Compendium

This compendium contains a number of templates, examples, articles and other reference materials - most of them kindly provided by governance leads at trusts and foundation trusts across England. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to date.

All templates are provided in Word format so you can download them and adapt them as you wish for your own use. We've also grouped the materials into sections to make finding what you need a little easier.

If you have governance-related materials that you think your peers might find useful, or any feedback on the materials here, please send them to Izzy Allen, NHS Providers senior policy advisor for Governance at izzy.allen@nhsproviders.org.

 

Board and committee meetings

Action log template

Action log in Excel with RAG rating - template.

Committee agenda template

Board committee agenda - template.

 

Attendance sign-in sheet

Meeting attendance sign-in sheet - template

 

Audit committee chair report example

Audit committee chair's report to the board - template

 

Board assurance Framework report

Board assurance framework report - example

 

Board assurance framework

Board assurance framework - template

 

Committee assurance report to Board

Board committee assurance report to Board - template

 

Board committee paper cover sheet

Board committee paper cover sheet - template

 

Board committee effectiveness review

Board committee effectiveness review - flowchart

 

Board committee highlights summary report

Board committee highlights summary report - template

 

Board paper cover sheet

Board paper cover sheet and paper - template

 

Effective board reports

Writing good board reports - a fun article by David Seabrooke with a serious point

 

Effective board reporting ICSA

Effective board reporting - The Chartered Governance Institute (formerly ICSA) - long read

 

Boardroom dynamics CGI study guide

Boardroom dynamics - Chartered Governance Institute - in-depth study text

 

HFMA NHS audit committee handbook 2024

Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) audit committee handbook - guide

Supporting the Board

Board of directors code of conduct

Board members code of conduct - example.

 

Fit and proper person procedure

Fit and proper person procedure - example

 

Governance is grip

Governance basics - an article by David Seabrooke

 

Healthy NHS boards

Healthy boards advice - written and aimed at London but applicable everywhere

 

Healthy NHS Boards NHSLA

NHS leadership Academy's old but good guide to Healthy NHS Boards

 

Conflicts of interest: Considerations for board directors working in systems 

Role/job descriptions

Role description - Assistant Company Secretary
Assistant company secretary role description - example

 

Role description - Chair (Foundation Trust)
Foundation trust chair role description - example

 

Role description - Chair (Foundation Trust)

Foundation trust chair role description - second example

 

Role description - Chief Medical Officer

Chief medical officer role description - blank template

 

Role description - Chief Operating Officer

Chief operating officer role description - blank template

 

Role description - Chief People Officer

Chief people officer role description - blank template

 

Role description - Deputy Director of Corporate Governance

Deputy director of corporate governance role description - example

 

Role description - Director of Corporate Governance 

Director of corporate governance role description - example

 

Role description - Non-Executive Director (NED) in common

NED in common role description - blank template

 

Role description - Trust Secretary 

Trust secretary role description - example

 

Role in the NHS (GGI) - Company Secretary

The Good Governance Institute's guide to the role of a company secretary in the NHS 

Terms of reference

Audit committee terms of reference (ToRs)

Audit committee terms of reference - example

 

Board of directors ToRs

Board of directors ToRs - example

 

Charitable funds committee ToRs
Charitable funds committee ToRs - example

 

Council of Governors ToRs

Council of Governors ToRs - template

 

Council of Governors Tors 

Council of Governors ToRs - template 2 

 

Finance Committee ToRs

Finance Committee ToRs - example 

 

Governor Development Committee ToRs

Governor Development Committee ToRs- example

 

Mental Health Act Scrutiny Committee - ToRs 

Mental Health Act Scrutiny Committee - ToRs example

HR

Director induction checklist

Director induction practice

 

Chair interview questions

Chair interview questions - example

Council of Governors

Council of governors code of conduct 

Council of governors code of conduct - guidance 

 

Council of governors self-assessment survey 

Council of governors self-assessment survey - template 

 

Governor standards of conduct 

Managing concerns about a governor's standards of conduct - advice

 

Governor development committee ToRs

Governor development committee Terms of Reference