Training and induction
For further information on all training matters, please contact your regional training facilitators (RTFs) or Chris Dye at:
or call the helpline on 0870 240 3801.
Regional structures
To sit alongside the Board Leadership Programme in London, the other seven regions now have RTFs in post who are organising local events and will be able to keep you informed of all training events in your area.
Regional calendars of events should be available through your chair if you have not received one personally. If you have any difficulties accessing this or have any other queries please contact your RTF whose details are below.
Induction
At the last non-executive induction events in February, 86 per cent of delegates evaluated the course as either "excellent"
or "good"
.
To continue to improve we have slightly modified the content to make it more interactive, although the basic structure of a two-day residential event remains the same. The summer events are being held in Derby, Leeds, Maidstone, Swindon and Cambridge. Invites have already gone out to recently appointed non-executives.
The chairs' induction events are also now a regular calendar feature. Events are being held in Oxford in July, Macclesfield in August and Northampton in September. The aim is to hold events across the country as often as possible and details can be found in the Diary section of this bulletin.
Audit committee conferences
Two more events for chairs of audit committees will be held in London and Leeds in October following last year's successes. Full details will be distributed through chairs as soon as possible.
Finance training
The Healthcare Financial Management Association (HfMA) is organising events across the country on behalf of the NHS Appointments Commission and with funding from the training levy and negotiation, the events cost only 32 per cent of the normal rate (£79 or £50 for NHS Partner organisations).
Dates are:
- Introduction to NHS finance - 21 September, London
- The non-executive role in finance - 28 September, Leeds; 12 October,
Cheltenham; and 2 November, London
For more information or to book call HfMA events on 0117 929 4789. A new edition of the Introductory Guide to Finance issued to all chairs and non-executives last year is now available.
The commission has now been able to purchase from training levy monies a copy of the new edition (April 2004) which has been sent to all chairs, audit committee chairs and new non-executives. It includes important updates on Payment By Results and foundation trusts. It costs £27 but non-executives can get a 30 per cent discount until 30 June. Details of this offer have been sent to chairs.
Patient safety events
The National Patient Safety Agency is running 12 events across the country to highlight the systems that boards should ensure are in place to maximise patient safety. There will be two each month from October to March 2005.
Different case scenarios will be designed for different types of organisation. The first invitations will be issued in June. A list of dates and venues are available from RTFs.
Future plans
The commission is working towards designing the best way of integrating governance training to executive and non-executive teams.
Once a competency-based system of recruitment for non-executives has been finalised chairs and independent assessors will require training on the new system. The commission has also been asked to design training for chairs on chairing skills.
This would be for those who would feel they would benefit such as chairs of audit committees, vice-chairs and other non-executives with board chair potential, recommended by their chair.
More details will be available soon.
