Institute board of governors

The board of governors is the body charged with governance of the RCN Institute (RCNI) and ensuring the effective management of its property and affairs to enable the effective implementation of the RCN strategic plan and the RCN's mission statement and to meet the requirements of HEFCE.

The RCN charter article XVI sets up the RCN Institute and bye-laws 63 – 84 specifies the roles and responsibilities of the board of governors.

For more information see the following pages:

Key responsibilities

The board of governers' responsibilities are to:

  1. ensure effective management of the Institute’s property and affairs
  2. develop the Institute’s strategic plan within the RCN’s overall strategic plan
  3. monitor the performance of the Institute against its planned strategies and operational targets.
  4. participate in the appointment of senior Institute staff
  5. undertake risk management
  6. recommend to Council the financial strategy of the Institute
  7. ensure the solvency of the RCNI and that its assets are safeguarded
  8. recommend to Council the approval of the Institute’s annual operating plans, budgets and annual accounts
  9. ensure that funds provided by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) are used in accordance with the terms and conditions specified in HEFCE’s Financial Memorandum
  10. ensure the existence and integrity of financial control systems and the monitoring of these through the RCN's Organisational Audit Committee
  11. ensure that the Institute’s education policies are consistent with those of the RCN
  12. ensure integrity and objectivity in the transaction of RCN Institute business, and wherever possible by following a policy of openness and transparency in the dissemination of Board decisions.
  13. take such steps as are reasonably practicable to ensure that student representation operates in a fair and democratic manner.
  14. ensure the implementation of effective corporate systems for the health and safety of RCNI employees.
  15. ensure the implementation of the Institute’s diversity policy.

Chaired by – a nominee appointed by the Council
Membership – between 14 and 19 governors all appointed by the board of governors (Bye-law 66):

  • The director of the institute
  • Five Council members nominated by Council including the President at their request, and other Council nominees (up to 10 possible)
  • Up to 2 nominated by the Academic Board;
  • One nominated by the Institute’s students, under arrangements approved by the board;
  • One nominated by a university determined by the Board; Up to two Governors nominated by employers chosen by the Board; one employer of nurses from the NHS and one employer of nurses not within the NHS;
  • Up to two Governors, at least one of whom with qualifications and experience in financial management and the other in industrial and commercial matters. 

Sub-committees – nominations sub committee

Linked committees

  • RCN Audit Committee
  • RCN Finance and Investment Committee

Policies remit – policies relating to the management of the property and affairs of the RCN Institute.

Accountable to – Council through the nursing development committee

Accountable Officer –  director of the Institute

Clerk to the Board –  an RCN staff member independent of the Institute and appointed by the board

Frequency of meetings –  three business meetings per year.

Quorum – six members of the board.