Council executive team

The council executive team oversees the implementation of Council decisions and approves the agendas of future council meetings.  The team meets regularly with the general secretary and the executive directors in a meeting called the joint executive teams meeting (JETS) to facilitate the effective working interface between governance and management.

Role of the council executive team

The council executive team considers and approves the business of the Council meeting, oversees the implementation of Council decisions and leads on ensuring a close partnership and way of working between the General Secretary, the Executive Directors and Council.

Main purposes

  1. To consider and approve the business of the Council Meeting
  2. Oversee the implementation of council decisions
  3. Consider strategy and policy matters to be agreed by Council
  4. Promote co-ordination and co-operation between the main committees and with Council
  5. Recommend any changes in delegation between Council and main committees
  6. Lead close partnership working between the General Secretary and Executive Directors and the Honorary Officers and Council
  7. Act in other areas requiring urgent attention, reporting back to Council and relevant main committees as soon as practicable
  8. Consider sensitive or confidential issues including those relating to staff of the RCN, where appropriate including requests to work beyond normal retirement age.
  9. Give initial steers and reactions to work in progress when requested.

The Council executive team will specify those matters for which it seeks delegated authority from Council and take those to Council for approval. These will be reviewed from time to time.

The Council executive team does not normally take decisions in its private meeting, but only when it meets in a formally recorded meeting with the General Secretary and executive directors, the joint executive teams' meeting.

Joint executive teams' meeting - ways of working

When the Council executive team members as above are joined by the general secretary and executive directors, the meeting is referred to as the joint executive teams’ meeting. This meeting takes place in private but is attended by staff and formally minuted. During this session it is only the Council executive team which may take decisions, following terms of reference above.

Role of the joint executive teams' meeting

To facilitate the effective working interface between governance and management, including promoting good governance and effective management of the RCN. To develop a constructive working relationship between the Council executive team and the General Secretary and executive directors; and to enable the effective implementation of the strategic plan objectives and RCN mission statement.

Chaired by – chair of Council

Membership – Chair of Council, vice chair of Council, president, deputy president, nurse honorary treasurer, chairs of four main committees.

Accountable to – Council

Accountable Officer – general secretary

Lead Staff Support – director of administration

Quorum –  Four members of CET, of which one shall be a Chair of a Main Committee.

Explanatory note

The RCN honorary officers are the president, deputy president, chair of Council, vice chair of Council and the nurse honorary treasurer. Each of these roles is stipulated with the RCN charter and byelaws.