Governance and Audit - Terms of Reference
1. CONSTITUTION
The Board hereby resolves to establish a Committee of the Board to be known as the Governance & Audit Committee (The Committee). The Committee is a sub-committee of the HFMA Board of Trustees and is bound by the rules and regulations of the Association as they relate to the sub-committee.
2. MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMITTEE
Membership of the Committee
The Committee is comprised of the following members:
• Each HFMA branch is invited to nominate a representative
• Individuals working within the NHS can be co-opted onto the Committee by resolution of the Committee to ensure a balanced (geographic and organisational) membership. Individuals may also be co-opted to work on specific projects or because they have expressed a particular interest in Governance & Audit issues.
• Audit Commission and IAPG representatives will be co-opted on to the committee
• At the discretion of the Committee, representatives from other outside bodies can be co-opted on to the committee. The membership of these representatives will be periodically reviewed.
• A list of Associate Members will also be maintained for individuals/organisations that have an interest in the work of the committee but are unable to regularly attend meetings.
Quorum
The quorum is 5 for voting purposes, with the Chair having the casting vote.
Chair
The Chair is nominated by the branches and determined by the Nominations and Selections Panel. Final approval of the selection is given by the Board of Trustees and announced at the HFMA Annual General Meeting in December. The appointment shall be initially be for three years.
Frequency
The committee will meet not less than four times a year.
3. DUTIES OF THE COMMITTEE
Statement of Purpose
To promote best practice and innovation in standards of Governance and Audit across the UK health economy and through HFMA’s local and national networks.
Aims of the Committee
• To act as a prime source of independent professional advice, influence and policy shaping on Governance and Audit issues in the NHS.
• To advise the HFMA Policy Forum on Governance and Audit issues.
• To provide a forum for the consideration, development, and dissemination of best practice guidance and other relevant information.
• To encourage and develop the professional expertise necessary to achieve the objectives of sound governance and effective audit by, inter alia:
• developing professional views on key issues
• commissioning, quality assuring and publishing papers and articles
• promoting and facilitating training and development opportunities
• commissioning and facilitating relevant surveys
• researching and advising on relevant methodologies and techniques.
• To liaise as necessary with relevant external bodies and agencies with an interest in governance issues, not only those bodies interested in the finance aspects (see the list below).
• To act as an effective conduit between HFMA branches, IAPG and other national groups on Governance and Audit issues.
• To monitor Governance and Audit issues outside the NHS, in both the public, private and voluntary sectors.
4. REPORTING
• The Committee reports to the Board of Trustees.
• The minutes of the Committee meetings shall be formally recorded by the Committees Manager and approved at the subsequent Committee meeting.
• The Board of Trustees will receive an Executive Summary of the most recent Committee Meeting prior to each Board of Trustees meeting.
• Full minutes of the Committee meeting will be available to Trustees online via the HFMA website or from the Committees Manager on request.
• The Committee will also provide a report on all activity via the HFMA Annual Report.
• The Chair of the Committee is a member of the Policy Forum, and shall draw to the attention of the Board any issues that require disclosure to the full Board, or require executive action.
Approved by the Committee 08.09.10
Review date 14.09.10