Corporate Governance

Governance is the name given to the combination of systems which health care organisations employ to ensure effective quality management is in place across a range of different areas. It is concerned with; HR Management, Information Governance, Research and Development, Risk Management, Service User and Carer Involvement and other clinical quality management processes such as clinical audit.

The governance activities of organisations must consider; the relationships and responsibilities of board members, senior management, professional staff, shareholders and other relevant stakeholders involved in the legal and regulatory frameworks associated with the provision of health care services. Health services must be able to evidence their various practices and ensure these are robust and ‘fit for purpose’.

Governance Team

Cygnet Health Care has strong governance arrangements in place which aim to enhance quality and improve the service user experience. The department comprises of; a Corporate Governance Director (Vicky McNally), a Corporate Risk and Information Governance Manager (Sue Stepney), a Health & Safety Advisor (Milan Petrovic). The Commercial Director (Adrian Munday) is the Board member with responsibility for governance throughout Cygnet. The Chief Financial Officer (Mark Ground) and his Finance department are responsible for financial governance and link closely in with the team.

The role of the department includes:

• Maintaining and improving corporate standards, policy and procedures for clinical quality and risk management in a standardised format.
• Advising on local systems and procedures required for effective quality and risk management.
• Advising on training requirements resulting from regulatory and legislative change, and sourcing the relevant training relating to quality and risk management.
• Disseminating information for 'best practice' and implenting alert systems.
• Monitoring outcomes and measuring key performance indicators.
• Actively being involved in developing systems for clinical audits, service quality monitoring.
• Evaluating the effectiveness of quality systems and procedures at local level.
• Developing the research profile and activities at Cygnet.
• Providing support to local units when required to enable them to improve service quality.

Health & Safety

The key elements of the role include:

• Ensuring that the Company is compliant with all relevant (H&S) statutory legislation, ACoPs and Guidance across a range of activities and that our policies and practices reflect the above.
• To generate and promote a positive health and safety culture which helps to control occupational risk.
• To help plan, implement, monitor and review safety strategies and internal policies;
• To carry out risk assessments where appropriate.
• To lead in-house training on health and safety issues and risks.
• To carry out regular site inspections and audits to ensure that policies and procedures are being properly followed and implemented.
• To introduce preventative measures to reduce accidents and injuries within the workplace.
• To promote a positive health and well-being agenda.
• To provide advice and support to all hospital managers on health and safety issues.
• To advise on a range of specialist areas such as fire regulations, hazardous substances and occupational diseases.