Terms of Reference Executive Research Education & Training Committee 1. Main Authority / Limitations 1.1 The Board hereby resolves to establish a management committee to be known as the Research and Education Committee ( the Committee ). The Committee is an executive-led management committee accountable to the Board and shall have executive responsibilities, powers, authorities and discretion as set out in these terms of reference. 1.2 The Committee is authorised by the Board to develop and implement research, education and training strategies, and to monitor, investigate and address any activity within its terms of reference. It is authorised to seek a range of views, expertise, transparency and openness in meeting its objective. The Committee is authorised to request the attendance of individuals and advisors with relevant experience and expertise where necessary. 1.3 Approved minutes of the Committee are circulated to the Board for information at the first formal meeting of the Board after approval. The minutes are also circulated to those regularly in attendance. The Committee Chair provides the Board with a brief summary of the Committee s work at the first available Board meeting opportunity after each Committee meeting. Approved minutes of the Committee are circulated to the Board for information at the first formal meeting of the Board after approval. The minutes are also circulated to those regularly in attendance. The Chair of the Committee will escalate matters in the first instance to the Chief Executive and Executive Management Team, and thereafter to the Board as deemed appropriate. 1.4 Trust Standing Orders and Standing Financial Instructions apply to the operation of this Committee. 2. Objective 2.1 The Committee shall be accountable to the Board and through its work focus on: (i) positioning LTHT in partnership with the University of Leeds and other academic organisations, alongside its partners within the Academic Health Science Network, as a global research and innovation powerhouse; (ii) in partnership with others, or individually, compete for and win research grants or funds that underpin the Board s long-term clinical aspirations; (iii) patient benefit from research participation and utilisation; (iv) linking research participation to quality and service improvement; (v) replenishment of trainee pipelines in sufficient numbers to meet the Trust s anticipated operational need; (vi) education and training excellence. 3. Primary Duties and Responsibilities 3.1 To review the Trust s research, innovation, education and training policies and practices. 3.2 Exploit all opportunities to promote LTHT as a global hub for primary health research. 3.3 Establish the conditions for increasing participation in clinical trials. 3.4 To establish highly-effective partnerships and stakeholder relationships with other providers and universities across the Academic Health Science Network, as well as relevant UK, and EU and other global government departments and charities. 3.5 To establish the conditions for, and promote, a patient-focused and ambitious culture of research, innovation and continuous development.
3.6 To scan the horizon for research and innovation opportunities. Determine from those opportunities those that align with the Board s strategy and ensure the highest quality bids are submitted. 3.7 Develop, implement and keep under review strategies for research, innovation, education and training, and performance manage their delivery across LTHT. 3.8 Ensure LTHT provides an outstanding learning experience for all trainees, taking whatever steps are necessary to exceed the expectations of trainees, the Deanery and universities commissioning placements from the Trust. 3.9 Engage actively to replenish the trainee pipeline in sufficient numbers to meet LTHT s longterm strategic and clinical aspirations 3.10 Design, develop and implement highly-effective controls for research and educational governance. 3.11 Establish highly-effective organisational arrangements for research utilisation. 3.12 To discuss with primary researchers, clinical directors and educational leaders their approach, nature and scope of their local research/educational intentions and reporting obligations at least annually. 3.13 To rapidly resolve any significant defects found in the Trust s research, innovation, education or training endeavours. Review all decisions to halt research and education activity and apply whatever learning is necessary to: (i) ensure safe, high-quality and compliance research practices at all times; and (ii) the success fulfillment of research obligations to which the Trust is committed. Ensure material concerns are addressed to the satisfaction of all concerned and properly declared to the Board of Directors. Appendix 1 shows the research governance structure. 3.14 To ensure effective processes are in place to review the adequacy of resources, qualifications and experience of staff within research, innovation, education and training functions/departments, their own training programmes and budgets and succession planning for key roles. 3.15 To provide an annual letter of assurance to the Chair of Audit Committee confirming the effectiveness of the Committee and fulfillment of its objective, and to the effect that the Committee has disclosed to the Audit Chair all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the Trust s ability to achieve research, innovation, education or training objectives. 3.16 To be satisfied that arrangements to address any complaints or concerns made by a third party, Trust employee s, trainees or students in respect of the Trust s research, innovation, education or training endeavours are effective. 3.17 To undertake or consider on behalf of the Chairman or the Board such other related tasks or topics as the Chairman or the Board may from to time entrust to the Committee. 3.18 The Committee shall review annually the Committee s terms of reference and its own effectiveness and recommend to the Board any necessary changes arising therefrom. 3.19 To report to the Board on the matters set out in these terms of reference and how the Committee has discharged its responsibilities. 3.20 Where the Committee s monitoring and review activities reveal cause for concern or scope for improvement, it shall make recommendations to the Board on action needed to address the
issue or to make improvements. 4. Duties and Etiquette 4.1 The duties of the Chairperson of the Committee shall be to: keep the Board informed regularly of any material matters which have come to the Committee s attention; ensure that minutes of the Committee are an accurate reflection of discussion; attend or designate another member of the Committee to attend public meetings of the Trust to answer any questions related to the work of the Committee; submit an annual report on the work of the Committee to the Board; and ensure that all significant risks are discussed and escalated in line with LTHT s Risk Management Policy. 4.2 The duties of members and attendees shall be to: attend and contribute have read the papers and materials in advance and be ready to work with them actively participate in discussions pertaining to Committee business ensuring that solutions and action plans have multidisciplinary perspectives and have considered the impact Trust-wide; disseminate the learning and actions from the meetings; and to attend at least 80% of meetings of the committee. 5. Constitution 5.1 The Committee shall meet as often as required but not less than four times times each year. 5.2 The quorum for meetings shall be two Members, one of whom should be the Committee Chairman, unless he or she is unable to attend due to exceptional circumstances. In the absence of both the Committee Chair and Vice Chair a decision will be taken in advance of the meeting as to which member of the committee shall chair that particular meeting. 6. Membership and attendance 6.1 Members of the Committee shall be appointed at the discretion of the Chief Medical Officer and Director of Human Resources/Organisational Development. The Chairman and Non- Executive Directors shall have the right of attendance but not as members of the Committee. Inextremis, any member of the Committee who is able to speak and be heard by each of the other members shall be deemed to be present in person and shall count towards the quorum. The core membership shall be: (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi) (vii) (viii) (ix) (x) (xi) (xii) (xiii) Chief Medical Officer (Chair) Director of Human Resources & Organisational Development (Vice Chair) Chief Nurse/Deputy Chief Executive University of Leeds representative(s) Associate Medical Director for Research & Innovation Associate Medical Director for Education Director of Research & Innovation Head of Nursing for Research Representative from the composition of Clinical Support Units Director of Postgraduate Medical Education Director of Undergraduate Medical Education Assistant Director of Finance Lead for Mandatory TrainingHead of Organisational Learning
(xiv) Research & Development Innovation Manager In routine attendance: (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) Non-Executive Director Director of Informatics Associate Director of Finance General Manager Medical Directorate 6.2 Members may send deputies to represent them in their absence. The Chair may invite specific colleagues to address the Committee where appropriate. 6.3 In order for decisions taken by the Committee to be valid, the meeting must be quorate. This will consist of two members of the Committee being present at the point when any business is transacted. [See 6.1 above]. 6.4 The Committee is serviced by the Trust s Research & Development Innovation Manager who shall organise meetings, prepare the annual work plan and record proceedings. Papers shall be available at least five clear days before each meeting. Papers shall not be tabled unless it is essential and only with the Committee Chair s prior agreement. 6.5 Terms of reference are reviewed annually or in the light of changes in practice or national/local guidance. The Board will initiate the mechanism to review performance, which shall include the extent to which the Committee has operated in satisfaction of its terms of reference, and in particular compliance with reporting arrangements to the Board. 7. Version Control Version Control Date V0.6 20/04/2015 Comments Final comments from Executive Team Remove reference to governors in para 4.1 V0.7 08/05/2015 Minor changes to membership captured Document Owner The Trust Board Secretary is the owner of this document and of any Board minute authorising any amendment.
Appendix 1 - Organograms for Research & Education governance R&I Accountability Structure Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust University of Leeds Chief Executive Chief Operating Officer Trust Board Research, Education and Training Committee 9 Deputy Chief Nurse Chief Medical Officer Pro-Dean for Research & Innovation, Faculty of Medicine and Health Head of Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Senate School of Medicine Executive Group Formatted: Left: 2 cm, Right: 2 cm, Top: 2 cm, Bottom: 2 cm, Width: 29.7 cm, Height: 21 cm, Header distance from edge: 1.25 cm, Footer distance from edge: 1.25 cm CSU Management Triumvirate: clinical director, head of nursing, general manager. CSU R&I Lead/s R&I Committee 1 R&I Executive Group 8 Head of Nursing R&I 3 R&I Director 2 R&I Manager 5 Associate Medical Director (Research) 4 QA/Clinical Trials Manager 7 Line Managers MHRA Task & Finish Group Research Governance Manager 6 Researchers Biological Safety Group Research Leadership Group (non-medical) Clinical Trials Advisory Group R&I Administrative Team QA/Clinical Trials Team Clinical Research Forum (Nurses, Midwives & Information Governance Group Other Trust Groups: DRAFT 03/02/2016 AHPs) Notes 1. R&I Committee reports on research governance, performance and strategy to the Research, Education and Training Committee. 2. R&I Director chairs the R&I Committeeand sits on the Research, Education and Training Committee. 3. Head of Nursing R&I chairs the Research Leadership Group (non-medical), sits on the Research, Education and Training Committee, the R&I Committee and the Clinical Research Forum. 4. Associate Medical Director is deput y chair of the R&I Committee and sits on the Research, Education and Training Committee. 5. R&I Manager/s sit on the R&I Committee. 6. Research Governance Manager sits on the Information Governance Group and the Clinical Research Forum. 7. Quality Assurance (QA)/Clinical Trials Manager sits on the Biological Safety Group, the Clinical Trials Advisory Group and the R&I Committee. 8. R&I Executive Group (R&I Director, Associate Medical Director (Research), Head of Nursing R&I) oversees governance of CTIMPs and Non-CTIMPs. 9. Chief Medical Officer chairs the Research, Education and Training Committee. Box\Blue Box 14 4 Draft Terms of Reference - Research Education Training Committee April 2016.docx