Performance Committee Assurance Report - May 2025
Meeting: Trust Board – Public Meeting
Date: 7 May 2025
Report Title: Performance Committee Assurance Report
Agenda Item: PUB25/05/3.2
Committee Date: 26 February 2025
Meeting Chair: Julie Thallon, Non-Executive Director & Committee Chair
Meeting quorate: YES
Purpose: Assurance
Link to Strategic Objective:
- Provide outstanding quality of care and performance.
- Be excellent collaborators and innovators as system partners.
| Issue | Consideration | Resolution | Assurance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Committee IPR and Metrics | No IPR was presented to the Committee at this meeting. The good C2 performance in early February was noted and demonstrated that the Trust has made good progress with its improvement journey. | Progress continues on development of the new style report. A draft will be shared with Committee Chairs in advance of implementation for comment. We need to ensure there is clear separation and intent around reporting of the metrics in the new IPR and the OPIP. | Moderate |
| Organisational Improvement Plan (OPIP) | New OPIP report was well-received, it provided a good, revised summary position of work underway. Discussed: Variability across the Trust which can mask areas of good performance and poor. Variable performance of the Unscheduled Care Co-ordination Hubs (UCCHs). Hospital handovers (HO45) and the progress and challenge with adopting this. | Continue with the refinement of the report. | Moderate |
| AACE review of OPIP | Most recommendations were accepted for adoption by the Trust. Discussed the position on C1 performance and the recommendation that a proportion of the ‘old style’ report should be transferred to business-as-usual. | It was agreed that a more prioritisation approach would be taken to implementation of the recommendations rather than movement to business-as-usual at this stage. | Substantial |
| Transformation Programme Group | It was agreed that this paper did not provide the information required by the Committee. It will be superseded by the new governance arrangements and the Portfolio Board. | Further clarity was still required around the positioning of the Portfolio Board and how the governance will operate between that and the committees. To be refined and then presented directly to Board. The report from the Transformation Programme Group will be discontinued with immediate effect. | Limited |
| Integration Progress Report | A full and helpful report was presented updating the committee on all areas of integration. Discussed: Maintaining dispatch performance once the dedicated volunteer dispatcher contract ends on 31 March. Progress in some Trusts with the implementation of the UCCH and HO45. How to maximise the calls referred to UCCHs and increase the numbers? | ELT to consider how to ensure dispatch to volunteers is maintained at the “very good” level that has been achieved to date. CEO to escalate concerns about ongoing delays to the regional team. Further information to be developed around the optimum opportunity for the transfer of C3-C5 calls to aid understanding of the progress so far and the aim. | Substantial |
| Non-Emergency Patient Transport Services | Considered the performance of the service only. Finance and contract update discussed at Finance and Sustainability Committee last week. | Progress with improving performance continues but against a background of contractual constraints. There is some limitation to potential to improve in some areas and work continues on co-producing a new model for the services. | Moderate |
| Annual Review of Commercial Activity | Positive update on the commercial services provided by the Trust with a contribution being made to the Trust’s bottom line. | Discuss the positioning of this function within the remit of the Performance Committee and whether it would be better placed with the Finance and Sustainability Committee. | Substantial |
| Board Assurance Framework | The BAF had not been reviewed and revised in time for this meeting. A Board Risk Workshop is scheduled for 13 March, but the interregnum is causing concern as the committee felt that proper consideration of the risks and mitigations is not taking place. | Escalate to Board to ensure that robust arrangements are put in place whilst the BAF review is completed. | Limited |
| Group Assurance Reports | As discussed at previous meetings, this report still does not meet the needs of the Committee. The new format has been adopted, and this was welcomed, but the content and purpose remain unsatisfactory. | Consideration is being given to including the review of these groups as part of the Trust’s governance review for committees and Board. Work has been undertaken and reported to Audit Committee already and this is also being considered for wider circulation. A fundamental review of the need of the groups should be the starting point. | Limited |
Matters for escalation or referral:
| Issue | To | Reason | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Board Assurance Framework (BAF) | Board | The risk to the organisation of not having a robust approach to risk management currently. | |
| Access to the Stack and UCCH | ELT | To ensure that the correct committee with the correct staff representation can consider the item and provide the appropriate assurance. | |
| Group Assurance reports | ELT | To ensure that the groups are appropriately commissioned and positioned to report into the committees. |
