The membership, representation and diversity committee

The membership, representation and diversity committee oversees the RCN’s work on representing nurses and nursing and protecting nurses’ terms and conditions of employment and health and safety policies. It also has responsibility for the RCN diversity strategy, defining the membership categories and their rights and membership marketing.

Terms of reference

The role of the committee is to support, promote, oversee and take decisions on behalf of Council in relation to matters affecting the RCN membership and their representation, including a strategy for diversity, and the implementation of the following aims with the relevant objectives of the strategic plan to realise the RCN’s mission to:

  • Represent the interest of nurses and nursing
  • Support and protect the value of nurses in all their diversity
  • Support and protect the terms and conditions of nurses employment in all sectors

 Key responsibilities

  • To undertake Council work in the policy areas delegated by Council, ensuring diversity in incorporated in all areas.
  • Support, promote and oversee the implementation of relevant objectives and milestones in the strategic plan.
  • Support, promote and oversee the work on relevant Congress items
  • Make recommendations to Council on strategy within the relevant policy areas.

Delegated policies remit

  • Agenda for Change implementation
  • Healthcare employment policies
  • Health and Safety policies for healthcare staff
  • Diversity Strategy
  • Membership categories and their rights
  • Membership marketing

Powers

  • To take decisions on behalf of Council, within their delegated powers (reporting back to Council).
  • Commission work
  • Set up working groups

Chaired by – a member of Council elected by Council.

Membership

  • Membership Committee of 12-15
  • A minimum of 4 council members
  •  Other members with appropriate experience and skills

Committees/entities reporting: 

  • Association of Nursing Students (through the ANS executive committee)
  • UK stewards’ committee
  • UK safety representatives’ committee
  • Industrial action sub committee

Quorum –half the number of council members on the committee

Qualities and experience

A diverse outlook among members is desirable to avoid over-emphasis in any direction.

Each member will possess the following qualities:

  •  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

The committee overall should encompass skills and experience of the following areas:

  • Negotiation and representation skills
  • Employment relations
  • Marketing
  • Professional management
  • Diversity and equality
  • Welfare

The Committee will also be looking for representation from:

  •  UK stewards committee
    • UK safety representatives committee
    • UK learning representatives committee
    • Association of nursing students (ANS)
    • Health care support workers