Terms of Reference: Governance Support Committee
Role of the Governance Support Committee
To ensure the RCN has best practice governance structures and ways of working in place.
Key responsibilities
To champion good corporate governance across the organisation
- To conduct regular reviews of the effectiveness of the RCN’s governance arrangements and ways of workings, drawing comparisons against such best practice indicators as are considered appropriate
- To recommend to Council any legal, governance and associated procedural changes
- To develop and present corporate governance policies to Council for approval
- To draw up and agree role descriptions for all elected and appointed positions
- To develop and agree election and selection processes for all governance committees
- To recruit and select people for appointed positions in conjunction with the committee to which the appointment is made
- To agree and deliver the induction and development programme for all Council, Council Committee and Board Members.
Chaired by:
Council member
Membership:
Chair of Council
6 other Council members
2 external advisers
Sub-committee:
Constitutions Sub-committee
Accountable to:
Council
Quorum:
Three members of the Committee, two of whom shall be members of Council.
Essential qualities
- Independence of management
- Integrity
- Capacity to dedicate sufficient time and energy
- Ability to give direct and honest opinions and add value to decision making
- The forcefulness and tenacity to ask a direct question, insist on a straight answer and hold candid discussions with management
- Inquisitiveness and independent judgement
- Ability to offer different perspectives and constructive suggestions
- Ability to bring personal knowledge and experience to bear
- An understanding of the environment in which the RCN operates.
Desirable skills and experience
Broad experience of good governance in business, charities, trade unions and the duties and responsibilities of trustees.
Approved by RCN Council February 2008.