RCN Branches constitution

1. Establishment and title

1.1 The title of the Branch shall be "The __________________ Branch of the Royal College of Nursing".

1.2 The boundaries of the Branch shall be determined by the National or Regional Board. Any change in title or boundary of the Branch must have the prior approval of the National or Regional Board and be notified to Council.

2. Definition

2.1 The RCN Branch is the primary focal point for all RCN activities in a particular locality, and its main function is to stimulate and sustain unity and strength between RCN members at local level by providing them with an opportunity to meet together and to promote RCN policies.

2.2 All members of the RCN, living or working (this refers to membership of one Branch only) in the relevant area covered by the Branch shall be deemed to be members of the Branch and may participate in the full range of its activities and shall have full voting rights in respect of Branch elections.

2.3 All RCN members, living or working within that area should regard the Branch as their major point of contact with each other, as well as all other parts of the RCN's structure.

3. Purposes and powers of the RCN branch

3.1 To provide an opportunity for all RCN members to meet together regularly for the consideration of matters relevant to all aspects of nursing as a professional activity and of nurses as a group of health care professionals.

3.2 To take action at local level on any matter affecting the interests of nurses and the nursing profession in line with RCN policy,

3.3 To identify issues affecting nursing which need to be referred to other parts of the RCN for consideration and action. (e.g. Congress, Council etc)

3.4 To have concern for the well-being of members and former members who are in adversity.

3.5 To provide the appropriate forum for the conduct of elections for convenors, stewards, safety representatives, RCN learning representatives, and in which their collective activities on behalf of Branch members shall be planned, discussed and evaluated from time to time, in the light of local, regional and national RCN policies.

3.6 To recruit new members to the RCN, and to retain existing members by encouraging members of the RCN locally to be actively involved in Branch affairs.

3.7 To promote professional awareness and development and organise local professional activities.

3.8 To receive and disseminate information to and from the Branch members.

3.9 To inform and receive the view of the general public in the locality with respect to the policies and views of the RCN and the activities of the Branch.

3.10 To promote a co-operative relationship with members of other professions, in particular those involved in health, education, social services and other interested parties.

4. Procedures

4.1 The Branch shall hold at least four meetings per calendar year. All meetings shall be properly convened with notification of the agenda normally being made available to member's two weeks in advance of the meeting.

4.2 One of these meetings shall be the Annual General Meeting (AGM), which shall take place within April. The purpose of the AGM is to receive the annual report of the Branch, to approve the accounts of the Branch up to the end of the previous financial year (31 March), and to elect an Executive Committee.

4.3 An extraordinary meeting of the Branch shall be convened if the Chair so determines, or on the written request of twenty (20) members of the Branch, provided always that notification accords with 4.1.

4.4 The Branch shall have a Branch Co-ordinating Committee made up of elected representatives of the Branch units and link members from local groups of the national forums. The Branch Co-ordinating Committee shall have the power to co-opt other members to ensure that the Committee is competent to deliver all aspects of branch activities.

4.5 The role of the Branch Co-ordinating Committee is to co-ordinate the work of the RCN within the Branch to ensure the activities associated with advice and representation, continuing professional development, professional and social events reflect the policies of the RCN and the wishes of the members locally.

4.6 The members of the Branch may elect a President.

5. Branch management

5.1 The members of the Branch shall elect annually (at the Annual General Meeting) an Executive Committee consisting of six members, three of whom (the Honorary Officers - the Chair, Secretary and Treasurer) shall be elected by and from amongst the Branch Co-ordinating Committee. The remaining three shall be elected by and from amongst the Branch members whether or not they are members of the Branch Co-ordinating Committee.

5.2 The Branch Executive Committee shall be responsible for the conduct of all Branch matters, acting on behalf of the branch Co-ordinating Committee.

5.3 Members of the Branch Executive Committee shall be recognised representatives of the RCN, who are competent to act on behalf of the RCN at local level and is not dependent upon accreditation with an employer. Recognition by the RCN can be withdrawn in accordance with Rule 6 of the RCN.

5.4 The Branch Executive Committee shall be accountable for ensuring that these elections have been conducted within the requirements of the RCN as determined by RCN Rule 6. The committee shall maintain the records concerning the election to office or the removal from office of convenors, stewards, safety representatives, and RCN learning representatives and shall inform the relevant RCN National or Regional Board Office of the names of members elected.

5.5 The Branch Executive Committee must inform the relevant RCN National or Regional Board Office of the names of members elected or co-opted as members of the Branch Executive Committee immediately after their election or co-option.

6. Units within the branch

6.1 Within each Branch there shall be Units reflecting the major workplaces and places of study, as well as other groups of members which may be determined by the Branch in general meeting from time to time.

6.2 The purpose of the Unit is to provide a point of contact to RCN members for access to professional development and advice as well as individual or collective representation in the workplace or place of study.

6.3 The Units shall work within the policies of the RCN and may formulate responses to the employer's consultation and negotiation on professional and employment issues arising in the workplace or place of study.

6.4 The Branch shall delegate appropriate roles and powers to the Unit. The full powers and rights set out in this constitution shall remain with the Branch and shall take precedent over the powers and rights delegated to the Unit.

6.5 The convenors, stewards, safety representatives and RCN learning representatives shall be elected from and by the members in the Unit in a manner determined by the Branch Executive Committee in accordance with guidelines issued by Council.

6.6 The primary point of contact for members in the workplace or place of study shall be the convenor, RCN learning representative, the stewards or the safety representatives. Where a member is not in a workplace or place of study unit, or where there is no representative in the workplace or place of study, the primary point of contact is the Branch Chair or their National or Regional Board Office.

6.7 A lead steward shall be elected in each workplace by the stewards in that workplace.

6.8 The lead steward in each workplace shall be responsible for coordinating the election of convenors, stewards, safety representatives and RCN learning representatives in that workplace and they shall notify the Branch of the election results for ratification.

6.9 Each Unit shall elect annually, at a Unit meeting, up to three representatives to the Branch Co-ordinating Committee.

6.10 In collaboration with the Branch Executive Committee, professional and educational events may be organised on behalf of the Branch in the workplace or place of study by a local representative, usually a convenor, RCN learning representative, a steward, a safety representative or local forum representative.

7. Rights and privileges of branches

7.1 The Branch has the right to send voting and non-voting representatives to the RCN Congress in accordance with the constitution of Congress.

7.2 The Branch may formulate and submit items to the Congress Agenda Committee for consideration, and if the item is selected, shall nominate a voting representative to propose the item at Congress.

7.3 The Branch may nominate members to stand for election for RCN President and Deputy President, Chair and Vice-Chair of Congress and Section Council Members, in accordance with the RCN Charter and Bye-Laws.

7.4 The Branch has the right to nominate members for election to National or Regional Board in accordance with procedures agreed by RCN Council.

8. Finances

8.1 One member of the Branch Co-ordinating Committee shall be elected to act as Treasurer for the Branch and shall be a member of the Branch Executive Committee.

8.2 The Treasurer shall be responsible for ensuring that appropriate financial records shall be kept.

8.3 The Branch shall open a bank account in its own full name with a bank on the list of RCN recognised banks. All transactions through the bank account shall require the signature of two members of the Executive Committee.

8.4 The Branch shall organise its finances in accordance with Financial Guidelines issued from time to time by the RCN.

8.5 The Branch Executive Committee shall submit annual accounts to the RCN after the end of each financial year, and such accounts will cover all the financial activities of the Branch.

9. Amendments to the constitution

9.1 Council shall have the power to vary this constitution, or make other provisions for the conduct of Branches, in such manner as the Council, at its discretion, may from time to time determine.

9.2 Council shall produce readily available guidance for Branches on how to operate aspects of this constitution.

10. Dissolution

10.1 The Branch may be dissolved with the approval of the National or Regional Board if a resolution for the dissolution is passed by a two-thirds majority of the members (not being less than 25) of the Branch present and voting at a general meeting of which due notice has been given and Council shall be notified.

10.2 Where such a meeting is not quorate the Honorary Officers of the Branch shall seek the approval of the National/Regional Boards to such dissolution. Approval having been given, Council shall be notified and all the assets of the Branch shall be returned to RCN Headquarters.