NHS Board
Chair Appointments
Information for Applicants
Closing Date: Wednesday 4 December 2019
To apply online, please visit our Public Appointments website at:
www.appointed-for-scotland.org
Key Dates
13 November 2019 Appointment publicised
4 December 2019 Closing date for completed applications
11 December 2019 Shortlisting meeting
12 December 2019 Shortlist outcome relayed to applicants
16 December 2019 Link to Psychometric Tests issued
19 December 2019 Deadline for completion of Psychometric Tests
9, 10 & 15 January 2020 Role Play
13, 16 & 17 January 2020 Interviews
7 February 2020 Minister will decide whom to appoint Date from which applicants may request feedback 14 February 2020 on non-selection for appointment
1 March 2020 Start date
Page Contents
About Welcome letter 1 About NHS Scotland 2-3 About NHS Ayrshire & Arran 4 About NHS Forth Valley 5 About NHS Orkney 6
About the Role Role Description 9 Person Specification 10-14 Disclosure Scotland 14
Applying How to apply 15 Application Form 16 Selection panel 17 Assessment process 17 Telling you about progress 18 Expenses for attending 18 interviews Valuing diversity 18-19 Disqualifications 19
Ethical Standards Complaints 20 The Principles of Public Life 20 The Fit and Proper Person Test 21-23 Conflicts of Interest 23
Appointment After appointment 24 Support and development 24
Annex A The Assessment process 25 Annex B Disqualifications 26
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport Jeane Freeman MSP
Dear Applicant
Thank you for your interest in these NHS Board Chair vacancies. The NHS is our most valued public service and being able to help shape its future and provide assurance that it is working effectively, efficiently and in the best interest of the population served, is a fantastic opportunity and a hugely worthwhile role.
You will play a central leadership role in guiding the strategies, which address the health priorities and health and care needs of the Boards’ resident population, that will not only continue to drive performance but improve quality of services and ensure financial sustainability.
Some of the key skills required for these Chair roles include strong leadership, governance experience and an understanding of performance management in a complex organisation. You will need to be able to challenge constructively and influence decision making whilst commanding trust and respect amongst colleagues and the wide range of stakeholders that you will work with.
We are keen to attract people with the experience required for these significant appointments. You do not need to be an expert in health and/or social care. We are looking for people with a wide range of skills and backgrounds who are committed to the NHS Scotland values and who are sensitive to the diverse needs of people and the health and care services, which affect them. The health system is large and complex and it requires individuals with vision, drive and resilience to lead them.
Specific details on the requirements for the role are included in the person specification as part of this pack. If you think you have the skills, experience and vision to bring to one of these roles, I very much look forward to receiving your application.
I hope that you will feel able to submit an application and, once again, thank you for the interest shown.
JEANE FREEMAN
About
NHS Scotland
NHS Scotland is a complex organisation made up of 22 individual NHS organisations, each with its own board of governance, accountable to Scottish Ministers.
NHS Boards are responsible for expenditure of around £13 billion per year of which £9 billion is delegated to 31 Integrated Joint Boards (IJBs) and employ 160,000 members of staff. They have governance responsibilities ranging from protecting, improving and maintaining the health of the population to the planning and delivery of safe, effective, sustainable, efficient and good quality NHS services in their areas. Each Board requires a diverse mix of individuals with varying skills and experiences to help in their operation.
One of the main functions of these different bodies is to put government policies into practice in the best way possible. There are 14 territorial NHS Boards, which are responsible for the protection and the improvement of their population’s health and for the delivery of frontline healthcare services. There are also 8 national bodies, which provide a range of support, specialist and national level services.
Governance
The Chair works with the Board to ensure the overall vision and leadership of the organisation are in place, and promotes effective decision-making and constructive debate. The executive team of the Board, led by the NHS Board Chief Executive, remain responsible for the day-to-day running of the organisation and the delivery of the strategic direction set by the Board.
The Blueprint for Good Governance published on 1 February 2019, describes the three-tiered model that defines the functions of a governance system, the enablers and the support required to deliver those functions effectively. You might find it useful to familiarise yourself with the document.
Useful Background information
Our vision is for people to live longer, healthier lives at home or in a homely setting. Achieving this will not only mean ensuring continued investment in high quality integrated services, but also the transformation of the way we deliver health and social care to drive improved performance. Published in December 2016 the Health and Social Care Delivery Plan sets out our programme to further enhance health and social care services. To realise these aims, NHS Boards are working together with other partners to think about how we plan and deliver health and social care services nationally, regionally and locally.
The Scottish Government’s National Performance Framework provides information on how Scotland can work together to achieve the national outcomes.
For more information about NHS Scotland, please visit www.scot.nhs.uk.
NHS Ayrshire & Arran
Key facts and figures
Population of around 400,000 Over 10,500 staff Annual revenue budget of over £770 million
Annual capital budget of around
£9.5 million An Acute hospital site both in Ayr and Kilmarnock Five community hospitals Has 53 GP Practices
NHS Ayrshire & Arran Board The NHS Board’s role is to deliver high quality, person centred care and to improve the health and wellbeing of the people of Ayrshire and Arran through robust, accountable and corporate governance systems. The Board’s role is to set strategic aims, hold the executives to account for the delivery of those aims, determine the level of risk the Board is willing to accept, influence the organisation’s culture and engage with stakeholders on the stewardship of public money and the priorities of the Board. In doing so, NHS Ayrshire & Arran provides a vast range of health services to more than a quarter of a million people. The key facts and figures provided above give an idea of its scale.
NHS Ayrshire & Arran actively works with a wide range of stakeholders including the three Local Authorities and Third Sector organisations to deliver shared services. There are three Integration Joint Boards which bring together health and social care services to meet the needs of local communities across Ayrshire and Arran.
You can find out more about the local context of NHS Ayrshire & Arran through the link below to ‘Our Health 2020’ NHS Ayrshire & Arran’s health and wellbeing framework which describes how locally we will fulfil the national 2020 vision for health services - Our Health 2020 Link
For more general information about NHS Ayrshire and Arran visit www.nhsaaa.net.
NHS Forth Valley
Key facts and figures
Population of around 300,000 Staff of around 7,000 Annual revenue budget of approx £600 million
Annual capital budget of around
£3 million
An acute hospital - Forth Valley Royal Hospital - is one of the most modern and well equipped hospitals in Europe, which has been purpose-built to provide the very highest standard of accommodation and facilities for patients, visitors and staff. Four community hospitals 56 Health Centres
NHS Forth Valley actively works with a wide range of stakeholders including the three Local Authorities and Third Sector organisations to deliver shared services. There are two Integration Joint Boards which bring together health and social care services to meet the needs of local communities across Forth Valley.
You can find out more about the local context of NHS Forth Valley through these links below: Shaping the Future – NHS Forth Valley’s Healthcare Strategy 2016-2021 articulates their ambition and sets out ten key priority areas which will shape the way local health services are designed and delivered across Forth Valley. o Shaping the Future Link
The Health Improvement Strategy 2017/2021, A Thriving Forth Valley sets out the way NHS Forth Valley will work with their local community planning partners to live healthier lives. o A Thriving Forth Valley Link
The Annual Delivery Plan builds on who NHS Forth Valley are and what they want to achieve during 2019/2020. o Annual Delivery Plan 2019-20
For more information about NHS Forth Valley visit www.nhsforthvalley.com.
NHS Orkney
Key facts and figures
Population of around 22,000 Approximately 620 staff Annual revenue budget of around £57 million
Annual capital budget of
around £1 million
A new hospital and healthcare facility opened in 2019 Across the islands there are 16 recognised points for providing General Practice services. There are 24 General Practitioners (GPs) spread over 6 Practices, supported by Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and Community Nurses. Our remoter small islands are covered by single-handed GP or Nurse Practitioners.
NHS Orkney is the smallest territorial health board in Scotland. It actively works with a wide range of stakeholder groups, including its local authority partner, Orkney Islands Council and Third Sector organisations to deliver integrated health and social care services through its single Integration Joint Board.
From 14th June 2019, NHS Orkney’s clinical services became operational at the Balfour, a magnificent new health and care facility on the island. This has been hailed as among the world’s best at a leading award ceremony, winning silver in the best healthcare project category at the Partnership Awards in London. The improvement in the facilities provided within the Balfour for health care are significant in their own right, with 49 single rooms, a second operating theatre, purpose designed diagnostic support services and completely open plan, fully networked support functions and office space. When coupled with the introduction of primary care, ambulance and dental services, the facility becomes unique in Scotland and truly represents a blueprint for the delivery of services moving forward.
You can find out more about the local context of NHS Orkney through the link below: NHS Orkney’s Corporate Plan o NHS Orkney Corporate Plan 2018-19 Link
For more information about NHS Orkney please visit http://www.ohb.scot.nhs.uk/
Further Information
If you would like to discuss these roles informally and confidentially, you are welcome to contact Malcolm Wright, Director-General Health & Social Care and Chief Executive NHS Scotland, who would be pleased to answer any questions you might have. To arrange a discussion, you should contact Carole Finnigan by calling 0131 244 2790 or by emailing [email protected].
NHS Boards
A Board made up of Non-Executive and Executive Members manage these organisations. The Board is accountable to the Scottish Government through the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport. The Cabinet Secretary appoints the Chair and each of the Non-Executive Members.
Executive Members who are currently also members of the Board are generally the Chief Executive, Medical Director, Director of Finance, Director of Nursing and the Director of Public Health. The Board governs the organisation’s accountability and performance. https://www.nhsaaa.net/about-us/how-we-make-decisions/whos-who/
https://nhsforthvalley.com/about-us/board-matters/
https://www.ohb.scot.nhs.uk/about-us/nhs-orkney-board-members
About the Role
Remuneration £31,149 p/a (NHS Ayrshire & Arran and NHS Forth Valley) Remuneration £28,854 p/a (NHS Orkney) 3 days per week time commitment Board meetings normally take place at Board Headquarters Monthly meetings to participate in national work in Edinburgh Eligible for Expenses (receipt based, travel and subsistence, dependents carers, childcare) Usually a 4 year appointment term
The Role Description
As Chair, you will: work effectively with the Scottish Government, the Scottish Parliament and ensure good governance and effective its Committees, NHS Boards, and other financial stewardship; local and national partners; be sufficiently informed to provide provide effective performance effective scrutiny and support to executive management and development for the directors and to the Chief Executive in Chief Executive; their role as Accountable Officer; formally review the performance of the provide challenge, support and advice Chief Executive and non-executive Board while respecting the boundaries of members on an annual basis and ensure executive responsibility, to secure effective succession planning and improvements in performance through the contribute to the appraisal of executives constructive engagement of all staff; who are also members of the Board; ensure the Board keeps a sharp focus on undertake on-going personal development developing and maintaining strategic activities in support of your role and direction; ensure that all Board members are be an ambassador for NHS Scotland with effectively trained and developed; a particular focus on people’s experience act in accordance with the principle of of health and care services; collective responsibility for decisions of understand and promote diversity; the Board: no member of the Board is contribute to the implementation of appointed to represent special interests relevant Scottish Government policies and and you are expected to bring an impartial priorities; judgement to bear on the business of the encourage, develop and maintain good Board; and relationships with key stakeholders in uphold the highest ethical standards of order to secure the delivery of the integrity and probity and comply with the priorities of NHS Scotland; and Board’s Code of Conduct (links below) be expected to participate in regional and derived from the nine principles of public national work. life set out by the Committee on Standards in Public Life (based on the Nolan Principles) (see page 17). To deliver the above, you will: NHS Ayrshire & Arran Code of be an exemplar of the NHS Scotland Conduct (which can be found in values; Section B of the Code of Corporate set the agenda, style and tone of Board Governance. activities to promote effective decision making and constructive debate; NHS Forth Valley Code of Conduct
build an effective and complementary Board by gaining trust and respect from all NHS Orkney Code of Conduct (which can be found in Section B of the Code members; of Corporate Governance. be sensitive to the views of others and engage with diverse groups;
The Person Specification
NHS Board Chair appointments
Listed in the following pages are the skills, knowledge, experience and values you will need to undertake one of these roles as Chair of an NHS Board. The NHS is responsible for a budget of about £13 billion per year (£9 billion of which is delegated to the Integrated Joint Boards), approximately 160,000 staff and provides services to a population of around 5.5 million.
The Ayrshire & Arran NHS Board Chair will be responsible for a budget of around £780 million, approximately 10,500 staff and serve a population of around 400,000. The Forth Valley NHS Board Chair will be responsible for a budget of over £600 million, approximately 7,000 staff and serve a population of around 300,000. The Orkney NHS Board Chair will be responsible for a budget of around £58 million, approximately 620 staff and serve a population of around 22,000.
You can draw your evidence from any sector. You do not necessarily need to have operated within an organisation of comparable size to these NHS Boards in terms of budget and staffing, but you do need to be able to evidence that you have the skills and experience relevant to the scope and complexity of these significant Chair roles. In assessing you against the essential criteria for any position applied for, the panel will take into account the specific and particular circumstances of each Board.
NHS Scotland’s values are at the heart of everything that we do. These values, as outlined in the NHS Scotland Workforce Strategy Everyone Matters: 2020 Workforce Vision guide the work of the Board in all that it does. As Chair of one of these Boards, you will not only need to have the right skills, knowledge and experience for the role, but also be able to demonstrate behaviour aligned to these values, which are:
care and compassion; dignity and respect; openness, honesty and
responsibility; and
quality and teamwork.
You will find more information about the assessment process on page 17 and in Annex A.
NHS Scotland What does this mean? How will this be tested? Values The values that Embedding these values in everything These values will be are shared across we do. In practice this means: assessed through the NHS Scotland are psychometric test, role-play outlined in the demonstrating our values in the exercise and during the Everyone Matters: way we work and treat each other; interview discussion. 2020 Workforce using our values to guide the When assessing evidence Vision. decisions we take; of the other requirements, identifying and dealing with These are: the panel will be looking for behaviours that don’t live up to you to demonstrate how our expectations; and, care and your behaviours have being responsible for the way we compassion; aligned with these values. work and not just the work, we do. dignity and For example, if you were respect; providing evidence of openness, “successfully challenging honesty and the views of others”, did you responsibility; do so in a way that also and, showed respect for quality and colleagues? teamwork
Essential Requirements of What does this mean? How will this be tested? the Role We are looking for individuals who At the final assessment Understanding understand the issues facing the stage, we will assess this by the organisation organisation(s) for which they are asking you to prepare a applying, and who can bring skills and verbal presentation on a experience which will help the Board topic that will be notified to address these issues. you in advance. The Selection Panel will also have a follow up discussion and will ask further questions.
Essential Requirements of What does this mean? How will this be tested? the Role Competence indicators: We will want you to tell us in Leadership Evidence of strong leadership in a your written application (in complex and transforming strategic 400 words) about your skills environment. and experience relevant to Direct experience in leading the this criterion. This will also formulation of strategy and be tested through the role- maintaining strategic direction during play exercise; and the a period of substantial change. Selection Panel will explore Commitment to equality of this further with you at the opportunity and to developing and interview stage (through maintaining a diverse board. both your prepared verbal presentation to the pre-set All of the NHS Scotland Values will be question and in discussion assessed in relation to this requirement, that is more general). and are indicated above. The psychometric test, role- play exercise and interview discussion will also inform the Selection Panel’s considerations in respect of the values based elements.
Competence indicators: This will be tested through Governance Direct experience of improving and the role-play exercise; and securing effective corporate the Selection Panel will governance in complex and explore this further with you transformational environments. at the interview stage, Able to articulate what board through both your prepared responsibilities are from a fiscal and verbal presentation to the legal perspective and can pre-set question and in demonstrate direct involvement in discussion that is more implementation of good governance general. principles. An understanding of audit and risk The psychometric test and management and able to interview discussion will demonstrate effective practical also inform the Selection application of that understanding. Panel’s considerations in Evidence of working with respect of the values based stakeholders so that they understand elements. their roles in achieving the organisation’s strategic and operational priorities.
All of the NHS Scotland Values will be assessed in relation to this requirement, and are indicated above.
Essential Requirements of What does this mean? How will this be tested? the Role Competence indicators: The Selection Panel will Performance Experience of successfully explore this with you at the Management implementing a plan/strategy and interview. holding an organisation to account for delivery. The psychometric test and Evidence of leading substantial and interview discussion will sustainable improvements in also inform the Selection organisational performance, including Panel’s considerations in fostering innovation and sharing respect of the values based good practice. elements. Evidence of understanding how performance/service delivery needs to be managed within complex organisations.
All of the NHS Scotland Values will be assessed in relation to this requirement, and are indicated above.
Competence indicators: This will be tested through Constructive/ Evidence of successfully challenging the role-play exercise; and Supportive the views of others commensurate the Selection Panel will Challenge & with the role advertised. explore this further with you Influencing Evidence of drawing on a range of at the interview. influencing strategies in order to reach shared objectives. The psychometric test, Able to demonstrate where the role-play exercise and impact of their personal challenge on interview discussion will decisions has led to a positive also inform the Selection change in the aims/objectives of an Panel’s considerations in organisation or in a major policy respect of the values based area. elements. Can evidence in-depth understanding of others’ perspectives and the capacity to find resolution.
All of the NHS Scotland Values will be assessed in relation to this requirement, and are indicated above.
Essential Requirements of What does this mean? How will this be tested? the Role Competence indicators: Written communication will Communication Able to communicate clearly and be assessed in your effectively. application form and Ability to adapt and apply through the role-play communication skills based on a clear exercise. The Selection understanding of the range of Panel will explore this audiences to be engaged, heard and further with you at the involved. interview stage, through Evidence of effectively representing both your prepared verbal the organisation positively to a wide presentation to the pre-set range of stakeholders, including question and in discussion politicians and the media – being an that is more general. ambassador. The psychometric test, role- All of the NHS Scotland Values will be play exercise and interview assessed in relation to this requirement, discussion will also inform and are indicated above. the Selection Panel’s considerations in respect of the values based elements.
Disclosure Scotland
If you are appointed, you will be required to produce a Basic Disclosure certificate less than 12 months old, and your appointment will be on a conditional basis pending receipt of a satisfactory certificate.
You can only apply online for a Disclosure certificate if your current address is in the UK and if you have been living at this address for at least twelve months. If you do not satisfy these criteria, you will have to apply using a paper application form.
Further information on Disclosure certificates and how to apply for Basic Disclosure can be found at Disclosure Scotland’s website www.disclosurescotland.co.uk or by contacting the details below:
Customer Liaison, PO Box 250, Glasgow, G51 1YU Helpline: 03000 2000 40 E-mail: [email protected]
The fee for a Basic Disclosure is £25. We will reimburse these costs following confirmation of your appointment.
Applying for the role
How to apply
Online By post Our dedicated public appointments If you’re returning your application by post, website allows you to apply online: please ensure it bears the correct value of www.appointed-for-scotland.org. If you postage. If you do not this may mean that experience any difficulties accessing our your application is delayed and could miss website, or in the event that you require the closing date. We can’t consider late a word version of the application form, applications. please contact the Public Appointments Team by calling Freephone 0300 244 1898; or by emailing [email protected].
Please note that you do not need to complete your online form in one sitting. You can edit your online application form as many times as you like before the closing date.
Guidance on completing your application
Your Application If you require any reasonable adjustments to Your application is the key document that will support you through the application and determine whether you will be called for the selection process, you should contact the final assessment stage. You must, therefore, Public Appointments Team by calling be able to demonstrate within your Freephone 0300 244 1898 or by emailing application how you meet the essential [email protected]. leadership requirements being tested at this stage (in 400 words). CVs will not be Information made available to the accepted on their own as an alternative to selection panel completing the application for the role. Please note that on this occasion, anonymity has been lifted from the initial stage as we Reasonable adjustments are asking you to provide evidence in support Scottish Ministers are committed to diversity of your application, which could in any case and equality. The public appointments enable you to be identified. The monitoring process promotes, demonstrates and upholds information section of your application will not equality of opportunity for all applicants. be made available to the Selection Panel and is not used to assess your suitability for appointment. The remaining parts of your application form are made available to those involved in the sift/shortlist and selection for final assessment stages.
Application form
There are three sections to the application form, as follows: Application Form; Conflict of Interest; and, Other Ministerial Public Appointments held.
Full details of the skills, knowledge, experience and values we are seeking are in the Person Specification. This also indicates how and at which stage in the process each of the criteria will be tested.
The selection panel will not make assumptions about your evidence so it is important that you take the time to ensure that you are comfortable with the information you are providing in your application. Be clear and succinct in your answers as there are word limits for each section, which will help the selection panel to consider your ability to communicate effectively.
Further information and examples on completing a competency based application form, can be found in the How to Apply section of the Appointed for Scotland website www.appointed-for-scotland.org/how-to-apply/.
Conflict of Interest and Other Ministerial Public Appointments Held
You are asked to complete the section, which provides details of any other involvement in public life or potential conflicts of interest, which will be explored further with you at interview or checked as part of the final assessment.
Equalities Monitoring Form
The Scottish Government is committed to appointment on merit, and to equality and diversity in public appointments. The Equalities Monitoring information is not provided to the selection panel.
The information gathered from equalities monitoring is very important and helps to ensure that everyone is treated fairly, without discrimination because of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation or any other factor.
All equalities monitoring questions are optional. You are not obliged to answer any of these questions but the more information you supply, the more effective our policy development will be.
All equalities monitoring information supplied will be non-attributable, completely anonymous and will be treated in the strictest confidence, in line with the principles of GDPR Article 9 (2) (b). It will not be placed on your personal file.
The Selection Panel
The selection panel will be:
Malcolm Wright, Director-General Health & Social Care and Chief Executive NHS Scotland (Chair) Carole Wilkinson, Chair, Healthcare Improvement Scotland Matt Drynan, Public Appointments Adviser, Office of the Ethical Standards Commissioner
To make sure that the process is transparent and to guard against impropriety or the appearance of impropriety, the selection panel will declare if they know anyone who has applied for these appointments.
The Assessment Process
First assessment stage You will complete the psychometric test The first stage will involve the Selection Panel online at home and in advance of the assessing your application against the interview. The role play exercise will be held requirements being tested at this stage. The prior to your interview date on either 9, 10 or applicants who most closely meet these 15 January; with interviews being held on 13, requirements will be invited to the final 16 and 17 January 2020. Both the role play assessment stage. You will be advised by and interviews will be held in Edinburgh. As email whether or not your application will part of the interview stage, you will be asked progress to this stage. to prepare a verbal presentation to a pre-set question, which will be notified, to you in Second and final assessment stage advance. Full details will be provided to those who are invited to the final assessment If invited to the second and final assessment stage. More information on the stage and you would like us to make a assessment process is provided at disability-related reasonable adjustment, you Annex A. should advise the Public Appointments Team by calling Freephone 0300 244 1898; or by Further information on making an application emailing [email protected]. and hints and tips on how to apply is available from this hyperlink (in the section The second and final stage, will involve a “Making a good application”): psychometric test, role-play exercise and a https://www.ethicalstandards.org.uk/how- competency based interview, with verbal apply presentation.
Recommendation for appointment For candidates being recommended for appointment, the selection panel will provide the relevant Minister with a summary of the evidence gathered during the process. The Minister can choose to meet those candidates prior to making a decision. All candidates interviewed will be advised in writing of the outcome of the interview and feedback will be offered.
Telling you about progress
Applicants who are not shortlisted will be advised of the outcome of their applications in writing (see “Key dates in this competition” at the beginning of the pack).
Feedback will be offered to all applicants. Feedback will be based on:
the assessment of your merit in relation to the skills, knowledge, experience and values required by the person specification; and the outcome of the fit and proper person test where appropriate (see the section entitled “Ethical Standards”).
Expenses for attending interviews
If you are invited for interview, you can claim for reasonable expenses incurred in attending. This includes dependent carer expenses. We expect the most efficient and economic means of travel to be used and reimbursement will normally be restricted to that amount. When an overnight stay is necessary, you must contact the Public Appointments Team by calling Freephone 0300 244 1898; or by emailing [email protected] in advance, for confirmation of current subsistence rates. A copy of our travel and subsistence rates and claim form can be provided to you on request. Receipts must be provided in support of all claims.
Potential effect on benefits
Taking up a remunerated public appointment may affect any benefits you receive. This will depend on your individual circumstances so you should seek advice from the office that pays your benefit. Information can be found at: www.gov.uk/browse/benefits.
Valuing Diversity
The Scottish Ministers are committed to diversity and equality.
We value very highly the benefits of having different experience and points of view on our Boards. Accordingly, we hope to receive applications from a wide range of talented people irrespective of their religion or belief, gender, age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, political belief, relationship status or caring responsibilities.
Accessibility to public appointments is a fundamental requirement and the public appointments process promotes, demonstrates and upholds equality of opportunity for all applicants.
The Scottish Government will always give consideration to disability-related reasonable adjustments that an applicant might request to enable them to demonstrate their merit and participate fully in the selection process. If you require any of the application pack documentation in an alternative format, please contact us on (Freephone) 0300 244 1898; or by emailing [email protected].
The Scottish Ministers particularly welcome applications from people with protected characteristics that are not fully reflected on Scotland’s public bodies, such as women, disabled people, those from minority ethnic communities, and people aged under 50. Please do complete our monitoring form when you apply as this helps us to ensure that the appointments process is accessible to everyone.
For more information about public appointments and other vacancies please visit the dedicated public appointments website at www.appointed-for-scotland.org.
Disqualifications
Annex B provides an indication of the main circumstances where an individual would normally be disqualified from appointment to any National NHS Board or territorial NHS Board.
You will particularly wish to note that the Health Boards (Membership and Procedure) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2016 which came into force on 8 February 2016 highlight that a person who is an employee of a health service body is no longer disqualified from applying to be a non-executive member of the Board.
Ethical Standards
What to do if you have a complaint
This appointment is regulated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner (the Commissioner). If you have concerns with the way in which this appointment round was conducted, please contact the Public Appointments Team on Freephone 0300 244 1898 or email at [email protected]. Alternatively, details of our complaint's procedure, can be found on the Appointed for Scotland website at http://www.appointed-for- scotland.org/Complaints/. The Commissioner’s leaflet is included at the end of this information pack and provides more information on her regulatory role in relation to public appointments and about taking unresolved complaints further.
The Principles of Public Life in Scotland Duty Openness You have a duty to uphold the law and act in You have a duty to be as open as possible accordance with the law and the public trust about your decisions and actions, giving placed in you. You have a duty to act in the reasons for your decisions and restricting interests of the public body of which you are a information only when the wider public interest member and in accordance with the core tasks clearly demands. of that body. Selflessness Honesty You have a duty to take decisions solely in You have a duty to act honestly. You must terms of public interest. You must not act in declare any private interests relating to your order to gain financial or other material benefit public duties and take steps to resolve any for yourself, family or friends. conflicts arising in a way that protects the public interest. Integrity Leadership You must not place yourself under any You have a duty to promote and support these financial, or other, obligation to any individual principles by leadership and example, to or organisation that might reasonably be maintain and strengthen the public’s trust thought to influence you in the performance of and confidence in the integrity of the public your duties. body and its members in conducting public business Objectivity Respect You must make decisions solely on merit when You must respect fellow members of your carrying out public business including making public body and employees of the body and appointments, awarding contracts or the role they play, treating them with courtesy recommending individuals for rewards and at all times. Similarly you must respect benefits. members of the public when performing duties as a member of your public body Accountability and Stewardship You are accountable for your decisions and actions to the public. You have a duty to consider issues on their merits, taking account of the views of others and must ensure that the public body uses its resources prudently and in accordance with the law.
The Principles of Public Life in Scotland and Members’ Code of Conduct
Before you can be appointed, you will need to pass a Fit and Proper Person test. This is described below.
Part of that test involves agreeing to be bound by the Members’ Code of Conduct for the organisation and to applying the Principles of Public Life in Scotland if appointed.
You can find links the Codes of Conduct for all three of the Boards we are making appointments to on page 9.
The Fit and Proper Person Test
Scottish Ministers and the public need to feel confident that people who are appointed to the Boards of public bodies are fit and proper persons to take up these positions.
In the context of public appointments a Fit and Proper Person is an individual who is suitable for appointment because they meet the requirements of the role, and their past or present activities (and/or behaviours) mean that they are suitable to be appointed.
The fit and proper person test is an on-going process with checks built into different stages of the appointment round. These allow the panel to collect the necessary information and evidence. For this appointment, the checks in place for the fit and proper person tests are:
Verification of relevant information provided by the applicant:
We will test the evidence you provide in your application in relation to the skills, knowledge and experience required for the position, and further probe your evidence at interview if you are invited. If applicants provide information in support of meeting any of the criteria which details roles or qualifications held which is material to the selection panel’s decision making, this information may be checked as part of the final assessment. For those candidates invited to the second assessment stage, the Selection Panel may consider information available in the public domain. Any findings in this regard may be discussed with you during the interview as part of the Fit and Proper Person tests.
Ensuring that the applicant’s conduct to date has been compatible with the public appointment in question:
We will confirm that you understand the work of the body, the nature of the appointment and that you’re not aware of having committed any offence, or performed any act, that’s incompatible with the position that you’re applying for. We will do this using the declaration statement on the application form.
If appointed you will be required to produce a Basic Disclosure certificate less than 12 months old, and appointment will be on a conditional basis pending receipt of a satisfactory certificate. Please see page 14 for more information on this.
Determining that the applicant’s appointment is not barred by reference to the constitution of the body concerned by way of, for example, criminal offences or other relevant matters:
Information on disqualifications is provided in this pack and you are asked to review this prior to submitting your application. We will use your declaration statement on the application form to confirm that you are not disqualified from taking up the role. By submitting your completed application you’re declaring that the information provided is, to the best of your knowledge and belief, true and complete.
Confirmation that the applicant has no inappropriate or unmanageable conflicts of interest incompatible with their appointment:
You’re asked in your application to complete questions about potential conflicts of interest. If you’re invited for interview, further assessment will be through questioning that you understand what is meant by a conflict of interest. We’ll ask you to confirm that, to the best of your knowledge, you don’t have any conflicts of interest that are incompatible/ unmanageable. We’ll ask for additional information if you’ve declared a potential conflict of interest in your initial application.
Declaration of political activity:
We will ask you at the application stage to declare if you have had any political activity in the past five years. Political activity isn’t a bar to appointment. The panel considers political activity to ensure that applicants don’t have unmanageable conflicts of interest. Political activity isn’t the same as political affiliation such as which political party you vote for. Political activity means that you have done any of the following: Obtained office as a local Councillor, MSP, MP, MEP etc. Stood as a candidate for one of the above offices Spoken on behalf of a party or candidate Acted as a political agent Held office such as chair, treasurer or secretary of a local branch of a party Canvassed on behalf of a party or helped at elections Undertook any other political activity which you consider relevant Made a recordable donation to a political party which means: . Where no previous relevant donation has been recorded, one of more than £7,500, or an aggregate amount of more than £7,500; . Where there has been a previous recording of a donation, donations that individually or in aggregate are more than £1,500; . Where donations of more than £1,500 have been made to a subsidiary accounting unit (such as a constituency association, local branch, or youth organisation).
The information will only be considered by the panel at interview stage. If the panel thinks that your political activity is such that you may not be suitable for appointment, you’ll be given an opportunity to respond before any final decision is made.
Ensuring that the applicant agrees to apply the Principles of Public Life in Scotland and be bound by the members’ code of conduct:
As highlighted above, you are expected to be bound by the Members’ Code of Conduct and to applying the Principles of Public Life in Scotland if appointed. If you’re invited to interview, you’ll be asked to confirm your understanding of, and agreement to, applying these principles.
Establishing that the individual is able to meet the time commitment required:
The time commitment involved for the role is given on page 8. If you’re invited to interview, you’ll be asked whether you can meet this commitment.
Conflicts of Interest
Potential conflicts of interest may relate to your suitability for appointment or to the appropriateness of your being assessed by one or more of the selection panel members. The Commissioner can decide that the selection panel member should not be involved in the assessment of the applicant concerned and may ask the selection panel member to take no further part in the competition. Details of the selection panel membership for this appointment round are provided at page 17.
Please let us know in your application if and how you know any of these selection panel members. More guidance on conflicts of interest relating to suitability for appointment can be found on the Commissioner’s website at https://www.ethicalstandards.org.uk/publication/conflict-interest-leaflet
If you want to know before applying if you have a conflict that would bar you from being an NHS Board Chair then you should contact the Public Appointments Team by calling Freephone 0300 244 1898; or by emailing [email protected] to discuss your concerns.
Appointment
What happens if you are appointed?
Should you be appointed, some of the information that you have provided will be made public in an announcement about your appointment. This will include: your name a short description of the body to which you have been appointed a brief summary of the skills, knowledge and experience you bring to the role how long you have been appointed for any remuneration associated with the appointment details of all other public appointments you hold and any related remuneration you receive for them details of any political activity declared by you a statement that the appointment is regulated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner
Support and Development
If you are successful at interview and accept the appointment then you will be contacted by the Chief Executive of the Board for a one-to-one meeting to discuss how you will take your role forward. The Scottish Government’s generic guide on the duties of board members of public bodies “On Board” will be made available to you. You can also download it from www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/public-bodies/On-Board. This guide is intended to help you fulfil your duties throughout the period of your appointment.
You will also be invited to an induction session with the Director-General for Health and Social Care; this should take place within one month of appointment and will be expected to include (but not be restricted to) the following: The role of the Chair in delivering Ministerial Strategy in line with the National Performance Framework Roles and Relationships with the Ministers and SG officials Role of the Board and arrangements for Board meetings Budget and Financial information Details of the Scottish Government Sponsor Team and Minister Arrangements for remuneration and expenses Arrangements for providing any support you need to carry out your duties effectively
All new Chairs can access professional coaching through the Board Development Team at NHS Education for Scotland.
There will also be an ongoing appraisal process. This will give you an opportunity to discuss your performance with the Director-General Health & Social Care and highlight any developmental or training needs which may have been identified.
Annex A The Assessment Process
This is both a competency-based and a values based assessment which will happen in two stages. A diagram of the different stages is set out below.
Stage 1 – Application Stage
Method Criteria being tested
Leadership and Application Form Communication
Applicants who most closely meet these requirements will be invited to the Final Assessment stage.
Stage 2 - Final Assessment Stage
The Final Assessment Stage will include: a Psychometric Test; a Role Play Exercise; and, a Competency Based Interview (with verbal presentation).
Method Criteria being tested Values being tested
Care and compassion; Leadership, Governance, Dignity and respect; Performance Management, Psychometric test Openness, honesty and Constructive Challenge & responsibility; Quality and Influencing, Communication teamwork
Leadership, Governance, Care and compassion; Role Play Constructive Challenge & Dignity and respect; Openness, honesty and (observed) Influencing, Communication responsibility; Quality and teamwork
Understanding the organisation, Leadership, Care and compassion; Competency Based Dignity and respect; Interview Governance, Performance Management, Constructive Openness, honesty and (and presentation) responsibility; Quality and Challenge & Influencing, Communication teamwork
Annex B Disqualifications
The following paragraphs give an indication of the main circumstances where an individual would normally be disqualified from appointment to any National NHS Board or territorial NHS Board:
You will particularly wish to note that the Health Boards (Membership and Procedure) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2016 which came into force on 8 February 2016 highlight that a person who is an employee of a health service body is no longer disqualified from applying to be a non- executive member of the Board.
Although the regulations state that board members of one NHS board may not be appointed to another health body, Ministers can choose to direct that this disqualification will not apply. If you would like further information in this regard, please contact Linsey Craig on 0131 244 2384, or email [email protected] Anyone who, within a period of five years before the proposed date of appointment, has committed an offence in the British Islands for which they are sentenced to imprisonment (whether suspended or not) for three months or longer. Anyone who has been dismissed from employment in a health service body, except by redundancy. Anyone who has been removed from office in a health service body before the term of office expires. Anyone who has been adjudged bankrupt and not been discharged; has had their estate sequestrated and has not been discharged; has entered in to a trust deed with their creditors and not been discharged; is the subject of a bankruptcy restrictions order, or an interim bankruptcy restrictions order, made under the Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 1985 or the Insolvency Act 1986; or who is the subject of a bankruptcy restrictions undertaking entered into under either of those Acts. Anyone who is or has been subject to a disqualification order or disqualification undertaking under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 or the Company Directors Disqualification (Northern Ireland) Order 2002. Anyone who is or has been removed or prevented from being a trustee of, or otherwise acting for or on behalf of, a charity (or body controlled by a charity) by: a charity regulator; or a court or tribunal in the British Islands Anyone who has been removed, for reasons of impairment or loss of fitness to practise, from a statutory register maintained by a regulatory body; or from a list under: Parts I or II of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978 The National Health Service Act 2016 The National Health Service (Wales) Act 2016 The Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972 Anyone who is or has been subject to a sanction under section 19(1) (b) to (e) (action on finding of contravention) of the Ethical Standards in Public Life etc (Scotland) Act 2000.
There are circumstances in which the disqualification of an individual who falls under the above may cease.
Who We Are
This leaflet is about the work of the Ethical Standards Commissioner, as it relates to public appointments, and the Commissioner’s office. The Commissioner regulates appointments to the boards of many of Scotland’s public bodies. The Commissioner is wholly independent of the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government.
What We Do
Every one of us living in Scotland benefits from the essential services provided by our public bodies. Their boards play a vital role in guiding and shaping these services. Our job is to oversee appointments to these boards to help ensure that the people who serve on them are appointed on merit, using methods that are fair and open. That oversight is usually provided by one of the Commissioner’s Public Appointments Advisers. Whilst we regulate the process used to make appointments, it is run by civil servants on behalf of the Scottish Ministers. Our website has a list of the bodies that we regulate and also has useful information on applying for a public appointment.
This leaflet is sent to everyone who applies for a regulated public appointment in Scotland so that they know that the process is regulated and what to do if things go wrong.
Making a complaint about a public appointment
Anyone who believes that an appointment has not been made appropriately or who has concerns about the appointment process itself can make a complaint.
If you have a complaint about a public appointment you first have to complain to the Scottish Government and give its officials a chance to respond. If you are unhappy with the Scottish Government’s response to your complaint you can then ask the Commissioner to investigate the matter for you.
If you are in any doubt about whether we can deal with your complaint, or if you want advice before raising a formal complaint, please contact us using the details provided below. You can read in more detail about the way in which we deal with complaints by downloading our complaints leaflet from our website. We can send you the leaflet in another format if you would prefer.
Our website also tells you what to do if you want to make a complaint.
Ethical Standards Commissioner Thistle House E: [email protected] 91 Haymarket Terrace T: 0300 011 0550 Edinburgh EH12 5HE
Please contact us to find out more about these and other public appointments.
Scottish Government Public Appointments Team Area 3F North Victoria Quay Edinburgh EH6 6QQ
Web: www.appointed-for-scotland.org Email: [email protected] Freephone: 0300 244 1898