QNIS Council Decisions

• Approved the draft annual report and accounts for presentation to the AGM in November 2021. 
• Received updates from the short life working groups which have been convened to look at specific aspects of our governance and strategic review including welfare and research. 
• Reviewed quarterly budget and operational plan updates.
• Discussed and reviewed the risk register.
• Discussed the ongoing impact of COVID. 

• Gratefully noted a donation from Scotland’s Gardens Scheme accompanied by a letter from the Chair confirming ongoing support for QNIS and other beneficiaries. 
• Agreed Rhona Hotchkiss should chair the new Healthier Pregnancies, Better Lives Steering Group. 
• Received and discussed end of year report on the operational plan and budget for 2020/21. 
• Discussed and approved the Reserves Policy. 
• Discussed the ongoing impact of COVID. 

• Paid tribute to Sir Lewis Ritchie who was stepping down as Chair. 
• Welcomed Sir Paul Grice as new Chair. 

• Approved a statement of purpose which will be launched at the AGM in November 2021. 
• Reviewed and approved the 2021/2022 budget. 
• Approved QNIS’ safeguarding policy and appointed David Williams as trustee champion for safeguarding. 
• Discussed the ongoing impact of COVID. 

• Agreed that all staff and trustees should undertake unconscious bias training. 
• Discussed the ongoing impact of COVID and agreed that this should remain a standing agenda item. 
• Reviewed and approved the business continuity plan. 
• Thanked David Boswell who is stepping down after two terms of four years as a trustee.   

• Elected Sir Paul Grice QNIS Chair in succession to Professor Sir Lewis Ritchie. 
• Agreed the Annual Report and Accounts 2019/2020 ready for presentation at the AGM. 
• Agreed to establish a small group to look at QNIS’ future role in research. The subgroup will look at where QNIS can add value making the best use of our resources. This work will be integral to the ongoing overarching conversations about the purpose and direction of QNIS. 
• Asked that a paper detailing trustee diversity, CPD around governance and attendance should be presented to the AGM.  
• Agreed that QNIS will not award Fellowships in 2020 because of the pandemic.  

#1 Trustees agreed to extend the recruitment process for a new chair to the end of June.

#12 Trustees agreed QNAG should explore the option of a discrete Queen’s Nurse programme for care home nurses as well as a pre-Queen’s Nurse support programme for the care home sector.

#16a Trustees agreed to support the employment of an additional full-time administrator whose primary focus would be to support the QN programmes.

#16b Trustees agreed to support Jonathan Sher’s employment as Deputy Director for a further seven months until the end of March 2021.

#17 Trustees agreed that a substantive Associate Nurse Director (title to be agreed) post is advertised to start from September 2020.

#18 Council agreed that QNIS’ proactive policy priorities for 2020 should be Community Children’s Nursing (future workforce), Psychological Trauma (Toxic Stress) and Preconception Health and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD).

#19 It was agreed that, with the caveat that the 2020/21 budget is approved, QNIS would contribute up to £15k to sponsor the poetry anthology.

#21 2020/21 operational plan approved.

#22a 1.6% CoL uplift approved.

#22b 2020/21 budget approved.

#23 Trustees approved the appointment of Whitelaw Wells as auditors for 2020.

#9 Council approved trustees’ annual report and accounts subject to changes to table 4.

#14 Banking arrangements to be reviewed.

#15a Two trustee vacancies to be advertised.

#13 Trustees agreed a refurbishment budget for 32/2 Castle Terrace and that a small subgroup should be formed to make timely decisions regarding the property

#14 Community midwives should continue to be included in the remit of QNIS with the caveat that QNIS will not make a separate award of Queen’s Midwife. Any practitioner providing the majority of their care in a community setting will be eligible to apply for long-service awards.

#19a: QNIS should become a signatory to a Scottish campaign for limiting exposure to alcohol marketing for children and under-age young people.

#9 Council approved 2019/20 operational plan.

#10 Council agreed annual awards dinner should go ahead but guests should purchase all beverages except the welcome drink.

#13 Council agreed a move to twice yearly staff governance meetings.

#19 Acceptance and refusal of donations policy approved.

#9 Council approved 2019/20 operational plan.

#10 Council agreed annual awards dinner should go ahead but guests should purchase all beverages except the welcome drink.

#13 Council agreed a move to twice yearly staff governance meetings.

#19 Acceptance and refusal of donations policy approved.

#7 Council approved annual review guidance for Trustees.

#15a Funding for 2019 Queen’s Nurse programme to be underwritten from QNIS reserves if necessary.

#15b Council approved consultation with a fundraiser for advice initially.

#16 Council approved the commencement of the process to appoint a Deputy Director on a secondment basis or fixed term contract for two years.

#10 Risk will be added as a standing item to all advisory groups’ agendas to ensure any risks flagged up are captured on the Institute’s risk register.

#12 QNIS should remain coupled to EVH salary negotiations.

#13 Council approved the business continuity plan with a caveat

#13  4x salary life cover should be offered as a staff benefit to attract and retain staff. Aviva has provided the most competitive quote via our insurance brokers.

#14  QNIS will obtain a PRS licence.

#6     Annual Accounts were approved.

#12   It was agreed that QNIS would not proceed with IIP accreditation at this time.

#16  Council agreed the need for a database and approved the budget.

#5b   A Governance group for the QNIS Chair consisting of CC plus a Trustee, Ian Murray and Catriona Kennedy is sufficient at present and will be reviewed when the Observatory is more developed.

#18   Three new Fellowships have been agreed: QNIS Fellows, Associate Fellows and Honorary Fellows.  Fellowship Awards will take place at the Annual Awards Dinner in December.