NHS Foundation Trust - Devon Partnership NHS Trust

Devon Partnership
NHS Trust
Becoming an NHS Foundation Trust
NHS Foundation Trust:
a new era in staff
involvement
As I announced at the end of June we
received approval from the Department
of Health to proceed with our application
to become an NHS Foundation Trust. This
followed a rigorous process of assessment
of our integrated business plan and Trust
Board performance by the Strategic Health
Authority, Department of Health and Monitor.
The formal consultation on how we plan to run
as an NHS Foundation Trust began on 9th July
2007 and will end on 29th September 2007. I
am keen that staff use this opportunity to share
their views on how Devon Partnership NHS Trust
might operate as one of the next wave of NHS
Foundation Trusts. The views of our staff are
critical to the success of our application for NHS
How to feedback
By email:
Staff.Feedback@DevonPtnrs.nhs.uk
Chief Executive’s hotline:
01392 208837
Alternatively, speak to your line manager or contact
PALS on
0800 0730741
or pals@devonptnrs.nhs.uk
Further details can be found in the Foundation Trust
section on our website at www.devonpartnership.
nhs.uk I am delighted that we have now reached
the next phase in our application to become an NHS
Foundation Trust.
Foundation
Trust status,
which if
approved
will put
staff at the
very heart
of decision
making.
July 2007
Iain Tulley, Chief Executive
To support
the consultation we have produced a consultation
document and other material to explain what
being an NHS Foundation Trust means and
how staff can get involved. These have been
distributed across the Trust but I also wanted
to produce this special insert for Partnership
Progress to highlight what NHS Foundation Trust
status would mean for staff.
By producing this insert I hope the way we plan
to run as an NHS Foundation Trust will become
clearer, but if you have any questions or concerns
please let me know using one of the feedback
options opposite.
What does the consultation involve
Asking your views about:
• How the organisation will be run (governed)
• Our membership proposals
• Our proposals for the Council of Governors
• Our plans to improve and develop services
• Our vision for the future
Full details are in the consultation document with a
Freepost response form to answer questions.

What is an NHS Foundation Trust
NHS Foundation Trusts are a new kind of NHS
organisation. They are accountable to their members
and to Parliament, rather than to the Department of
Health. An independent regulator, Monitor, makes
sure they meet requirements and reports on this to
Parliament.
Becoming an NHS Foundation Trust provides new
ways for local people to contribute to the way the
Trust is run.
NHS Foundation Trusts are run in a different way
to other NHS Trusts. They have members who
will vote for a Council of Governors. Service users,
carers, staff, stakeholders and the public can become
members and then, if they choose, can stand for
election to the Council of Governors.
Members
Service users, carers, staff, public
The Council of Governors will be responsible for
representing the views of members, the local
community and local organisations and for sharing
information about important decisions with members.
However, they will not be responsible for the day-today
management of the Trust. This will be the role of
the Trust’s Board of Directors.
Governors will help members make an active
contribution to the Trust and encourage participation.
Governors must be at least 16 years old.
As an NHS Foundation Trust the way we run or will
be governed is different from what we do now. The
diagram below shows how we plan to operate:
Elect representatives to form majority of
the Council of Governors
Consult with and inform members
Council of Governors
Elected members, representatives from NHS Trusts, local councils, universities, and voluntary organisations
Receive and be consulted on plans submitted
by the Board of Directors
Receive the annual accounts, auditor’s report
and the annual report
Appoint the Chair and other non-executive
directors of the Board of Directors
Approve the appointment of the Trust’s
Chief Executive
Appoint or remove the Trust’s auditors
Board of Directors
Chair selected by the Council of Governors. Board includes Chief Executive, Non-Executive Directors and
Executive Directors. Has day-to-day responsibility for running the Trust.
There are four options for dividing the staff representation on the Council of Governors and we would like your
views on these:
Option One:
Option Two:
No separate groups within the staff membership
Divide up the staff governor seats between different groups of staff (for example, housekeeping
staff, clinical and non-clinical staff)
Option Three: Divide up the staff governor seats between staff working in different care groups (for example, adult,
older adult, specialist services, corporate services)
Option Four:
These are our proposals for the Council of Governors
Governors elected by members
Nominated governors
Public 4 Devon Primary Care Trust 3
Service users 9 Torbay Care Trust 1
Carers and families 4 Devon County Council 3
Staff 5 Torbay Council 1
Peninsula Medical School 1
Voluntary organisations 1
Sub-total 22 Sub-total 10
Total 32
Divide up the staff governor seats between staff from the different geographical areas within Devon.

Our vision
During the consultation process, the Trust is also
seeking views on its plans for the future.
Some of the key things we want to do are:
Develop mother and baby mental health
services
Establish a community eating disorder service
Develop services for autism and Asperger’s
syndrome
Extend and improve our psychotherapy
services
Extend our personality disorder services
Develop local forensic services for women
Work with partners to extend accommodation
and day opportunities.
By being an NHS Foundation Trust we believe:
We have a real opportunity to strengthen our
organisation for the benefit of the people we
serve.
We will have the freedom to invest our money
in services that local people want and need
We will be be able to work more flexibly
and form partnerships with the voluntary and
commercial sectors
Service users, carers, staff and the public will
have more say in how our services develop.
Your questions answered
Q. How will being an NHS Foundation Trust benefit
staff
A. By becoming members, staff will be able to have
a greater influence on how the Trust develops and
will receive more information and feedback. Staff will
have greater representation in an NHS Foundation
Trust as there will be staff representatives on the
Council of Governors. The Council of Governors will
advise the Trust on the needs of the local community,
ensure that the Trust carries out its plans and will
influence how the Trust develops in the future.
Q. How can staff representation on the Council of
Governors best be achieved
A. There are several options – we are inviting staff
views on these as part of our consultation. There are
pros and cons of each. For example, if we divide up
staff representatives on the Council of Governors
by service areas, we would want smaller services
to be recognised and need to make sure that all
staff groups have a real opportunity to influence and
inform governors.
Q. Why are you proposing that all employees
automatically become Staff Members of the NHS
Foundation Trust
A. We want all our staff to be fully involved in our
NHS Foundation Trust. We propose that all staff
automatically become members unless they tell us
that they do not wish to be included.
Membership will be open to any person who is
employed by the Trust permanently, has a fixed term
contract of employment of at least 12 months, has
been continuously employed by the Trust for at least
12 months on a series of short term contracts or has
an honorary contract with the Trust.
Q. Would being a Staff Member affect my terms and
conditions
A. No, not at all. Nor would you have to pay
Membership fees.
Q. How would I stand for election as a Staff
Governor
A. First of all you would have to be a Staff Member of
the NHS Foundation Trust. The details of the election
process have not yet been finalised, but there would
be a mechanism for any Staff Member to indicate
their interest in standing for election.
Q. Could I be a Public Member AND a Staff Member
of the NHS Foundation Trust Could I stand for
election as both a Public Governor and a Staff
Governor
A. No. If you are a member of staff who has worked
for the Trust for more than 12 months or work on a
fixed term contract, you will automatically become a
Staff Member and have the appropriate voting rights.
You cannot be a Public Member too. Furthermore,
opting out of Staff Membership would not enable you
to become a Public Member.
Q. What happens if I leave the Trust
A. Your Staff Membership will terminate and you will
be able to apply to become a Public Member.
Are there any questions you would like to ask
If you have a question, which is not answered, we
would like to hear from you. Please email pals@
devonptnrs.nhs.uk or telephone 0800 0730741.
We are hoping this interactive process will provide
another oppotunity to offer more information
- information that we did not think about initially
but is really important to you.

Family and friends can get involved
We are using the consultation period to recruit
as many public members as possible. Why not
encourage your friends and families, as well as
service users and carers, to register their interest
Ten top facts
about NHS
Foundation Trusts
1. The Secretary of State for Health has no
powers of direction over NHS Foundation
Trusts, but they remain firmly part of the NHS.
2. They exist to provide and develop healthcare
services for NHS patients in a way that is
consistent with NHS standards and principles
- free care, based on need, not ability to pay.
3. They have greater financial freedom and
flexibility than NHS trusts in the way they
manage their affairs.
4. In line with the NHS Plan, they give more
power and a greater voice to their local
communities and staff over the delivery and
development of local healthcare.
5. They are inspected by the Healthcare
Commission for compliance with healthcare
standards and targets in the same way as all
other NHS trusts.
6. They are also overseen by an independent
regulator called Monitor which ensures they
adhere to their ‘licence to operate’.
7. The Healthcare Commission has already found
that NHS Foundation Trusts are making good
progress in developing innovative approaches
to providing better quality healthcare services.
8. The first NHS Foundation Trusts were
authorised by Monitor in 2004. There are now
70 in operation.
9. The Government is committed to offering
all NHS Trusts the opportunity to apply for NHS
Foundation Trust status.
10. Devon Partnership NHS Trust’s application will
be submitted in November and if approved,
the NHS Foundation Trust could be established
by April 2008.
They can:
• Apply online at www.devonpartnership.nhs.uk
• Pick up a membership form – available
at Trust locations and send back by Freepost
• Request a membership application form from
PALS on 0800 0734071
• Email their details to pals@devonptnrs.nhs.uk
Involving service users, carers and others
Prior to the formal consultation period we have
actively involved service users, carers, and others
on our plans to become an NHS Foundation Trust,
through a number of regular meetings and briefings.
We are continuing to communicate through our
normal service user and carer networks and will be
attending a number of meetings to discuss our plans
further.
Service users, carers and members of the public
are being encouraged to become members and can
apply in the same way as family and friends.
How you can have your say
As well as discussions being held in local
team meetings, staff can also find out more
by attending either a public meeting, a staff
specific meeting or a staff open forum.
Public meetings
10th August 7.30pm The Cedars Hotel
Lodge Inn, Bickington Road,
Barnstaple, EX31 2HP
7th September 7.30pm The Livermead
House Hotel, Seafront,
Torquay, TQ2 6Q1
26th September 6.00pm The Best Western
Tiverton Hotel, Blundells Road,
Tiverton, EX16 4DB
(This meeting will also include the Trust’s Annual General Meeting (AGM))
Staff specific meetings
17 August 2.00pm Riverside, Litchdon Street
Barnstaple, EX32 8ND
30 August 10.00am Butterpark, Brook Road
Ivybridge, PL21 0AX
11 September 10.00am Haytor Meeting Room,
Torbay Hospital
Staff open forum
13th August 2.00pm To be confirmed
For further information contact Janet Racibowski on
01392 208664 or Janet.Racibowski@devonptnrs.nhs.uk.
Devon Partnership NHS Trust - Delivering mental health and learning disability services for the NHS, Devon County Council and Torbay Council.
Partnership Progress - Editor: Sharon Berkhout, Corporate Communications Manager, Devon Partnership NHS Trust, Wonford House Hospital,
Dryden Road, Exeter, EX2 5AF T: 01392 208700 F: 01392 208708 Email: Sharon.Berkhout@DevonPtnrs.nhs.uk www.devonpartnership.nhs.uk
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