Consultation on the draft Code of governance for NHS provider trusts

Overview

As part of the development of Integrated Care Systems, NHS England and are committed to supporting NHS trusts and NHS foundation trusts to work effectively within systems.

We have prepared a draft updated Code of governance for NHS provider trusts. Alongside the Code, we are also currently consulting separately on a draft draft Addendum to your statutory duties – reference guide for NHS foundation trust governors and draft Guidance on good governance and collaboration under the NHS provider licence. Together, the Code, Addendum, and Guidance on good governance and collaboration will support trusts to work effectively within systems.

The draft Code of governance applies to both NHS foundation trusts and, for the first time, NHS trusts. 

In this draft Code, we bring together the latest best practices of the NHS and private sector to set out a common overarching framework for the corporate governance of trusts that complements their statutory and regulatory obligations.

We position corporate governance in the context of the ambitions of the NHS Long Term Plan and Integrated Care Systems: Design Framework.

The evolving roles of trust boards and NHS foundation trust councils of governors within Integrated Care Systems

We are clear that the Code, Addendum, and Guidance on good governance and collaboration are initial steps to supporting trusts to work effectively within  systems. We recognise that as systems develop further – in line with the Integrated Care Systems: Design Framework and the government’s Health and Care Act – expectations of trusts will continue to evolve to support local ambition, and there will be a need for growing adoption of new collaborative ways of working.

We will need to work with stakeholders to go further in clarifying emerging issues of governance and accountability and support trusts to fulfil their roles and contribute to the objectives of Integrated Care Systems.

We are taking the opportunity of this consultation to also seek your views as part of a wider conversation about how the roles of trust boards and NHS foundation trust councils of governors should continue to evolve within systems and what further support may be required.

Why your views matter

Feedback from the consultation on the draft Code will be taken on board in readiness for the publication of the final version in Summer 2022.

We will use your answers to the wider questions about the evolving roles of trust boards and NHS foundation trust councils of governors to plan further work to be undertaken in 2022/23 to support trust boards and NHS foundation trust councils of governors to continue to adapt to system working and collaboration.