NHS Improvement has worked closely with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to bring together their respective approaches resulting a fully joint well-led framework structured around eight key lines of enquiry. John Coutts, governance advisor for NHS Providers, sets out the process and content of these developmental reviews and examines the role of the council of governors in helping the board to ensure that the organisation is well-led.

This article outlines

• What does ‘well-led’ mean for councils of governors?
• What is the well-led framework?
• The council of governor’s role
• Making an effective contribution