Accountability & engagement
Demonstrating public accountability and engaging effectively with stakeholders, particularly with governors and members is central to the foundation trust model and will be vital in maintaining support in the challenging climate facing foundation trusts in the year ahead.
For FTs the development of Quality Accounts has presented the opportunity to build on existing good practice in involving their governors and members in the delivery and improvement of services. More information on Quality Accounts is available.
Openness, transparency and accountability of the foundation trust decision making process
FTN members signalled their continuing commitment to work together to enhance the pivotal role of governors as the key channel for FT accountability at a seminar held in the summer of 2009. The meeting looked at current practice within FTs, head from Eric Morton on the lessons from Mid Staffordshire and best practice at Chesterfield. The meeting went on to consider how to build on good and best practice going forward.
The FTN will continue to facilitate sharing of emerging best practice and will be producing a briefing on the event. The FTN board has considered a report, 'open or closed board report', on the outcome of the event at its September meeting. The slides from Eric Morton's presentation, 'open or closed board meetings' are also available.
LINks & foundation trusts
Local Involvement Networks are a developing vehicle for public involvement in health. Foundation trusts will have to take account of the views of LINks and the FTN worked in partnership with the Department of Health to produce a new protocl to clarify the respective roles of FTs and LINks. The FTN DH LINks Protocol identifies points of overlap and potential tension and identifies how these can be dealt with to enable effective working between foundation trusts and LINks.