Dorset HealthCare's University NHS Foundation Trust (‘Dorset HealthCare’) Board approves, a schedule of matters which it reserves to itself. These include the power to set the vision, strategic aims, objectives and budget for the Trust.

Some matters are delegated to Board Committees, which operate within defined terms of reference. A summary of Committee responsibilities can be found here.

The Trust's Board Committees are:

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee is a committee of the Board of Directors responsible for overseeing, monitoring and reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of the governance, risk management and internal control framework and systems and areas of statutory and regulatory compliance at Dorset HealthCare and the external and internal audit functions. This includes security management and counter fraud.

There are three Non-Executive Director members of the Committee, all of whom are independent. The Chief Finance Officer and Director of Corporate Affairs attend meetings. Individual officers attend to present specific items.

The Audit Committee Terms of Reference can be found here.

Quality Committee (in common)

A ‘committee in common’ is a collaborative arrangement whereby Dorset Healthcare and Dorset County Hospital each have an established statutory Quality Committee which operate with aligned terms of reference, a common agenda and convene at the same time.  Each Committee makes its own decisions regarding its respective organisation, but the shared discussions can lead to more consistent and aligned actions.

The Committee acquires and scrutinises assurances that the Trust has a combination of structures and processes at and below Board level that equip it to deliver high quality clinical services and provides further scrutiny of the quality of services.

This Quality Committee is supported by the Quality Governance Group, which meets monthly to examine the internal quality and clinical processes and provide an in-depth review of data to ensure the effectiveness of the systems operated by the organisation.

The membership is made up of a mix of Non-Executive and Executive Directors.

The Quality Committee in common Terms of Reference can be found here.

Mental Health Legislation Committee (in common)

The Mental Health Legislation Committee (in common) provides assurance and specialist advice to the Board in respect of compliance with the law and best practices concerning the rights of mental health service users. The Committee’s membership is made up of a mix of Non-Executive and Executive Directors.

Panel members are independent lay people who have been trained in mental health legislation and provide a pool of individuals from which members of Mental Health Act Panels for individual cases can be drawn.

The Mental Health Legislation Committee Terms of Reference can be found here.

Finance and Performance Committee (in common)

A ‘committee in common’ is a collaborative arrangement whereby Dorset Healthcare and Dorset County Hospital each have an established statutory Finance and Performance Committee which operate with aligned terms of reference, a common agenda and convene at the same time.  Each Committee makes its own decisions regarding its respective organisation, but the shared discussions can lead to more consistent and aligned actions.

The Committee advises and provides assurance to the Trust Board on matters relating to all aspects of financial and operational performance and delivery of cost improvement plans.  The committee scrutinises and approves investment plans and business cases and oversees compliance in respect of estates, health and safety, emergency preparedness and response and joint ventures

The Committee’s membership is made up of a mix of Non-Executive and Executive Directors.

The Finance and Performance Committee in common Terms of Reference can be found here.

Strategy, Transformation, and Partnership Committee (in common)

A ‘committee in common’ is a collaborative arrangement whereby Dorset Healthcare and Dorset County Hospital each have an established statutory Strategy, Transformation, and Partnership Committee which operate with aligned terms of reference, a common agenda and convene at the same time.  Each Committee makes its own decisions regarding its respective organisation, but the shared discussions can lead to more consistent and aligned actions.

The Committee advises and provides assurance to the Trust Board on delivery of the Trust's strategic objectives and priorities and the One Transformation Approach.

The Committee maintains oversight of the programmes of work in respect of digital; net zero; new hospitals programme and quality improvement and ensuring alignment with the strategic objectives and priorities, and oversight of all collaboratives and partnership arrangements.

The Committee’s membership is made up of a mix of Non-Executive and Executive Directors.

The Strategy, Transformation and Partnership Committee in common Terms of Reference can be found here.

People and Culture Committee (in common)

A ‘committee in common’ is a collaborative arrangement whereby Dorset Healthcare and Dorset County Hospital each have an established statutory People and Culture Committee which operate with aligned terms of reference, a common agenda and convene at the same time.  Each Committee makes its own decisions regarding its respective organisation, but the shared discussions can lead to more consistent and aligned actions.

The Committee advises and provides assurance to the Trust Board on the production and delivery of strategies and plans related to people, culture and organisational development and oversees key workforce performance indicators.  The scope of the Committee includes matters related to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, annual reporting and compliance with regulatory and legislative requirements.

The Committee’s membership is made up of a mix of Non-Executive and Executive Directors.

Read more about the People and Culture Committee in common Terms of Reference.

Remuneration Committee

The Board has established a Remuneration Committee which is responsible for appointing Executive Directors and reviewing and determining their remuneration.

All Non-Executive Directors are members of the Committee. The Chief Executive has a right to be in attendance as a member of the Committee when other Executive Director appointments are being determined and may be invited to attend when the remuneration of the other Executive Directors is under discussion.

The Remuneration Committee Terms of Reference can be found in this document.