The number of governors to be elected by each constituency, or, where appropriate, by each class of each constituency, is specified in Annex Council of Governors election of governors 15.1 Elections for elected members of the Council of Governors shall be conducted in accordance with the Model Election Rules The Model Election Rules as published from time to time by the Department of Health form part of this Constitution. The Model Election Rules current at the date of the trust s Authorisation are attached at Annex 5. 9

10 15.3 A subsequent variation of the Model Election Rules by the Department of Health shall not constitute a variation of the terms of this Constitution for the purposes of paragraph 48 of the Constitution(amendment of the Constitution) An election, if contested, shall be by secret ballot. 16. Council of Governors - tenure 16.1 All governors elected following the first election carried out in accordance with paragraphs 16.2 and 16.3 below, may hold office for a period of up to 3 years The first election to the Council of Governors for the public governors shall, in order that future elections shall occur on a phased basis, be conducted in such a way as to result in the initial terms of office for those governors set out below: A 3 Initial public governors for electoral wards within the London Borough of Ealing will serve a term of office of three years B 3 Initial public governors for electoral wards within the London Borough of Ealing will serve a term of office of two years C 2 Initial public governors for the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham will serve a term of office of three years D 2 Initial public governors for the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham will serve a term of office of two years E 2 Initial public governors for the electoral wards within the London Borough of Hounslow will serve a term of office of three years F 2 Initial public governors for the electoral wards within the London Borough of Hounslow will serve a term of office of two years G 2 Initial public governors for the electoral wards within all other London Boroughs, the City of London and the rest of England 10

11 and Wales will serve a term of office of three years H 1 Initial public governors for the electoral wards within all other London Boroughs, the City of London and the rest of England and Wales will serve a term of office of two years 16.3 The initial governors as identified in rows A to H of the table in paragraph 16.2 above shall be selected by the number of votes cast on the following basis: the number of governors specified in rows A, C, E and G of the table in paragraph 16.2 shall be appointed for a three year term, being those governors who gain the highest number of votes in each of the four constituency areas specified (being an aggregate total of nine governors so appointed); the number of governors specified in rows B, D, F and H of the table in paragraph 16.2 shall be appointed for a two year term being those governors who gain the next highest number of votesin each of the four constituency areas specified after those governors referred to in paragraph (being an aggregate total of eight governors so appointed); and the returning officer (as referred to in Annex 5) will undertake this selection An elected governor shall cease to hold office if he ceases to be a member of the constituency or class by which he was elected An elected governor shall be eligible for re-election at the end of his term An appointed governor may hold office for a period of up to 3 years An appointed governor shall cease to hold office if the appointing organisation withdraws its sponsorship of him An appointed governor shall be eligible for re-appointment at the end of his term. 11

12 17. Council of Governors disqualification and removal 17.1 The following may not become or continue as a member of the Council of Governors: a person who has been adjudged bankrupt or whose estate has been sequestrated and (in either case) has not been discharged; a person who has made a composition or arrangement with, or granted a trust deed for, his creditors and has not been discharged in respect of it; a person who within the preceding five years has been convicted in the British Islands of any offence if a sentence of imprisonment (whether suspended or not) for a period of not less than three months (without the option of a fine) was imposed on him; or a person who has not been granted leave within the meaning of the Mental Health Act 1983 in order to attend Council of Governor meetings Governors must be at least 18 years of age at the date they are nominated for election or appointment Further provisions as to the circumstances in which an individual may not become or continue as a member of the Board of Governors are set out in Annex The Constitutionmakes provision for the removal of governors in Annex Council of Governors duties of governors 18.1 The general duties of the Council of Governors are 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 the members of the trust as a whole and the interests of the public The trust must take steps to secure that the governors are equipped with the skills and knowledge they require in their capacity as such. 19. Council of Governors meetings of governors 19.1 The Chairman of the trust (i.e. the Chairman of the Board of 12

13 Directors, appointed in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 22.1 or paragraph 23.1 below) or, in his absence another person, the Deputy Chairman (appointed in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 24 below), shall preside at meetings of the Council of Governors Meetings of the Council of Governors shall be open to members of the public. Members of the public may be excluded from a meeting for special reasons at the discretion of the Chairman For the purposes of obtaining information about the trust s performance of its functions or the directors performance of their duties (and deciding whether to propose a vote on the trust s or directors performance), the Council of Governors may require one or more of the directors to attend a meeting. 20. Council of Governors standing orders The standing orders for the practice and procedure of the Council of Governors are attached at Annex Council of Governors referral to the Panel 21.1 In this paragraph, the Panel means a panel of persons appointed by Monitor to which a governor of an NHS foundation trust may refer a question as to whether the trust has failed or is failing to act in accordance with its Constitution, or to act in accordance with provision made by or under Chapter 5 of the 2006 Act A governor may refer a question to the Panel only if more than half of the members of the Council of Governors voting approve the referral. 22. Council of Governors - conflicts of interest of governors If a governor has a pecuniary, personal or family interest, whether that interest is actual or potential and whether that interest is direct or indirect, in any proposed contract or other matter which is under consideration or is to be considered by the Council of Governors, the governor shall disclose that interest to the members of the Council of Governors as soon as he becomes aware of it. The Standing Orders for the Council of Governors shall make provision for the disclosure of interests and arrangements for the exclusion of a governor declaring any interest from any discussion or consideration of the matter in respect of which an interest has been disclosed. 13

14 23. Council of Governors travel expenses The trust may pay travelling and other expenses to members of the Council of Governors at rates determined by the trust. 24. Council of Governors further provisions Further provisions with respect to the Council of Governors are set out in Annex Board of Directors composition 25.1 The trust is to have a Board of Directors, which shall comprise both executive and non-executive directors The Board of Directors is to comprise: a non-executive Chairman not more than eight, but not less than six non-executive directors, one of whom shall be appointed having been nominated by a university which provides a medical or dental school in one of the trust s hospitals; and not more than six, but not less than four executive directors One of the executive directors shall be the Chief Executive The Chief Executive shall be the Accounting Officer One of the executive directors shall be the finance director One of the executive directors is to be a registered medical practitioner or a registered dentist (within the meaning of the Dentists Act 1984) One of the executive directors is to be a registered nurse or a registered midwife. 26. Board of Directors general duty The general duty of the Board of Directors and of each director individually, is to act with a view to promoting the success of the trust so as to maximise the benefits for the members of the trust as a whole and for the public. 14

15 27. Board of Directors qualification for appointment as a non-executive director A person may be appointed as a non-executive director only if 27.1 he is a member of a Public Constituency, or 27.2 Not used 27.3 where any of the trust s hospitals includes a medical or dental school provided by a university, he exercises functions for the purposes of that university, and 27.4 he is not disqualified by virtue of paragraph 33 below. 28. Board of Directors appointment and removal of chairman and other non-executive directors 28.1 The Council of Governors at a general meeting of the Council of Governors shall appoint or remove the chairman of the trust and the other non-executive directors Removal of the chairman or another non-executive director shall require the approval of three-quarters of the members of the Council of Governors The initial chairman and the initial non-executive directors are to be appointed in accordance with paragraph 29 below. 29. Board of Directors appointment of initial chairman and initial other non-executive directors 29.1 The Council of Governors shall appoint the chairman of the applicant NHS Trust as the initial chairman of the trust, if he wishes to be appointed The power of the Council of Governors to appoint the other nonexecutive directors of the trust is to be exercised, so far as possible, by appointing as the initial non-executive directors of the trust any of the non-executive directors of the applicant NHS Trust (other than the Chairman) who wish to be appointed The criteria for qualification for appointment as a non-executive director set out in paragraph 21 above (other than disqualification by virtue of paragraph 27 below) do not apply to the appointment of the initial chairman and the initial other non-executive directors in accordance with the procedures set out in this paragraph An individual appointed as the initial chairman or as an initial nonexecutive director in accordance with the provisions of this 15

16 paragraph shall be appointed for the unexpired period of his term of office as Chairman or (as the case may be) non-executive director of the applicant NHS Trust; but if, on appointment, that period is less than 12 months, he shall be appointed for 12 months. 30. Board of Directors appointment of deputy chairman The Council of Governors at a general meeting of the Council of Governors shall appoint one of the non-executive directors as a deputy chairman. 31. Board of Directors - appointment and removal of the Chief Executive and other executive directors 31.1 The non-executive directors shall appoint or remove the Chief Executive The appointment of the Chief Executive shall require the approval of the Council of Governors The initial Chief Executive is to be appointed in accordance with paragraph 32 below A committee consisting of the Chairman, the Chief Executive and the other non-executive directors shall appoint or remove the other executive directors. 32. Board of Directors appointment and removal of initial Chief Executive 32.1 The non-executive directors shall appoint the chief officer of the applicant NHS Trust as the initial Chief Executive of the trust, if he wishes to be appointed The appointment of the chief officer of the applicant NHS trust as the initial Chief Executive of the trust shall not require the approval of the Council of Governors. 33. Board of Directors disqualification 33.1 The following may not become or continue as a member of the Board of Directors: a person who has been adjudged bankrupt or whose estate has been sequestrated and (in either case) has not been discharged; a person who has made a composition or arrangement with, or granted a trust deed for, his creditors and has not been discharged in respect of it; 16

17 a person who within the preceding five years has been convicted in the British Islands of any offence if a sentence of imprisonment (whether suspended or not) for a period of not less than three months (without the option of a fine) was imposed on him; in the case of a non-executive director, he no longer satisfies the requirements of paragraph 27 above; a person whose tenure of office as a chairman or as a member or director of a health service body has been terminated on the grounds that his appointment is not in the interests of public service, for non-attendance at meetings, or for non-disclosure of a pecuniary interest; a person who has had his name removed, by a direction under any applicable legislation or has otherwise been disqualified or suspended from any healthcare profession, and has not subsequently had his name included in such a list or had his qualification re-instated or suspension lifted (as applicable); a person who has within the preceding two years been dismissed, otherwise than by reason of redundancy, from any paid employment with a health service body; a person who is a governor of the trust or an executive or nonexecutive director or a governor of another NHS Foundation Trust, an executive or non-executive director, chair, chief executive officer of another Health Service Body or a body corporate whose business includes the provision of health care services, or which includes the provision of any service to the trust; a person who is a member of a local authority Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee; a person who is a subject of a disqualification order made under the Company Directors' Disqualification Act 1986; a person who has failed without reasonable cause to fulfil any training requirement established by the Board of Directors; a person who has failed to sign and deliver to the Secretary a statement in the form required by the Board of Directors confirming acceptance of the Directors Code of Conduct; a person who is the spouse, partner, parent or child of a member of the Board of Directors (including the Chair) of the trust; or a person who is the subject of a Sex Offenders Order and/or his name is included in the Sex Offenders Register. 17

18 33.2 The Board of Directors may exercise its discretion to allow any individual to become or continue as a member of the Board of Directors in respect of any matter that would otherwise bar such membership under paragraphs to (inclusive). 34. Board of Directors meetings 34.1 Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be open to members of the public. Members of the public may be excluded from a meeting for special reasons Before holding a meeting, the Board of Directors must send a copy of the agenda of the meeting to the Council of Governors. As soon as practicable after holding a meeting, the Board of Directors must send a copy of the minutes of the meeting to the Council of Governors. 35. Board of Directors standing orders The standing orders for the practice and procedure of the Board of Directors are attached at Annex Board of Directors - conflicts of interest of directors 36.1 The duties that a director of the trust has by virtue of being a director include in particular A duty to avoid a situation in which the director has (or can have) a direct or indirect interest that conflicts (or possibly may conflict) with the interests of the trust A duty not to accept a benefit from a third party by reason of being a director or doing (or not doing) anything in that capacity The duty referred to in sub-paragraph is not infringed if the situation cannot reasonably be regarded as likely to give rise to a conflict of interest; or the matter has been authorized in accordance with the Constitution The duty referred to in sub-paragraph is not infringed if acceptance of the benefit cannot reasonably be regarded as likely to give rise to a conflict of interest In sub-paragraph , third party means a person other than 18

19 the trust; or aperson acting on its behalf If a director of the trust has in any way a direct or indirect interest in a proposed transaction or arrangement with the trust, the director must declare the nature and extent of that interest to the other directors If a declaration under this paragraph proves to be, or becomes, inaccurate, incomplete, a further declaration must be made Any declaration required by this paragraph must be made before the trust enters into the transaction or arrangement This paragraph does not require a declaration of an interest of which the director is not aware or where the director is not aware of the transaction or arrangement in question A director need not declare an interest If it cannot reasonably be regarded as likely to give rise to a conflict of interest; If, or to the extent that, the directors are already aware of it; If, or to the extent that, it concerns terms of the director s appointment that have been or are to be considered by a meeting of the Board of Directors; or by a committee of the directors appointed for the purpose under the Constitution. 37. Board of Directors remuneration and terms of office 37.1 The Council of Governors at a general meeting of the Council of Governors shall decide the remuneration and allowances, and the other terms and conditions of office, of the Chairman and the other non-executive directors The trust shall establish a committee of non-executive directors to decide the remuneration and allowances, and the other terms and conditions of office, of the Chief Executive and other executive directors. 19

20 38. Registers The trust shall have: 38.1 a register of members showing, in respect of each member, the constituency to which he belongs and, where there are classes within it, the class to which he belongs; 38.2 a register of members of the Council of Governors; 38.3 a register of interests of governors; 38.4 a register of directors; and 38.5 a register of interests of the directors. 39. Admission to and removal from the registers 39.1 Members will be removed from the register of members if: the member is no longer eligible or is disqualified; or the member dies The provisions of paragraph 39.1 above shall apply mutatis mutandis to the register of governors and register of directors When any of the circumstances set out in paragraph 39.1 above arise the Secretary shall cause that person's name to be removed from the register of members forthwith and he shall thereupon cease to be a member. 40. Registers inspection and copies 40.1 The trust shall not make any part of its registers available for inspection by members of the public which shows details of any member of the trust, if the member so requests So far as the registers are required to be made available: they are to be available for inspection free of charge at all reasonable times; and a person who requests a copy of or extract from the registers is to be provided with a copy or extract If the person requesting a copy or extract is not a member of the trust, the trust may impose a reasonable charge for doing so. 20

21 41. Documents available for public inspection 41.1 The trust shall make the following documents available for inspection by members of the public free of charge at all reasonable times: a copy of the current Constitution; a copy of the latest annual accounts and of any report of the auditor on them; a copy of the latest annual report; a copy of the latest information as to its forward planning; and a copy of the current authorisation; 41.2 The trust shall also make the following documents relating to a special administration of the trust available for inspection by members of the public free of charge at all reasonable times: a copy of any order made under section 65D (appointment of trust special administrator), 65J (power to extend time), 65KC (action following Secretary of State s rejection of final report), 65L(trusts coming out of administration) or 65LA (trusts to be dissolved) of the 2006 Act a copy of any report laid under section 65D (appointment of trust special administrator) of the 2006 Act a copy of any information published under section 65D (appointment of trust special administrator) of the 2006 Act a copy of any draft report published under section 65F (administrator s draft report) of the 2006 Act a copy of any statement provided under section 65F(administrator s draft report) of the 2006 Act a copy of any notice published under section 65F(administrator s draft report), 65G (consultation plan), 65H (consultation requirements), 65J (power to extend time), 65KA(Monitor s decision), 65KB (Secretary of State s response to Monitor s decision), 65KC (action following Secretary of 21

22 State s rejection of final report) or 65KD (Secretary of State s response to re-submitted final report) of the 2006 Act a copy of any statement published or provided under section 65G (consultation plan) of the 2006 Act a copy of any final report published under section 65I (administrator s final report), a copy of any statement published under section 65J (power to extend time) or 65KC (action followingsecretary of State s rejection of final report)of the 2006 Act a copy of any information published under section 65M (replacement of trust special administrator) of the 2006 Act Any person who requests a copy of or extract from any of the above documents is to be provided with a copy If the person requesting a copy or extract is not a member of the trust, the trust may impose a reasonable charge for doing so. 42. Auditor 42.1 The trust shall have an auditor The Council of Governors shall appoint or remove the auditor at a general meeting of the Council of Governors. 43. Audit committee The trust shall establish a committee of non-executive directors as an audit committee to perform such monitoring, reviewing and other functions as are appropriate. 44. Accounts 44.1 The trust must keep proper accounts and proper records in relation to the accounts Monitor may with the approval of the Secretary of State give directions to the trust as to the content and form of its accounts The accounts are to be audited by the trust s auditor. 22

23 44.4 The trust shall prepare in respect of each financial year annual accounts in such form as Monitor may with the approval of the Secretary of State direct The functions of the trust with respect to the preparation of the annual accounts shall be delegated to the Accounting Officer. 45. Annual report, forward plans and non-nhs work 45.1 The trust shall prepare an Annual Report and send it to Monitor The trust shall give information as to its forward planning in respect of each financial year to Monitor The document containing the information with respect to forward planning (referred to above) shall be prepared by the directors In preparing the document, the directors shall have regard to the views of the Council of Governors Each forward plan must include information about the activities other than the provision of goods and services for the purposes of the health service in England that the trust proposes to carry on; and the income it expects to receive from doing so Where a forward plan contains a proposal that the trust carry on an activity of a kind mentioned in sub-paragraph the Council of Governors must determine whether it is satisfied that the carrying on of the activity will not to any significant extent interfere with the fulfilment by the trust of its principal purpose or the performance of its other functions; and notify the directors of the trust of its determination A trust which proposes to increase by 5% or more the proportion of its total income in any financial year attributable to activities other than the provision of goods and services for the purposes of the health service in England may implement the proposal only if more than half of the members of the Council of Governors of the trust voting approve its implementation. 46. Presentation of the annual accounts and reports to the governors and members 46.1 The following documents are to be presented to the Council of 23

24 Governors at a general meeting of the Council of Governors: the annual accounts; any report of the auditor on them; and the annual report Not used Not used. 47. Instruments 47.1 The trust shall have a seal The seal shall not be affixed except under the authority of the Board of Directors. 48. Amendment of the Constitution 48.1 The trust may make amendments of its Constitution only if more than half of the members of the Council of Governors of the trust voting approve the amendments; and more than half of the members of the Board of Directors of the trust voting approve the amendments Amendments made under paragraph 48.1 take effect as soon as the conditions in that paragraph are satisfied, but the amendment has no effect in so far as the Constitution would, as a result of the amendment, not accord with schedule 7 of the 2006 Act Where an amendment is made to the constitution in relation the powers or duties of the Council of Governors (or otherwise with respect to the role that the Council of Governors has as part of the trust) at least one member of the Council of Governors must attend the next Annual Members Meeting and present the amendment; and thetrust must give the members an opportunity to vote on whether they approve the amendment If more than half of the members voting approve the amendment, the amendment continues to have effect; otherwise, it ceases to have 24

25 effect and the trust must take such steps as are necessary as a result Amendments by the trust of its Constitution are to be notified to Monitor. For the avoidance of doubt, Monitor s functions do not include a power or duty to determine whether or not the Constitution, as a result of the amendments, accords with Schedule 7 of the 2006 Act. 49. Mergers etc The trust may only apply for a merger, acquisition, separation or dissolution with the approval of more than half of the members of the council of governors. 50. Procedures and Protocols 50.1 The Board of Directors shall adopt such procedures and protocols as it shall deem to be appropriate for the good governance of the trust from time to time. 51. Indemnity 51.1 Governors and directors who act honestly and in good faith and not recklessly will not have to meet out of their personal resources any personal civil liability which is incurred in the execution or purported execution of their Council of Governors or Board of Directors functions. Any such liabilities will be liabilities of the trust The trust may make such arrangements as it considers appropriate for the provision of indemnity insurance or similar arrangement for the benefit of the trust to meet all or any liabilities which are properly the liabilities of the trust under paragraph 51.1 above. 52. Instruments etc A document purporting to be duly executed under the trust s seal or to be signed on its behalf is to be received in evidence and, unless the contrary is proved, taken to be so executed or signed. 53. Dispute Resolution Procedures 53.1 Membership - in the event of any dispute about membership entitlement, the dispute shall be referred to the Secretary who shall make a determination on the point in issue. If the member or applicant is aggrieved at the decision of the Secretary, he may 25

26 appeal in writing within 14 (fourteen) days of the Secretary's decision to the Council of Governors whose decision shall be final Governor - in the event of any dispute about eligibility and disqualification of a governor, the dispute shall be referred to the Council of Governors, whose decision shall be final Boards - In the event of any dispute between the Board of Directors and Council of Governors or between a governor and the Council of Governors: in the first instance, the chairman, on the advice of the Secretary, and other advice the chairman may obtain, shall seek to resolve the issue; if the chairman is unable to resolve the dispute, he shall appoint a special committee comprising equal numbers of directors and governors to consider the circumstances and to make recommendations to the Council of Governors with a view to resolving the dispute. The special committee may include an advisor from another foundation trust; and if the recommendations (if any) of the special committee are unsuccessful, the chairman may refer the dispute back to the Board of Directors who shall make the final decision. 26

27 ANNEX 1 THE PUBLIC CONSTITUENCIES Constituency Area/Qualification Minimum number of Members Number of Governors Public constituency All electoral wards within the London Borough of Ealing All electoral wards within the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham All electoral wards within the London Borough of Hounslow All electoral wards within all other 50 3 London Boroughs, the City of London and the rest of England and Wales There shall be 17public governors elected from the public constituency. 27

28 ANNEX 2 THE STAFF CONSTITUENCY 1. The staff constituency is to be divided into four staff classes as follows: 1.1. the medical staff class; 1.2. the nursing staff class; 1.3. other clinical and health professionals class (including the clinical, professional, scientific and technical staff); and 1.4. themanagers, administrators and support staff class. 2. The minimum number of members in each class of the staff constituency shall be as follows: 2.1. the medical staff class 12; 2.2. the nursing staff class 12; 2.3. other clinical and health professionals class (including the clinical, professional, scientific and technical staff) 12; and 2.4. the managers, administrators and support staff class The members of the medical staff class are members of the staff constituency who are fully registered medical practitioners within the meaning of the Medical Act 1983 or dentists within the meaning of the Dentists Act 1984 or who are otherwise fully authorised and licensed to practise in England and Wales or who are otherwise designated by the trust from time to time as eligible to be members of this staff class, having regard to the usual definitions applicable at that time for persons carrying on the professions of medical practitioner or dentist, and who are employed by the trust in that capacity at the date of their application or invitation (as the case may be) under the provisions of this Constitution. 4. The members of the nursing staff class are members of the staff constituency who are registered under the Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001 and who are otherwise fully authorised and licensed to practise in England and Wales or are otherwise designated by the trust from time to time as eligible to be 28

29 members of this staff class, having regard to the usual definitions applicable at that time for persons carrying on the profession of registered nurse or registered midwife, and who are employed by the trust in that capacity at the date of their application or invitation (as the case may be) under provisions of this Constitution. 5. The members of the other clinical and health professionals staff class are members of the staff constituency who are not members of the medical staff class or the nursing staff class and who are not eligible to be members of the medical staff class or the nursing staff class but whose regulatory body otherwise falls within the remit of the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence established by Section 25 of the National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002 or who are otherwise designated by the trust from time to time as eligible to be members of this staff class, having regard to the usual definitions applicable at that time for persons carrying on such professions, and who are employed by the trust in that capacity at the date of their application or invitation (as the case may be) under provisions of this Constitution. 6. The members of the managers, administrators and support staff class are those individuals who are members of the staff constituency, but who are not members of the medical staff class; nursing staff class; or other clinical and health professionals staff class and are not eligible to be members of the medical staff class; nursing staff class; or other clinical and health professionals staff class. The trust may designate individuals from time to time as eligible to be members of the managers, administrators and support staff class. 7. A person who is eligible to be a member of the staff constituency may not become or continue as a member of the public constituency. 29

30 ANNEX 3 THE PATIENTS CONSTITUENCY Not used 30

31 ANNEX 4 COMPOSITION OF COUNCIL OF GOVERNORS 1. COUNCIL OF GOVERNORS 1.1. The trust shall have a Council of Governors which, subject to the provisions below, shall consist of 32governors. The aggregate number of governors who are public governors shall be more than half the total number of governors The Council of Governors shall consist of: seventeenpublic governors elected in accordance with this Constitution; four staff governors elected in accordance with this Constitution; three PCT governors appointed in accordance with this Constitution; four Local Authority Governors appointed in accordance with this Constitution; one University Governor appointed in accordance with this Constitution Partnership organisation governors comprising: one high secure commissioner governor appointed in accordance with this Constitution; one forensic/specialist commissioner governor appointed in accordance with this Constitution; and one Voluntary Sector Governor appointed in accordance with this Constitution. 31

32 ANNEX 5 THE MODEL ELECTION RULES Part 1 - Interpretation 1. Interpretation Part 2 Timetable for election 2. Timetable 3. Computation of time Part 3 Returning officer 4. Returning officer 5. Staff 6. Expenditure 7. Duty of co-operation Part 4 - Stages Common to Contested and Uncontested Elections 8. Notice of election 9. Nomination of candidates 10. Candidate s consent and particulars 11. Declaration of interests 12. Declaration of eligibility 13. Signature of candidate 14. Decisions as to validity of nomination papers 15. Publication of statement of nominated candidates 16. Inspection of statement of nominated candidates and nomination papers 17. Withdrawal of candidates 18. Method of election Part 5 Contested elections 19. Poll to be taken by ballot 20. The ballot paper 21. The declaration of identity Action to be taken before the poll 32

33 22. List of eligible voters 23. Notice of poll 24. Issue of voting documents 25. Ballot paper envelope and covering envelope The poll 26. Eligibility to vote 27. Voting by persons who require assistance 28. Spoilt ballot papers 29. Lost ballot papers 30. Issue of replacement ballot paper 31. Declaration of identity for replacement ballot papers Procedure for receipt of envelopes 32. Receipt of voting documents 33. Validity of ballot paper 34. Declaration of identity but no ballot paper 35. Sealing of packets Part 6 - Counting the votes 36. Arrangements for counting of the votes 37. The count 38. Rejected ballot papers 39. Equality of votes Part 7 Final proceedings in contested and uncontested elections 40. Declaration of result for contested elections 41. Declaration of result for uncontested elections Part 8 Disposal of documents 42. Sealing up of documents relating to the poll 43. Delivery of documents 44. Forwarding of documents received after close of the poll 45. Retention and public inspection of documents 46. Application for inspection of certain documents relating to election Part 9 Death of a candidate during a contested election 47. Countermand or abandonment of poll on death of candidate 33

34 Part 10 Election expenses and publicity Expenses 48. Election expenses incurred by candidates 49. Expenses incurred by other persons 50. Personal, travelling and administrative expenses Publicity 51. Publicity about election by the corporation 52. Information about candidates for inclusion with voting documents 53. Meaning of for the purposes of an election Part 11 Questioning elections and irregularities 54. Application to question an election Part 12 Miscellaneous 55. Secrecy 56. Prohibition of disclosure of vote 57. Disqualification 58. Delay in postal service through industrial action or unforeseen event 34

35 Part 1 - Interpretation 1. Interpretation (1) In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires - corporation means the public benefit corporation subject to this constitution; election means an election by a constituency, or by a class within a constituency, to fill a vacancy among one or more posts on the council of governors; the regulator means the Independent Regulator for NHS foundation trusts; and the 2006 Act means the NHS Act 2006 (2) Other expressions used in these rules and in Schedule 7 to the 2006 Act have the same meaning in these rules as in that Schedule. Part 2 - Timetable for election 2. Timetable The proceedings at an election shall be conducted in accordance with the following timetable. Proceeding Publication of notice of election Final day for delivery of nomination papers to returning officer Publication of statement of nominated candidates Final day for delivery of notices of withdrawals by candidates from election Notice of the poll Time Not later than the fortieth day before the day of the close of the poll. Not later than the twenty eighth day before the day of the close of the poll. Not later than the twenty seventh day before the day of the close of the poll. Not later than twenty fifth day before the day of the close of the poll. Not later than the fifteenth day 35

36 Proceeding Time before the day of the close of the poll. Close of the poll By 5.00pm on the final day of the election. 3. Computation of time (1) In computing any period of time for the purposes of the timetable (c) a Saturday or Sunday; Christmas day, Good Friday, or a bank holiday, or a day appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning, shall be disregarded, and any such day shall not be treated as a day for the purpose of any proceedings up to the completion of the poll, nor shall the returning officer be obliged to proceed with the counting of votes on such a day. (2) In this rule, bank holiday means a day which is a bank holiday under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 in England and Wales. Part 3 - Returning officer 4. Returning officer (1) Subject to rule 64, the returning officer for an election is to be appointed by the corporation. (2) Where two or more elections are to be held concurrently, the same returning officer may be appointed for all those elections. 5. Staff Subject to rule 64, the returning officer may appoint and pay such staff, including such technical advisers, as he or she considers necessary for the purposes of the election. 36