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What is Board Development?
In 2010 the NLC commissioned two experienced and expert Consultancies to undertake pilot Board development work aimed at building inclusion into the business at Board level across six different NHS pilot sites.
The Programme co-produced with Boards an accelerated development process to support them embed inclusion in their practice as commissioners, providers and employers. This was in recognition that Boards can often champion equality, inclusion and diversity but not always understand how to strategically lead on these as way of improving access and quality in health care; reducing inequalities; releasing untapped innovation and productivity in the workforce and generating connections with the populations they serve.
The attached report provides a summary of the main findings and recommendations emerging from this programme. Work has begun to tailor this methodology incorporating the Equality Delivery System for use with other Boards during 2011/12.
Case Studies
Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (KCH) is participating in a pilot Board Development Programme commissioned by the NHS Institute and sponsored by the National Leadership Council. The programme focuses on the further building or embedding of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) into the business of the Board. The aim is to support the Board in developing or refining the critical connection between EDI and their core business, and to identify what they can do differently to ensure their “business delivers effectively to all its customers”.
The Chairman and Chief Executive of KCH were keen for the KCH Board to participate in this pilot programme because of the opportunity it provided to take stock of where they were on their EDI journey. The arrival of a new Chief Executive in 2008 and significant change in Board membership as other new Executive Directors were recruited had provided an opportunity for the Board to refresh its vision and strategy for embedding EDI into the business objectives and operational strategy of the KCH.
The pilot was seen as a marvellous opportunity to take stock of how well they were doing as a Board especially in terms of providing leadership and governance in respect of meeting the healthcare needs of the extremely diverse population of the London Boroughs of Southwark and Lambeth and in changing the culture of the organisation to meet its new EDI vision of being “Effortlessly Inclusive”.
NHS Nottinghamshire County
NHS Nottinghamshire County were pleased to be selected for the National Leadership Council pilot programme, Building Inclusion and Diversity into the Business at Board Level.
At NHS Nottinghamshire County we have given a high profile to equality, inclusion and diversity over the last 18 months and have worked hard to ensure that equality, diversity and human rights is a core value of a £1billion commissioning PCT body. We have focused on core areas and undertaken key actions which have included:
- A refreshed Single Equality Scheme with consideration of the new Equality Act 2010
- Development of a Single Equality Scheme Action plan
- Enhanced equality and diversity training programme which has included mandatory equality and diversity training and Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) training for all senior managers and Directors and awareness raising on a range of equality and diversity issues for all PCT staff through education and development sessions held on a monthly basis.
First Year Reports and Toolkits
The Diversity Practice
The Diversity Practice worked with 3 Boards in 2010 and this report contains the findings.
The Diversity Practice
The Diversity Practice use the Integr8 methodology, the toolkit is available here
Shapiro Consulting
Shapiro Consulting worked with 3 Boards in 2010 and this report contains the findings.
Shapiro Consulting
Shapiro Consulting use the Connect methodology, the toolkit is available here
> Reports
Board Development - Inclusion
This Board Development report provides a summary of the main findings and recommendations emerging from this programme. Work has begun to tailor this methodology incorporating the equality delivery system for use with other Boards during 2011/12... View full Report
What Works?
This work was undertaken by HSMC at the University of Birmingham and the National Institute for Innovation and Improvement. The aim of the project was to provide the NHS with a practical guide about what works in terms of inclusion and leadership that can be used by NHS institutions across England.... View full Report
Innovation in Inclusion
This project was undertaken by the National Institute for Innovation and Improvement using graduates from the Breaking Through and Transformational Leadership programmes as organisational consultants.... View full Report
