Requirement of training of directors

Accepted.
Monitor’s licence conditions require providers to ensure that no person who is an unfit person may become or continue as a Director and that they ensure that its contracts of service with its Directors contain a provision permitting summary termination in the event of a Director being or becoming an unfit person. The Licensee is also required to ensure that it enforces that provision promptly upon discovering any Director to be an unfit person.
We agree that it is important for directors of all NHS organisations (including Foundation Trusts) to be provided with the development they need to operate effectively and responsibly. The recently published The Healthy NHS Board 2013 document sets out a number of measures for the development of individual directors and boards as a whole, including 360 degree feedback, structured induction, peer learning, whole board performance assessment and individual appraisal. Monitor’s Code of Governance for Foundation Trusts sets out an expectation that Directors should also have access, at the NHS foundation trust’s expense, to training courses and/or materials that are consistent with their individual and collective development programme. Monitor’s Quality Governance framework guidance also challenges boards to ensure they have the necessary leadership,skills and knowledge to ensure delivery of the quality agenda. It also suggests boards conduct regular self-assessments to test its skills and capabilities and attend training sessions covering the core elements of quality governance and continuous improvement.
Monitor already has in place programmes provided jointly with others to support chairs, non- executive directors and finance directors. Monitor additionally provides a one-day induction programme for new chairs and chief executives of NHS Foundation Trusts and is working with the Foundation Trust Network to offer a 2-day induction programme for new non-executive directors of NHS Foundation Trusts. The first of these programmes was run in September 2013 and the next cohort will take place in January 2014. Monitor will be working together with the NHS Leadership Academy, NHS Trust Development Authority and the Foundation Trust Network to increase external support for chief executives of NHS Trusts and Foundation Trusts and will also consider how best to support medical directors in the coming year. The Foundation Trust Network also offers development programmes for executive directors and company secretaries.

NHS England published an updated Code of governance for NHS provider trusts in April 2023. This sets out that all directors and governors should receive appropriate induction and regularly update and refresh their skills and knowledge. Directors should also have access at the trust’s expense to training courses and/or materials that are consistent with their individual and collective development programme.

The NHS Leadership Competency Framework for Board members, was published in February 2024 and has been designed around six competency domains to support the recently refreshed Fit and Proper Persons regime. An independent evaluation is planned for 2025.

A directory of support offers for executive and non-executive Board members was developed in August 2023 and has been refreshed and updated recently.

Three induction programmes have now been run for Foundation Trust Non-Executive Directors. The first joint Monitor/NHS Trust Development Authority conference for Chief Executive Officers and Chairs was held in October 2014 and is covered strategic planning and transaction guidance.

This recommendation was accepted by the Government.

In the January 2014 Hard Truths report, the Government referred to Monitor’s Code of Governance setting out an expectation that directors should have access to training courses and/or materials, as well as Monitor’s Quality Governance framework guidance as suggesting board conduct regular self-assessment and attend training sessions covering the core elements of quality governance and continuous improvement.