Background
Following the further development of NHS Policy, which encouraged PCTs to focus far more systematically on their commissioning responsibilities, together with the outcome of the PCT's Fitness for Purpose assessment, the Board asked that the roles of all committees be reviewed. The two committees dealing separately with Equality and Diversity and with Involving People were tasked with integrating their roles and focusing on achieving the following outcomes:
- To continue to ensure that the Board is supported in its responsibilities for achieving equality of opportunity, access and outcomes, reflecting the diversity of the workforce and the population we serve;
- To significantly improve the way local people influence our strategic commissioning decisions so that the patient experience is demonstrably improved; and
- To ensure that there is an effective process for involving people in new service developments and any redesign of the patient pathway.
Purpose
The Committee will:
- Ensure the PCT complies with national equality legislation; has robust action plans in place to meet its statutory duties; and routinely monitors the achievement of these plans;
- Establish an annual work programme which identifies priorities for the Committee to focus on, in support of the overall Trust Business Plan objectives, and which reflects the views of our residents, service users carers;
- Ensure that systems and specific measures (metrics) are in place to assure the Board that commissioning decisions:
- take account of the views of local people;
- consider whether there could be differentially impact on any of the six areas covered in the single equality legislation;
- and are informed by evidence of patient and community experience.
- Advise other committees reporting to the PEC and Board as necessary on matters relating their remit, to support best practice and ensure compliance with equalities and public involvement legislation;
- Ensure effective user involvement from the community in the development and monitoring of all commissioned services, including those being commissioned by PBC Clusters;
- Ensure that the PCT has systematic processes in place to monitor the patient experience outcomes, Involving People activity, and to support an annual programme of equality impact assessments;
- Ensure that the PCT has systematic processes in place to monitor its own performance and that of its contractors in all workforce matters required by equalities legislation;
- Produce action plans for the PEC and the Board and an annual report separately for Involving People and Equality and Diversity, which contribute to the delivery of the PCT's Business Plan and the Standards for Better Health respectively;
- Make recommendations to the Board, PEC and any other committees as relevant, so that all parts of the decision making processes embed their own equality, diversity and involving people responsibilities;
- Will act independently, making decisions with regards to the delivery of its objectives. However, decisions with regard to funds or other issues may need to be referred to the PEC and/or Board, as appropriate.
Policy Context
The Committee will advise on the implementation of relevant policy and legislation, in particular in respect of the following:
- Sex Discrimination Act 1975;
- Race Relations Act 1976 (as amended in 2000);
- Disability Discrimination Acts 1995 and 2005;
- Health and Social Care Act 2001;
- Equality Act 2006;
- Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007;
Duration of the Committee
The Committee's effectiveness and Terms of Reference will be reviewed on an annual basis to ensure it is fit for purpose.
Accountability
- The PEC will sign off the Committee's annual work programme and will require routine progress reports, demonstrating how priority objectives within the Business Plan are being achieved incorporating good practice on Involving People;
- The PCT Board will sign off the Equality and Diversity Action Plan and the Single Equality Scheme, in line with responsibilities set out in the Guidance for NHS Boards on Equality and Human Rights in the NHS published in December 2006;
- The format of the Committee's reporting to the PEC will be key messages/highlights of actions delivered or bringing concerns and recommendations to the PEC for areas that need more support or matters that should be drawn to the attention of the PCT Board;
- The Committee will establish, if necessary, sub-committees or time limited working groups and will hold these to account for delivering work programmes or key priority areas for action or focus;
- Minutes of meetings and relevant papers will be available on the PCT's website to demonstrate our commitment to openness and transparency in decision making and to ensure public accountability;
- The Committee is responsible for reviewing the risks relating to the objectives in its work plan and notifying the Head of Corporate Affairs of any updates or actions, or actions outstanding, so that the Assurance Framework can be updated.
Membership
- Non-Executive Director (Chair);
- Director of Public Health (Vice-Chair);
- Chief Executive
- Assistant Director of Service Development;
- Director of Human Resources and Corporate Affairs;
- Assistant Director Community Health Improvement (CHI);
- BME Health Forum representative;
- LINks representative;
- PEC Lay Representative;
- Westminster Equalities Partnership representative
- Four places for voluntary and community sector groups:
For 2008—09 the following community members will be invited to join the committee:
- Westminster Senior Citizen's Forum
- Westminster Action Network on Disability
- Women's Network facilitated by VAW
- Carers Network Westminster
Supporting officers in attendance:
- Head of Equality Diversity and Human Rights;
- Head of Involving People;
- Other managers, members of staff, WCC or community representatives will also be invited to attend specific meetings.
Quorum
A quorum will comprise a minimum of five members of the committee including the Chair, Director of Public Health or Assistant Director CHI, Assistant Director of Service Development or Chief Executive, and at least two other representatives from outside the PCT.
Procedures and arrangements
- The Committee will meet at least 5 times per year but may meet more frequently if necessary;
- The Chair, in agreement with the Vice Chair, may call a meeting at any time;
- The Committee may on occasion take a decision by e-mail provided that:
- The decision taken is by the quorum of the committee as laid down in its Terms of Reference
- If the decision is one which requires a vote, it shall be at the discretion of the Chair to decide whether use of e-mail is appropriate
- The decision is reported to the next meeting and is minuted
- The e-mails reflecting the decision are copied to all members of the committee, are printed, appended to the minutes and are retained on file.
- The Committee may consider any activity or matter of concern within its terms of reference and is authorised to request any reasonable information or attendance at specific meetings of the Committee;
- The Committee may appoint a member of the Committee to lead and set up time-limited working groups to pursue specific operational objectives;
- The Committee may secure expert professional advice and/or the attendance of external advisers with relevant experience and expertise at meetings, if this is considered necessary, so long as any costs of so doing are agreed in advance;
- Members attending the Committee will be expected to comply with high standards of behaviour and the Board's code of conduct;
- Papers will be circulated five working days before each meeting and minutes of meeting will be circulated no later than 10 working days after each meeting.
Servicing arrangements
The Assistant Director CHI, supported by his/her PA, the Head of Equality Diversity and Human Rights, and the Head of Involving People is responsible for the administration of these meetings.
