Governance Committee

The Governance Committee provides the HSC Board with an independent and objective review of the adequacy and effectiveness of the system of internal control and to ensure a robust assurance framework is maintained; how risks and opportunities are identified and managed, the information provided to the Board; and compliance with law, guidance and Codes of Conduct and Accountability.

The Committee is comprised of four Non Executive Directors:

• Dr Theresa Donaldson, Chair
• Mrs Stephanie Lowry, Non Executive Director
• Mrs Catherine McCallum, Non Executive Director
• Mr Norman McKinley, Non Executive Director

The Committee currently meets four times each year.

Agenda and minutes of meetings

• GC Agenda
  • Agenda - 26 January 2017 (0.2 MiB)
  • Agenda - 6 April 2017 (0.1 MiB)
  • Agenda - 5 October 2017 (0.1 MiB)
  • Agenda - 1 February 2018 (0.1 MiB)
  • Agenda - 29 March 2018 (89 KiB)
  • Agenda - 7 June 2018 (0.1 MiB)
  • Agenda - 27 September 2018 (0.1 MiB)
  • Agenda - 7 February 2019 (0.1 MiB)
  • Agenda - 6 June 2019 (0.2 MiB)
  • Agenda - 26 September 2019 (0.1 MiB)
• GC Minutes
  • Governance Committee Minutes - 29 September 2016 (0.3 MiB)
  • Governance Committee Minutes 2019-02-07 (0.3 MiB)
  • Governance Committee Minutes 6 June 2019 (0.3 MiB)
  • Item 10 - 07 - Governance Committee 260919 (0.5 MiB)

Terms of Reference

The Terms of Reference will be kept under review in light of any emerging or changing accountability arrangements for the Health and Social Care Board.

The Committee will:

• Seek assurance and advise the Board on the scope and effectiveness of the system of internal control
• Ensure an assurance framework is in place for the organisation relating to the corporate and clinical and social care governance and that it is both effective and robust;
• Seek assurance and advise the Baord on the strategic processes in place for the management of risk and corporate governance requirements for the organisation;
• Review the content of the annual Governance Statement and Mid-Year Assurance Statement;
• Approve the Governance Framework, Governance Strategy and other governance related policies and procedures;
• Review Board officers’ responses and actions in relation to regional procedures in respect of the management and follow-up of Serious Adverse Incidents and complaints where the HSCB has a regional responsibility;
• Seek assurance and advise the Board on protocols in respect of the Health and Social Care Board’s social care statutory responsibilities.

The following activity will fall within the remit of the Governance Committee:

• Management of corporate risk;
• Quality, safety and standards in health and social care;
• Social Care Delegated Statutory Functions;
• Controls assurance and internal control;
• Serious Adverse Incident management;
• Complaints management;
• Litigation management;
• Maintenance of the reputation, image and integrity of the Health and Social Care Board;
• Professional regulation;
• Information governance