Training and induction
For further information on all training matters, please contact Chris Dye at:
or at the postal address in " About this Bulletin"
or phone Events on 0113 394 2999.
Training structures
As detailed in the last bulletin, there are now seven Regional Training Boards to sit alongside the board leadership programme in the London region.
They each have representation from all health sectors and geographical areas of the relevant region. Each of the boards is to have a dedicated member of staff funded from the £1000 levy on each board to facilitate training.
Some of these posts have already been filled but by November all will be in situ.
Full contact details will be given in the next bulletin. We are confident that this structure and these staff will provide a comprehensive and high profile training and development agenda sensitive to local requirements.
Induction
The commission is to repeat the highly successful two-day residential induction events early in the new year.
Again, these will be held across the country and all non-executives appointed since the last events in the summer will be offered a free place.
Additionally, monthly or bi-monthly (dependent on demand) induction events are to be organised for new chairs. The first of these are in December in Oxford and Harrogate.
Governing the NHS
Following the Chairs' Conference in September and the four conferences this month for chairs of audit committees, the commission is to work with a number of partners to organise events for a number of board members to work together on governing their organisation.
Potentially, five members of every board will be invited to attend. These are likely to be the chair, chief executive, director of finance, professional executive committee chair (or medical director) and another non-executive director. These will be powerful events potentially helping boards to work together on the governance agenda.
Obviously, it is crucial to get the programme right and to give people as much notice as possible and full details of partners and the programme will be given in the next bulletin with a likely start date for events in early spring.
Finance training
By the time of this bulletin, only two Financial Governance events will remain of the 2003 programme. These are on 11 November in London and 13 November in Leicester.
The cost is £79 instead of the normal £284 and bookings can be made through the Healthcare Financial Management Association on 0117 929 4795.
Due to the success of these events, we are proposing to run them again in 2004.
The intention is that there will be Introduction to NHS Finance events and another programme covering more specific issues such as Payment by Results and Choice. A full list of dates and venues will be sent to chairs as soon as it is available and will appear in a future bulletin.
Cost of events
We have become aware of some concern from chairs and non-executives about the perceived cost of some events and in particular the high quality venues used.
We are all aware of the very limited budget available for training. Therefore can we assure you that all venues used for appointments commission events have offered exceptional value for money.
We recognise that it is important that the venue is comfortable, the food is of a good standard and other issues such as parking are considered. Against that, we must consider the cost. By entering into national negotiations with various hotel groups, we are now receiving excellent rates. We most certainly do not pay the room rates displayed at the reception desk.
Patient and public involvement conferences
Two major conferences have been organised to raise awareness of this important agenda.
We have worked closely with the NHS Modernisation Agency, The Department of Health and the Commission for Health Improvement to ensure an impressive programme of speakers in Harrogate on 8 December and Watford on 17 December. Your chair will have full details of the events.
These will be followed up in the new year by regional events looking specifically at the board's role on this agenda.
