Planning and Performance Committee Independent Member
The Planning and Performance Committee plays a crucial role at the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), ensuring an integrated approach to the development and scrutiny of the NMC’s external functions including planning and performance, and all regulatory functions, including Fitness to Practise (FtP) and Professional Standards Authority (PSA) Standards, Education Quality Assurance (QA), quality, safety and experience of registrants and safeguarding. The terms of reference can be found here: [LINK needed when final ToR are published].
Over the coming months, the NMC is looking to strengthen its committees and the assurances they provide to Council. In doing so, it is important that committees build on the trust they have within the NMC, deliver a quality service that meets the needs of the organisation and balances the pace at which assurances are sought and the accountability to the UK public and wider stakeholders.
Currently, the Committee membership is comprised of four Council members. To supplement the Committee’s skills and expertise, the Council is seeking to appoint one independent members (known as a Partner member) of the Planning and Performance Committee. This is a high-profile role, offering an unrivalled opportunity to operate on a national level to play a crucial role at the NMC.
Conflicts of interest
As part of your application you are asked to declare any actual or potential conflict of interest or loyalty that could be perceived as relevant to the NMC. Please read the guidance here.
Role description
Members of the Planning and Performance Committee play a valuable role. The role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the safety and well-being of the public. By contributing to the development and scrutiny of the NMC’s external functions, you will play a vital role in upholding public trust in nursing and midwifery, and our role as a regulator.
The role of members includes:
- preparing for and actively participating in scheduled meetings of the Planning and Performance Committee, enabling the Committee to:
- act as a trusted sounding board to senior officials as appropriate, including operational delivery; financial management; risk appetite; talent/people; technology and management information;
- provide oversight, scrutiny, challenge and advice about the operational implications of policy, delivery and transformation proposals by:
- reviewing the organisations internal controls and systems plans and challenging progress;
- scrutinising reporting from the organisation on performance and challenging NMC on its appropriateness as well as progress.
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- support and ensure appropriate approval processes are followed, identifying and mitigating risks, and ensuring pragmatic governance is adhered to;
- undertake deep dives into key areas of risk and material delivery challenges.
- participating in an annual appraisal of your own performance and contributing to an annual evaluation of the effectiveness of the Board as a whole.
- upholding the public interest and carrying out your role in accordance with the NMC Members’ code of conduct, our values (integrity; fairness; respect; equity; and effectiveness) and The Seven Principles of Public Life.
- following best practice in relation to equality, diversity and inclusion, complying fully with the NMC’s responsibilities under anti-discrimination legislation and ensuring the NMC’s equality objectives are upheld.
Eligibility
You will need to check that you are eligible for appointment and that you are not disqualified. The grounds for disqualification from appointment to the Council can be found in the application form.
We recognise that lived experience is a powerful asset. We encourage you to bring that valuable perspective to our committees. We welcome applications from eligible individuals across all sectors, including those with experience in public, private, or non-profit organisations. Whether your background is in healthcare, technology, finance, education, or another field, your personal perspective can help the NMC navigate its complex challenges
We are seeking lay members, and as such candidates must not be, or ever have been, a registered nurse, midwife or nursing associate, nor have any intention of commencing practice in any of these professions.
Disqualifications
You need to check that you are not disqualified from being a member of the Committee. The disqualifications that apply to candidates can be found in the application form.
Assessment competencies
We will use the following competencies to assess candidates at every stage of the selection process.
NOTE: You will need to explain in your supporting statement how your expertise, experience, knowledge, and skills match each of the competencies. You can provide evidence of these competencies from any aspect of your life, experiences and activities, not just through your professional or work roles.
Essential competencies:
Competency 1: understanding and experience of the role of people committees:
- An understanding of corporate governance and experience of contributing to the oversight of key HR and people policies in an organisation of similar size and complexity to the NMC.
Competency 2: understanding of the public and stakeholder interests:
- Ability to command the trust and confidence of the public/patients, registrants and NMC stakeholders.
- A genuine interest in making a significant contribution to public protection and safeguarding the health and wellbeing of patients and the public.
- An understanding of the objectives of professional regulation in relation to upholding public interest and safeguarding the health and wellbeing of the public.
- Understanding of, and commitment to, the importance of equality, diversity and inclusion.
Competency 3: ability to influence and communicate effectively:
- Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, with the ability to present views clearly and succinctly, using well-reasoned arguments.
- Ability to operate effectively as a committee member, constructively challenge the opinions of others as well as to accept challenge with confidence and maturity.
- Shows respect for the views of others, listens, gives serious consideration to other positions and explores options.
Competency 4: strong analytical skills and sound judgement:
- Ability to assimilate complex information in order to form opinions and reach sound conclusions.
- Press for sufficient and relevant information; probe the facts and challenges assumptions.
- Critically evaluate information provided and reach sound conclusions.
- Open-minded, able to bring their own experience to bear on issues under discussion and exercise sound judgement.
Competency 5: experience in overseeing and managing finances in an organisation of a similar size and complexity to the NMC.