RCN Council

RCN Council is responsible for the overall governance of the RCN and ensures it meets its statutory purposes. It sets the strategic direction of the organisation and has ultimate responsibility for its long term financial sustainability.

There are 31 members of RCN Council, with two members each from Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and from each of the nine English regions. They are directly elected by members in their country or region. RCN Council also includes the President and Deputy President, the chair of RCN Congress, as well as two health practitioner members representing HCAs and APs, and two student members.

Download the RCN Council and committees map (PDF 668KB) to see how Council works with other RCN committees and groups, and with country and regional boards.

• Role of Council
• Council members - find out about the members of Council
• Council meetings - read minutes of previous meetings and find out how to observe a meeting yourself
• Download the RCN Council role description and terms of reference (PDF 50.4KB)
• Download the Council Executive Team terms of reference (PDF 29.2KB)
• Download the RCN Council priorities 2010-2011 (PDF 38.2KB)
• Download the RCN Council priorities 2011-2012 (PDF 48.8KB)  
• Download the RCN Council priorities 2012-2013 (PDF 54KB)  

Role of Council

The role of Council is to:

• provide leadership and direction
• ensure that the RCN has a clear vision and strategic plan and is financially sustainable
• ensure that full account is taken of the wider interests of the RCN
• ensure that the RCN complies with its legal and regulatory requirements
• act as the guardians of the spirit of the RCN and to act as the RCN's conscience in delivering its statutory purposes
• act as guardian of the assets of the RCN - both tangible and intangible
• ensure that the right advice is taken before decisions are made
• agree performance targets for senior management and to hold management to account
• make the best use of its collective understanding of the nursing issues which the RCN faces through involvement at the grass roots and by providing a reference point and sounding board.

Council's responsibilities

Shape strategy to:

• ensure that the RCN pursues sound and proper principles, policies and procedures in relation to all areas of its work
• shape and approve the RCN's strategic plan, identify priorities and develop a long term financial strategy to ensure adequate resources
• oversee and ensure the most effective use of the RCN's finances, enabling the RCN to implement its strategic plan 
• engage in strategic decision-making and making policy decisions to implement the agreed strategy
• keep under review the long term development of the RCN in the light of the political, economic and social environment in which it operates
• approve the RCN's annual budget and maintain a 3-5 year forward view of the RCN's finances
• approve major expenditure and transactions
• agree any changes in membership categories
• agree the annual subscription rate within the framework agreed by the Annual General Meeting
• monitor investments performance and approve changes to investment policy
• periodically review the RCN's financial policies, such as free reserves, IT, HR and health and safety, property
• monitor the performance of the RCN's subsidiary companies, housing association and pension fund.

Inspire effective leadership to:

• provide leadership and direction
• agree and delegate appropriate levels of responsibility and authority to the Chairman, Governance and Council Committees, Board Chairs and Members and the General Secretary/Chief Executive
• act as advocates of the RCN
• ensure good communication between the Council, Board members and staff
• appoint the General Secretary/Chief Executive and review his/her performance and agree other senior appointments
• advise and give feedback to the General Secretary/Chief Executive and other senior staff and achieve an effective relationship between the Council and the staff and the members

Improve performance to ensure that:

• appropriate risk management and effective internal control systems are in place
•  the necessary management information systems exist to assess the RCN's performance and progress in meeting its objectives, including the evaluation of operational effectiveness and efficiency, compliance with laws and regulations and the reliability of management and financial information.

Ensure accountability to:

• act in accordance with the Nolan Committee's Seven Principles of Public Life - selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership
• account for the Council's actions in appropriate ways as required by
  law and good practice - approving the form and content of the Annual Report and Financial Statements and making the arrangements for general meetings of the RCN
• propose changes to the Royal Charter and Bye-Laws, agree Rule  changes and approve changes to the overall governance structure and the setting up of any subsidiaries
• approve a scheme of delegation and ensure appropriate reporting  arrangements are in place
  review its own performance and effectiveness.