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Role details

Non-Executive Director (Audit and Risk Assurance Committee Chair) - Care Quality Commission

Application deadline 28 June 2023

Summary

• Organisation: Care Quality Commission
• Sponsor department: Department of Health and Social Care
• Location: Various
• Sectors: Health and Social Care
• Skills: Audit and Risk
• Number of vacancies: 1
• Time commitment: 2 day(s) per month
• Remuneration: £13137 per annum
• Length of term: Ministers will determine the length of the appointment, which will be up to 3 years
• Application deadline: 11:59am on 28 June 2023

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Timeline for this appointment

1. Opening date

   6 June 2023

2. Application deadline

   11:59am on 28 June 2023

3. Sifting date

   20 July 2023

4. Interviews expected to end on

   29 September 2023

Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change

About the role

Introduction from the Chair

Dear Applicant,

CQC is one of the most important bodies in the health and social care systems in England and is the only national body with a remit which spans both health and social care.

These are times of unparalleled change for CQC.  We are in the process of implementing an ambitious new strategy which provides the vision to drive improvements in how people experience health and care services; The Health and Care Act 2022 has given CQC new responsibilities in relation to Local Authorities and Integrated Care Systems; and CQC’s assessments of care quality will be essential to help people understand the impact of the pandemic and the steps taken in response in both health and social care systems.  

The Board plays a crucial role in guiding CQC during this period of change. Our Audit and Risk Assurance Committee plays a key role in supporting the wider Board, in particular in the identification and effective management of risk.  We are seeking a new Chair for this committee with the experience, skills and ambition to contribute to CQC’s continuing development at this important time.

If you have the skills we require and wish to make a valuable contribution to the development and integration of health and care systems in England, I do hope you will apply.

Yours sincerely,

Ian Dilks

Chair of CQC

Role description

Ministers are seeking to appoint a new NED to the board of the CQC, and who will be responsible for Charing the CQC’s Audit and Risk Assurance Committee. 

The Department of Health and Social Care values and promotes diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community.  The boards of public bodies should reflect the population they are there to serve. Boards also benefit from fresh perspectives, and we are always keen to encourage candidates new to public appointments to consider applying for our roles.

As a Non-Executive Director of the CQC Board, you will be responsible for helping to ensure the CQC is a successful organisation - in terms of its effectiveness as a regulator, making sure that health and social care services provide safe, high-quality care, and as an employer. Non-Executive Directors play a key role in ensuring continuous organisational improvement, high performance management, excellent customer focus and service delivery, scrutiny, challenge, fairness, accountability, and effective corporate governance. 

Non-Executive Directors will specifically:

• provide an independent view and creative contribution at board meetings and sub committees, including ensuring the long-term strategic focus, effectiveness and reputation of the CQC through purposeful and constructive scrutiny and challenge

• monitor and challenge the performance of the CQC’s executive management, in meeting the strategic vision, organisational priorities and business plan objectives including monitoring of organisational performance, service delivery, quality and reputation. Provide assurance regarding the CQC governance, including in relation to periodic reviews of the organisation

• support the Chair and the executive team to ensure the CQC fully embraces and embeds an excellent customer service ethos and delivers accordingly in order to enhance and develop its credibility and reputation

• uphold the values of the CQC to deliver excellence, and demonstrating care, integrity and teamwork into all aspects of its work, and ensure that the organisation promotes equality and diversity for all providers, people who use services, people who work for CQC and other stakeholders

Organisation description

The Care Quality Commission (CQC)  is the independent regulator of health and adult social care in England.  Its purpose is to ensure health and social care services provide safe, effective, compassionate, high-quality care and to encourage improvement where providers fall short of CQC’s fundamental standards.  Its role is to register providers of services, monitor, inspect and rate, take enforcement action for poor care, and speak independently on matters of quality in health and adult social care services.

The body is primarily funded through fees charged to registered providers, with DHSC providing grant-in-aid for expenditure for which the CQC are unable to charge fees. In 2021/22 CQC’s fees were made up 88% of revenue funding, with 11% from GIA, and the remaining 1% coming from other external sources. Capital expenditure was funded through additional GIA and utilisation of the retained earnings reserve. The current fees scheme became effective on 1 April 2019 and is set at a level to cover the cost of chargeable activities.

In May 2021 the CQC launched its new strategy. Pivotal to this strategy, is the CQC’s organisational transformation programme, charged with delivering a new target operating model, translating the new strategy into a tangible delivery plan for determining what the organisation will do and how it will do it.  There are a number of major programmes to support the work of the Regulator as it looks to the future and a regulatory role that is informed by intelligence and data and a digitally led way of working. 

As senior decision-making body, CQC’s Board provides strategic leadership and takes collective responsibility for the long-term success of the organisation. The Board consists of the CQC Chair and up to fourteen Directors, including the Chair of Healthwatch England. All Non-Executive Directors are public appointees, appointed by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. 

The Board is supported in its work by its committees. These Committees are the Regulatory Governance Committee, the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee, and the Remuneration Committee – as well as two statutory committees. The Regulatory Governance Committee acts to strengthen the Board’s oversight of the risks associated with delivering CQC’s regulatory responsibilities. The Audit and Risk Assurance Committee supports the Board in its responsibilities for issues of risk, control and governance. The Committee also oversees issues of risk, governance and control relating to Healthwatch England and the National Guardian’s Office.

In addition to its role described above, the CQC is required to maintain two statutory committees, Healthwatch England and the External Strategic Advisory Group (ESAG). Healthwatch England acts as a national consumer champion in collecting and disseminating the views of people who use health and social care services. Although Healthwatch England is part of the CQC, it sets its own priorities, has its own brand identity, and speaks with an independent voice. 

ESAG was set up to provide advice to the Board and Executive Team on the implementation of the current strategy, the development and implementation of the transformation programme and the development of future strategies. Primary membership includes representatives from provider trade associations, membership bodies from across all sectors and representatives from public stakeholders. Commissioners and system partners are included where relevant topics or areas arise.

 The National Guardian is a non-statutory appointment by the CQC to lead cultural change in the NHS, to establish and support a strong network of Freedom to Speak Up Guardians. The National Guardian’s Office highlight NHS providers that are successful in creating the right environment for staff to speak up safely and share this best practice across the NHS. It independently reviews cases where healthcare providers may have failed to follow good practice, working with statutory bodies to take action where needed.

Board composition

Location:

Care Quality Commission

2 Redman Place

London E20 1JQ

CQC board meetings are held every other month, towards the middle of the month. There is no board meeting in August. Details of the composition of CQC’s board can be found here

Upcoming meetings dates:

·         19 July

·         27 September

·         29 November

Regulation of appointment

This post is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. For more information, please refer to the Commissioner’s website 

Person specification

Essential criteria

To be considered, you must be able to demonstrate that you have the qualities, skills and experience to meet all the essential criteria for appointment.

The Department of Health and Social Care values and promotes diversity. The boards of public bodies should reflect the population they are there to serve. Boards also benefit from fresh perspectives, and we are keen to encourage candidates from all sections of the community and from across the UK to consider applying for this role.  

To be considered, you must be able to demonstrate that you have the qualities, skills, and experience to meet all the essential criteria for appointment: 

• A career track record of achievement, including in a significant senior financial role in either the private or public sector, with a professional background in accountancy or a related discipline, and experience of assurance, risk management and the work of audit committees. 

• a career record of achievement, with an ability to operate effectively on the board of a high-profile national organisation

• an ability to focus on innovation, culture change, and care quality and how the CQC by regulation and inspection can encourage providers to even greater focus on improving their record

• an ability to guide the CQC’s strategic direction, and use sound judgement, based on the ability to consider and challenge complex issues from an impartial and balanced viewpoint

• an understanding of corporate governance and a commitment to the principles of public service, with the highest standards of personal propriety in relation to governance, accountability, risk and financial management

• good communication skills, with the ability to work as part of a team, with a positive and constructive style, challenging management recommendations where necessary.

Application and selection process

How to apply

The Department of Health and Social Care’s Honours and ALB Public Appointments Unit is managing this recruitment campaign. 

In order to apply, you will need to create an account or sign in on the “Apply for a public appointment” website.

Once you are logged into your account, click on 'apply for this role' and follow the on-screen instructions.  To apply, all candidates are required to provide:

·         a Curriculum Vitae (CV)

·         a Supporting Statement

·         equality information

·         information relating to any outside interests or reputational issues

Guidance on what to include in your CV/Supporting Statement and tips for applying can be found in the corresponding sections below and on the public appointment website: Public appointments - GOV.UK.

We will ask you to check and confirm your personal details to ensure your application is accurate.

You will also have the opportunity to make a reasonable adjustment request or apply under the disability confident scheme before you submit your application.

You will also be required to make any declarations related to standards in public life and ensuring public confidence in your Supporting Statement.  Further information on this can be found in the relevant section below.

If you are unable to create an account and apply online, or if you have any problems submitting your application online, please contact Daniel Clemence on 0113 2545335

The Advisory Assessment Panel reserves the right to only consider applications that contain all of the elements listed above, and that arrive before the published deadline for applications.

In completing an application, please firstly note the following in relation to:

• Disqualification from appointment
• Outside interests and reputational issues: Conflicts of interest
• Outside interests and reputational issues: Political Activity and social media
• Standards in public life and ensuring public confidence.

Overview of the application process

Public appointments are made on merit following a fair and open competition process which is conducted in accordance with the Governance Code for Public Appointments. We will deal with your application as quickly as possible and will keep you informed at key stages. We aim to conclude the appointment process within three months of the deadline for applications – this is in accordance with the Governance Code.

The assessment process

1. Ministers are responsible and accountable to Parliament for the public appointments made within their department. As a result, they must be consulted at every stage of the appointments process.

2. An Advisory Assessment Panel (“Panel”) is appointed by Ministers to assist them in their decision making. The role of the Panel is to decide, objectively, which candidates meet the eligibility criteria for the role.

3. At the shortlisting meeting the Panel will assess applications against the eligibility criteria and decide which candidates have best met the criteria, who should be recommended for interview. Ministers will then be consulted on the Panel’s recommended shortlist. If you have applied under the Disability Confident Scheme and you meet all the essential criteria, then you will also be invited for an interview.

4. Once the shortlist has been agreed by Ministers, you will be advised (by e-mail) whether you have been shortlisted. Those shortlisted will be invited to an interview.

5. The Panel will meet again to interview candidates and determine who is appointable to the role. The Panel may invite you to make a brief presentation at the start of the interview and will go on to question you about your skills and experience, including asking specific questions to assess whether you meet the criteria set out for the post. The Panel will also explore with you any potential conflicts of interest or any other issues arising from your personal and professional history which may impact on an appointment decision.

6. Details of the panel’s assessment of interviewed candidates are provided to Ministers, including whether they have judged a candidate to be appointable to the role. It is then for Ministers to determine merit and decide who should be appointed. In some circumstances, Ministers may choose not to appoint any candidates and re-run the competition.

7. Ministers may choose to meet with candidates before deciding the outcome. Candidates should therefore be prepared for a short time gap between interview and a final appointment decision being made. Candidates who have been interviewed will be kept informed of progress.

8. Once the decision on the appointment has been made, interviewed candidates will be advised of the outcome of their application, including whom they may approach for feedback. Successful candidates will be issued with their Terms & Conditions and a letter of appointment should they agree to take up the position.

Further information about appointments, including tips on applying, can be found on our guidance pages on gov.uk.

Advisory Assessment Panel (AAP)

The panel will include: 

·         William Vineall, Director Acute Care and Quality Policy

·         Ian Dilks, Chair of CQC

·         Janice Scanlan, Director at Nedendro and Associate at Hunter Healthcare

Advisory Assessment Panels (AAP) are chosen by ministers to assist them in their decision-making. These include a departmental official and an independent member. For competitions recruiting non-executive members of a board (apart from the Chair), the panel will usually include a representative from the public body concerned.

AAP’s perform a number of functions, including agreeing an assessment strategy with ministers, undertaking sifting, carrying out interviews in line with the advertised criteria and deciding objectively who meets the published selection criteria for the role before recommending to ministers which candidates they find appointable. It is then for the minister to decide who to appoint to the role.

Eligibility criteria

In general, you should have the right to work in the UK to be eligible to apply for a public appointment.

There are a small number of specialist roles that are not open to non-British citizens. Any nationality requirements will be specified in the vacancy details.

The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards. 

You cannot be considered for a public appointment if:

• you are disqualified from acting as a company director (under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986);

• have an unspent conviction on your criminal record;

• your estate has been sequestrated in Scotland or you enter into a debt arrangement programme under Part 1 of the Debt Arrangement and Attachment (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 17) as the debtor or have, under Scots law, granted a trust deed for creditors.

When you apply, you should declare if:

• you are, or have been, bankrupt or you have made an arrangement with a creditor at any point, including the dates of this. 

• you are subject to a current police investigation.

You must inform the sponsor department if, during the application process, your circumstances change in respect of any of the above points. 

When you apply you should also declare any relevant interests, highlighting any that you think may call into question your ability to properly discharge the responsibilities of the role you are applying for. You should also declare any other matters which may mean you may not be able to meet the requirements of the Code of Conduct of Board Members (see Outside interests and reputational issues section below)

If you need further advice, please contact Daniel.Clemence@dhsc.gov.uk

Security clearance

The successful candidate will be required to undertake Baseline Personnel Security Standard checks in line with the Civil Service guidelines. Additional Security Clearance may also be required for certain roles. However, where this applies, candidates will be notified during the appointment process. Further information on National Security Vetting can be found on the Gov.uk website here.

Additional information for candidates

Equality and diversity

We encourage applications from talented individuals from all backgrounds and across the whole of the United Kingdom. Boards of public bodies are most effective when they reflect the diversity of views of the society they serve and this is an important part of the Government’s levelling up agenda.

We collect data about applicants’ characteristics and backgrounds, including information about people’s educational and professional backgrounds, so that we can make sure we are attracting a broad range of people to these roles and that our selection processes are fair for everyone. Without this information, it makes it difficult to see if our outreach is working, if the application process is having an unfair impact on certain groups and whether changes are making a positive difference.

When you submit your application, your responses are collected by the Cabinet Office and the government department(s) managing your application. The data is used to produce management information about the diversity of applicants. You can select “prefer not to say” to any question you do not wish to answer. The information you provide will not be seen by the Advisory Assessment Panel who review applications against the advertised criteria and conduct interviews.

Disability confident

We are a member of the Government’s Disability Confident scheme. We use the Disability Confident scheme symbol, along with other like-minded employers, to show our commitment to good practice in employing people with a disability. The scheme helps recruit and retain disabled people. 

As part of implementing the scheme, we guarantee an interview for anyone with a disability whose application meets the essential criteria for the role, set out in the advert, and who has asked that their application is considered under the scheme. Indicating that you wish your application to be considered under the scheme will in no way prejudice your application. By ‘minimum criteria,’ we mean that you must provide evidence which demonstrates that you meet the level of competence required under each of the essential criteria, as set out in the job-advert.

When you apply you will have the opportunity to select if you would like your application considered under this scheme.

Reasonable adjustments

We are committed to making reasonable adjustments to make sure applicants with disabilities, physical or mental health conditions, or other needs are not substantially disadvantaged when applying for public appointments. This can include changing the recruitment process to enable people who wish to apply to do so.

Some examples of common changes are:

• ensuring that application forms are available in different or accessible formats;
• making adaptations to interview locations;
• allowing candidates to present their skills and experience in a different way;
• giving additional detailed information on the selection / interview process in advance to allow candidates time to prepare themselves;
• allowing support workers, for example sign language interpreters;
• making provision for support animals to attend.

When you apply you will have the opportunity to request reasonable adjustments to the application process.

Principles of public life

Holders of public office are expected to adhere to and uphold the Seven Principles of Public Life https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-7-principles-of-public-life/the-7-principles-of-public-life--2. These are:

1. SELFLESSNESS - Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest. They should not do so in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family or their friends;
2. INTEGRITY - Holders of public office should not place themselves under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organisations that might seek to influence them in the performance of their official duties;
3. OBJECTIVITY - In carrying out public business, including making public appointments, awarding contracts, or recommending individuals for rewards and benefits, holders of public office should make choices on merit;
4. ACCOUNTABILITY - Holders of public office are accountable for their decisions and actions to the public and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their office;
5. OPENNESS - Holders of public office should be as open as possible about all the decisions and actions that they take. They should give reasons for their decisions and restrict information only when the wider public interest clearly demands;
6. HONESTY - Holders of public office have a duty to declare any private interests relating to their public duties and to take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in a way that protects the public interest;
7. LEADERSHIP - Holders of public office should promote and support these principles by leadership and example.

Code of conduct for board members

The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards. In support of this, all non-executive board members of UK public bodies must abide by the principles set out in the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. The Code sets out the standards expected from those who serve on the boards of UK public bodies and will form part of your terms and conditions of appointment.

Management of outside interests and consideration of reputational issues

Holders of public office are expected to adhere and uphold the Seven Principles of Public Life and the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. Before you apply you should consider carefully: 

• any outside interests that you may have, such as shares you may hold in a company providing services to government; 
• any possible reputational issues arising from your past actions or public statements that you have made; 
• and/or - any political roles you hold or political campaigns you have supported; 

which may call into question your ability to do the role you are applying for.

You will need to answer relevant questions in relation to these points when making an application. Many conflicts of interest can be satisfactorily resolved and declaring a potential conflict does not prevent you from being interviewed. If you are shortlisted for an interview, the panel will discuss any potential conflicts with you during that interview, including any proposals you may have to mitigate them and record that in their advice to ministers. Alongside your own declaration, we will conduct appropriate checks, as part of which we will consider anything in the public domain related to your conduct or professional capacity. This may include searches of previous public statements and social media, blogs or any other publicly available information. The successful candidate(s) may be required to give up any conflicting interests and their other business and financial interests may be published in line with organisational policies. 

Details of declared political activity will be published when the appointment is announced, as required by the Governance Code (political activity is not a bar to appointment, but must be declared).

Status of appointment

As this is an office holder appointment, you will not become a member of the Civil Service. You will not be subject to the provisions of employment law.

Appointment and tenure of office

Appointments are for the term set out in this advert, with the possibility of re-appointment for a further term, at the discretion of Ministers.  Any re-appointment is subject to satisfactory annual appraisals of performance during the first term in the post. There is no automatic presumption of reappointment; each case should be considered on its own merits, taking into account a number of factors including, but not restricted to, the diversity of the current board and its balance of skills and experience. In most cases, the total time served in post will not exceed more than two terms or serve in any one post for more than ten years

Remuneration, allowances and abatement

Remuneration for this role is treated as employment income and will be subject to tax and National Insurance contributions, both of which will be deducted at source under PAYE before you are paid. 

You can claim reimbursement for reasonable travel and subsistence costs which are properly and necessarily incurred on official business, in line with the travel and subsistence policy and rates for the organisation to which you are applying. However these payments are taxable as earnings and will be subject to tax and national insurance, both of which will be deducted at source under PAYE before you are paid.  

Pension and redundancy

This is an office holder appointment and does not attract any benefits under any Civil Service Pension Scheme. You will not be eligible for redundancy pay as you are not an employee. No other arrangements have been made for compensation upon the end of your term of appointment because an office holder who is appointed for a limited duration would have no expectation of serving beyond that period.

Application feedback

We will notify you of the status of your application. We regret that we are only able to offer detailed feedback to candidates who have been unsuccessful at the interview stage.

How to complain

The Department of Health and Social Care will aim to process all applications as quickly as possible and to treat all applicants with courtesy. If you have any complaints about the way your application has been handled, please contact Steve Howell by emailing Steve.Howell@dhsc.gov.uk   

How to complain to Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA)

If you are not content with the appointing department’s response you may wish to further complain to the Commissioner at publicappointments@csc.gov.uk .Further information on how the Commissioner handles complaints can be found on the Commissioner for Public Appointments’ website https://publicappointmentscommissioner.independent.gov.uk/regulating-appointments/investigating-complaints/

Data protection

The Cabinet Office will use your data in line with our privacy policy.

The DHSC privacy notice can be found at DHSC privacy notice - GOV.UK.

Contact details

For further information regarding the role of the CQC and the role of a NED please contact:

Meena Paterson

Email: Meena.Paterson@dhsc.gov.uk

For any queries about your application status or the selection process, please contact Daniel Clemence in DHSC’s Honours and ALB Public Appointments Unit:

Email: Daniel.Clemence@dhsc.gov.uk

Attachments

• Candidate Information pack