Transformation, Innovation and Sustainability Committee
Terms of Reference approved by Trust Board on 28 July 2026.
All Trust Board Committees are responsible for the scrutiny, monitoring and provision of assurance to Trust Board on key issues set out in their terms of reference and/or allocated to them by the Board. Agendas are set to enable Trust Board to receive assurance that scrutiny and monitoring processes are in place to allow the Trust’s strategic objectives to be met and to proactively address and mitigate risk.
The Transformation, Innovation and Sustainability Committee was established in April 2026. The Terms of Reference of the Committee will be reviewed annually and, if appropriate, amended to reflect any changes to the Committee’s remit and role, any changes to other committees and revised membership. The Committee is a committee of the Board and has no executive powers other than those specifically delegated in these terms of reference and, as appropriate, by Trust Board. Committees are expected to conduct their business in accordance with the 7 principles of public life (Nolan principles): selflessness, integrity, objectivity; accountability; openness; honesty; and leadership.
Purpose
The Transformation, Innovation and Sustainability Committee’s prime purpose is to provide oversight and direction for implementation of the Trust’s strategy. More specifically this includes: oversight of the Trust’s engagement and participation in external partnerships; oversight of our approach to innovation and to ensure we are maximising the opportunities in our digital and estates strategies, along with ensuring there is effective alignment with our research and development strategy.
It will gain assurance that that there are effective plans in place for the delivery of the Trust’s priority programmes and that these are delivering the activity to enable the Trust’s strategic goals to be achieved in line with plans. The Committee will maintain oversight of innovation priorities in light of the Trust Strategy. The Committee will provide assurance to the Board of Directors that appropriate and effective plans are in place for the Place Provider Partnerships for which the Trust is host provider or a partner. On behalf of the Trust Board, it will have an oversight of related risks, providing additional scrutiny of any such risks which are outside the Trust’s Risk Appetite, giving assurance to the Board around the management of such risks.
The Committee will provide strategic oversight and assurance regarding the delivery of the Trust’s Social Responsibility and Sustainability (SRS) Strategy and Green Plan, ensuring that sustainability, social value and net zero objectives are embedded within transformation, innovation and service development programmes across the Trust.
Membership
The Committee is always chaired by a Non-Executive Director of the Trust and the membership consists of a minimum of two other Non-Executive Directors and two executive Directors.
Membership as at 1 April 2026
Chair – Non-Executive Director – Martin Neeson
Non-Executive Director – Gary Ellis
Non-Executive Director – Rokaiya Khan
Director of Strategy, Inclusion and Change/Deputy Chief Executive- Dawn Lawson (lead executive)
Chief Medical Officer- Prof. Subha Thiyagesh
Attendees as required.
Deputy Director Strategy, Inclusion and Change- Sue Barton
Deputy of Partnerships, Planning and Governance – Izzy Worswick
Deputy Director of Estates – Kev Gelder
Chief Digital & Technology Officer – Paul Foster
Sustainability Change Manager – Tony Wright
Attendance
The Director of Strategy, Inclusion and Change/Deputy Chief Executive is in attendance (as lead Director) at meetings, and the Chief Medical Officer. The Chair of the Trust, other Directors, and relevant officers attend the Committee by invitation. Administrative support is provided by the Personal Assistant to the Lead Director.
Quorum
The quorum will be two Non-Executive Director members and the lead Director (or nominated Director) plus one other Director. Members are expected to attend all meetings. In the unusual event that the Chair is absent from the meeting, the Committee will agree another Non-Executive Director to take the chair. In the absence of executive Director members, deputies are permitted to attend, however they will not form part of the quorum.
Frequency of meetings
The frequency of meetings is 4 meetings per year.
Authority
The Committee is authorised by Trust Board to investigate any activity within its terms of reference. It is authorised to seek any information it requires from any employee and all employees are directed by Trust Board to co-operate with any request made by the Committee.
Sub-committees
To fulfil its duties and to ensure the Trust complies with its statutory responsibilities and duties, the Committee will receive reports from identified sub-committees including the Digital Programme Group.
Duties
Transformation
- Gain assurance on the delivery of the Trust’s strategy in line with the expectations of the Trust Board
- Oversee progress in relation to the Trust’s strategic priority ‘we are ambitious’
- Ensure that other enabling strategies are aligned with the Trust’s overall strategy and reflect national Policy and local landscape
- Oversee the development of annual priority programmes
- Seek assurance that overall the Trust’s priority programmes are being delivered in line with plans in order to provide the best services to our patients, carers communities. This will not replace the detailed oversight of priority areas given by relevant Committees
- Receive annually the Trust’s PESTLE and SWOT assessments, and in this context consider how the Trust makes the most of the opportunities we identify
Partnerships
- Oversee the Trust’s role in the development of Place Provider Partnerships, both as host and partner
- Seek assurance that strategic partnership arrangements are in place and opportunities to the Trust are maximised in line with our strategic intentions to the best Partner
- Review any significant risks or opportunities external changes will have on the Trust’s strategic mission and advice the Board accordingly
Innovation and sustainability
- Oversee implementation of evidence based innovation priorities in light of our Trust Strategic priorities, working alongside our communities, colleagues and partners
- Oversee the development and implementation of our risk appetite and management process for innovation to ensure that we can innovate effectively with ambition but in a managed way
- Oversee delivery of the digital strategy, and digital transformation and artificial intelligence innovation programmes, ensuring that delivery plans are achieved with meaningful engagement with our communities, colleagues and partners.
- Provide high level oversight of our research and development activity
- Oversee the development and delivery of the Trust estates strategy, including environmental sustainability alongside our system partners
In carrying out its work, the Committee will primarily utilise internal expertise. Where required it will seek reports and assurances from Directors and managers concentrating on the delivery of plans.
Relationship with the Members’ Council
At the discretion of the Chair of the Committee and/or the Chair of the Trust, governors may be invited to attend meetings of the Committee to support the Members’ Council in meeting its duty to hold Non-Executive Directors to account for the performance of the Board.
Monitoring
The Committee will monitor its performance both in terms of providing assurance to Trust Board and in terms of ensuring it meets the remit as set out in its terms of reference through agreement of an annual work plan, inclusion in the work plan of any items delegated to the Committee by Trust Board and through the Assurance Framework, monitoring implementation of the annual work plan, assessment of the Committee’s performance through an annual self-assessment, and an evaluation of the Committee’s performance through an annual report to Trust Board.
The Committee will assess, measure and evaluate its impact, both quantitatively and qualitatively, and include the outcome of this in its annual report to Trust Board.
Behaviours and Conduct
Trust values
Members will be expected to conduct business in line with the trust values and objectives.
Members of, and those attending, the committee shall behave in accordance with the trust’s constitution, standing orders, and standards of business conduct policy.
Equality and diversity
Members must demonstrably consider the equality and diversity implications of decisions they make.
Reporting to Trust Board
Trust Board will receive the minutes of Committee at the Trust Board meeting following the Committee meeting. The Committee will also report to the Board annually on its work and include commentary on its support of the Annual Governance Statement, the effectiveness of assurance systems, the work of internal and external audit and the annual accounting process.
All Trust Board Committees have a responsibility to ensure they foster and maintain relationships and links between Committees and Trust Board. Each Committee also has a responsibility to ensure action identified and agreed is placed within the organisation either through the Executive Management Team or other internal groups, such as Trust-wide Action Groups.
Next review due: April 2027
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