Each year our Trust Board approves a schedule of matters which it reserves to itself. These include the power to set the vision, strategic aims, objectives and budget for the Trust. 

Other matters are delegated to a number of Board committees, which operate within defined terms of reference.  

Audit Committee 

The Audit Committee is responsible for overseeing, monitoring and reviewing corporate reporting, the adequacy and effectiveness of the governance, risk management and internal control framework and systems and areas of legal and regulatory compliance at Dorset HealthCare, as well as external and internal audit functions. This includes speaking up (including whistleblowing) and counter fraud. 

There are three Non-Executive Director members of the Committee, all of whom are independent. The Joint Chief Finance Officer and the Joint Executive Director of Corporate Affairs regularly attend these meetings. 

Mental Health Legislation Assurance Committee (MHLAC) 

The Mental Health Legislation Assurance Committee was established to provide specialist advice to the Board and Quality Governance Committee in respect of compliance with law and best practice around the rights of mental health service users. The committee is made up of a mix of Non-Executive and Executive Directors. 

There is a clear separation of the committee’s role in acquiring and scrutinising assurances around quality governance in mental health services and that of conducting the review process for detained patients in accordance with the mental health legislation. That is undertaken by Mental Health Act Panel members, independent lay people who have been trained in mental health legislation. However, the chair of this committee also chairs our Mental Health Act Panel Members’ Forum. 

Quality Governance Committee (QGC) 

The Quality Governance Committee acquires and scrutinises assurances that Dorset HealthCare has a combination of structures and processes at and below Board level that equip it to deliver high quality clinical services. The QGC provides further scrutiny of the quality of services. The committee is made up of a mix of Non-Executive and Executive Directors. 

This QGC is supported by the Quality Governance Group, which meets monthly to examine the internal quality and clinical processes and provide an in-depth review of data to ensure the effectiveness of the systems we operate. 

Finance and Transformation Committee 

The Transformation Committee was set up in 2020 to provide support to, and assurance in respect of, the development and delivery of our transformation programme. The committee is made up of a mix of Non-Executive and Executive Directors. 

From September 2023, the committee took on responsibility for overseeing, monitoring and reviewing financial planning and performance, as well as the development and delivery of the Trust’s capital plan, becoming the Finance and Transformation Committee. 

Finance and Performance Committee 

In September 2024, the Board established the Finance and Performance Committee. This is a ‘committee in common’ with Dorset County Hospital (DCH) – two separate committees meeting at the same time and same place with the same agenda.   

The committee’s membership is made up of a mix of Non-Executive and Executive Directors representing both Dorset HealthCare and DCH. 

Strategy, Transformation and Partnership Committee 

In September 2024 the Board established the Strategy, Transformation and Partnership Committee – another ‘committee in common’ with Dorset County Hospital. This replaced the Working Together Committee, set up in 2023 to strengthen collaboration, promote integration and to simplify decision-making across our two trusts, for the benefit of patient care and experience, and wider population health.  

The remit of the committee has been broadened to include strategy development and delivery, oversight of joint transformation programmes and the development of wider partnership working across Dorset. 

Appointments and Remuneration Committee 

The Appointments and Remuneration Committee is responsible for appointing Executive Directors and determining/reviewing their remuneration. 

All Non-Executive Directors are members of the committee. The Chief Executive has a right to attend as a member when other Executive Director appointments are being determined, and may be invited to attend when the remuneration of the other Executive Directors is under discussion.