Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership
Honorary Treasurer Candidate Pack
March 2015
CONTENTS
About Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership (HQIP)
About the role
Timetable
How to apply
About HQIP
HQIP is a consortium of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, the Royal College of Nursing and
National Voices. It is an independent organisation which works in partnership with patients and
healthcare professionals, to influence and improve healthcare practice at all levels, listening,
learning and responding as part of an ongoing cycle of improvement.
With an annual turnover of £18m and 30 staff, HQIP’s major area of work is the commissioning and
management of the national clinical audit and patient outcomes programme which is undertaken
on behalf of NHS England (£14m per annum). The organisation works to inform and influence
national healthcare policy by effectively communicating its work and that of its partners,
encouraging the wide use of robust data for quality improvement of care, offering patient choices
and promoting patient safety, supporting revalidation and service accreditation, commissioning,
service redesign, and research. It supports healthcare professionals to review and improve their
practice by providing education and training programmes, and opportunities to share best practice
as part of promoting an integrated approach to quality improvement.
HQIP’s work is supported by two key advisory groups, one representing all main stakeholders and
one representing patients and those who use services. The Service User Network (SUN) acts as an
expert consultation group on healthcare quality improvement and comprises 40 patient and public
representatives who work alongside HQIP helping develop public and patient engagement. HQIP
Advisory Group was established to provide wider clinical and patient perspectives and to support
and inform the HQIP Board’s planning and decision making. This group meets to discuss a wide
range of topics such as transparency, commissioning and general practice, research, clinical practice
and management, as well as the patient voice.
The vision is that HQIP will become a major force in professionally led quality improvement in
healthcare in the UK, improving health outcomes by enabling those who commission deliver and
receive healthcare to measure and improve our healthcare services, and to increase the impact that
clinical audit has on healthcare quality in England and Wales.
HQIPs values are that it remains an independent organisation working in partnership with
patients and healthcare professionals, to influence and improve healthcare practice at all
levels. It seeks to be open and accountable and pledge to listen, learn and respond as part of
an ongoing cycle of improvement.
For further background information on HQIP please go to http://www.hqip.org.uk/
The Honorary Treasurer role
Our vision can only be achieved through the support of an active board of trustees whose
primary role is the strategic governance of HQIP - the honorary treasurer is key to this.
Trustees are expected to assist in developing the overall strategic direction of the
partnership, and to oversee the governance and probity of the organisation.
The Honorary Treasurer will attend board meetings to advise on the financial affairs of the
charity and with the help of the Business Manager, guide the board on relevant financial
matters and should have a solid understanding of charity management. They must be
satisfied that proper financial records and procedures are maintained and that legislation
relating to the financial affairs of the organisation is complied with. They must ensure the
board is fully briefed and engaged in the financial management of the charity and in so doing
its financial viability is preserved through careful scrutiny of the reports presented by the
business manager and chief executive.
Nearly all operational decisions, including significant budgetary ones, are delegated to the
CEO and the staff team. The Treasurer has an oversight role whilst the HQIP Business
Manager and finance officer deliver an effective programme of work to ensure compliance
with SORP including: budget setting, monitoring, forecasting and reporting, ensuring
compliance with the relevant VAT requirements for a charitable organisation, facilitating the
annual audit working with the appointed external auditors (currently Buzzacott), and
facilitating annual reporting to the Charities Commission. HQIPs internal management
reporting and operational planning need development
Role Responsibilities and duties:
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With the help of the business manager, ensure the organisation applies its resources
exclusively in pursuance of its objectives (organisation must not spend money on
activities which are not included in its own objects, no matter how worthwhile or
charitable those activities are)
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Contribute actively to the board of trustees’ role in giving firm strategic direction to
the organisation, setting overall policy, defining goals and setting targets and
evaluating performance against agreed targets
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With other board members, safeguard the good name and values of the organisation
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Oversee the effective and efficient administration of the organisation and the
financial stability of the organisation through the work carried out by the finance
team
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Work with the business manager and Board to protect and manage the property of
the charity and the proper investment of the organisation’s funds
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Oversee the business manager in preparation of accounts in the correct manner as
required by funders and the relevant statutory bodies, e.g. the Charity Commission
and/or the Registrar of Companies
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With the business manager verify that the organisation’s accounts are independently
audited as required and any agreed recommendations are implemented
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Liaise as required and appropriate with external parties, eg organisation’s auditors
Time commitment
Annual minimum time commitment estimated as 50 hours per annum (meetings take place
during office hours):
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Attendance at 4 face to face Trustee meetings (4 x 2 hours)
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Attendance at 1 Board development event (3 hours)
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Involvement with Business Manager and/or Chair/Chief Executive as necessary (ad
hoc maximum support not to exceed 12 x 2 hours)
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Preparation and reading of papers (4 x 2 hours)
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Other (including induction and training (10 hours
Person Specification
Essential
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Qualified Accountant: ACCA /ICAEW / CIMA/CIPFA or equivalent
Good financial analysis skills
Ability to communicate clearly, particularly when communicating financial
information
Is committed to being part of a team which is dedicated to the successful global
growth of HQIP and can devote the necessary time required for this role
Knowledge and experience of financial management and a proven track record of
preparing accounts preferably under SORP
Knowledge of the responsibilities of a Trustee
Possesses strategic vision and sound independent judgement
Influencing skills and the ability to build rapport with a range of different people
including key stakeholders
Able to demonstrate personal alignment with the core values of the charity
Desirable
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Prior experience of charity management
An understanding of HQIP’s work an understanding of the key
constituent/stakeholder groups the organisations supports
Previous Board experience, with previous Treasurer or Finance Committee
experience desirable
Remuneration
HQIP does not remunerate its trustees although reasonable expenses in carrying out duties
as a trustee will be reimbursed.
The Timetable
The closing date for applications is March 23rd 2015
Please also note the following dates:
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Preliminary interviews with Trustees Unlimited: w/c 30th March
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Interviews with Nominations Committee: TBC

Appointment with a view to attending board meeting as observer and appointment
ratification: TBC
Please advise any dates that are not convenient during these times on application
HOW TO APPLY
To apply for this role, please provide the following:
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a short introductory statement, illustrating your motivation for applying for this role;
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a supporting statement explain how you believe your skills and experience match the
requirements of the role, directly addressing the Person Specification
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a comprehensive CV including details of your achievements in each role, and including
details of two referees.
Just to be clear, like most trustee roles, this is an unpaid voluntary post.
Please then follow this application url shown below and upload your documents vis the relevant
fields
4567TU_HQIP application link