Governance in Health and Social Care an introduction

What is Governance

Governance is "the system by which an organisation directs and controls its functions and relates to its stakeholders” HM Treasury

In other words, the way in which organisations:

• manage their business
• determine strategy & objectives
• go about achieving these objectives

Arm’s Length Bodies Partnership Agreements
 

The Department manages its relationships with its 16 Arm’s Length Bodies (ALBs) by way of Partnership Agreements.

The purpose of the Partnership Agreement is to set out the governance framework and assurance arrangements which have been agreed and are in place between the Department and the ALB.

Partnership Agreements are reviewed and agreed by both partners ahead of implementation and arrangements are periodically reviewed.

Current Partnership Agreements in place are:

Board Governance Self Assessment Tool

DoH Arm’s Length Bodies Boards are required to complete a Board Governance Self Assessment on an annual basis.

This evaluation should comply with chapter 5 of the NIAO Board Effectiveness Good Practice Guide 2022.  There is no universal template and evaluations should be tailored by each board to meet their own needs in keeping with the principle of proportionate autonomy.  

• Assessment Tool

National Audit Office Audit Committee Checklist

DOH Arm’s Length Bodies are required to complete the Northern Ireland Audit Office Audit Committee Checklist, on an annual basis as recommended as best practice by the NI Audit Office. Audit Committees can assess their performance against best practice using the checklist.

• NIAO ARAC Self Assessment Checklist

Code of Conduct and Code of Accountability For Department of Health Arm’s Length Bodies Board Members

This document comprises a Code of Conduct and a Code of Accountability for Board Members