Executive

Terms of Reference 

1. Role of the Group

The overarching purpose of the LCRN Executive Group is to support the LCRN Clinical Director and LCRN Chief Operating Officer in the strategic leadership and operational management of the LCRN for the benefit of all LCRN Partners.

2. Membership of the Group

The voting members shall be:

▪ Host Organisation Nominated Executive Director

▪ LCRN Clinical Director and any Co-Directors

▪ LCRN Chief Operating Officer

▪ LCRN Deputy Chief Operating Officer

Additional non-voting members may be invited at the discretion of the Nominated Executive Director and/or the LCRN Clinical Director.

The inclusion of the LCRN Partnership Group Chair, or a nominated representative of the Chair.

The additional membership should include a representative from each of the Clinical Leaders and Operational Management Groups.

Additional non-voting membership will be reviewed on a yearly basis to allow for rotation

3. Chair

The Group shall be chaired by either the Host Organisation Nominated Executive Director or the LCRN Clinical Director, by mutual agreement.

4. Business

a) Select and appoint the chair of the Partnership Group.

b) support the LCRN Clinical Director and LCRN Chief Operating Officer in the development of LCRN strategies, proposals, and plans;

c) approve:

▪ LCRN Strategies

▪ LCRN Annual Plan

▪ LCRN Annual Financial Plan

▪ LCRN Annual Report to the CRN Coordinating Centre

▪ LCRN Public Annual Report

d) The Executive Group is expected to approve these documents pursuant to the recommendations of the LCRN Partnership Group. In the event that the Executive Group does not support the recommendations of the Partnership Group, then the matter must revert to the Partnership Group for consideration.

e) maintain oversight of LCRN governance, leadership and management arrangements, which should be in line with guidance issued by the CRN Coordinating Centre;

f) review performance against the LCRN Strategies, LCRN Annual Plan, LCRN Annual Financial Plan, and Key Performance Indicators;

g) maintain oversight of compliance with the provisions of the DHSC LCRN Host Organisation contract;

h) ensure maintenance of a sound system of LCRN internal control and risk management;

i) ensure good relationships between the LCRN Leadership and Management Teams with LCRN Partners based on the mutual understanding of CRN purposes and policies;

j) ensure patient, carer and public involvement and engagement is embedded in the activities and structures of the LCRN;

k) receive advice from, and liaise with, the Clinical Research Leadership and Operational Management Groups on LCRN strategic and operational issues;

l) ensure that risks to the efficient and effective management and delivery of the LCRN arising from internal Host Organisation policies, procedures and instructions are identified and mitigated.

5. Voting

The Group is expected to make decisions by consensus. In formulating strategy and making decisions, the Group should always have regard to the best interests of the LCRN Partners as a whole, and not the specific interests of any one party or sector.

Should voting be required, only the voting members shall vote.

The Chair shall not have a casting vote.

No individual member or combination of members shall have a power of veto.

The Host Executive can delegate his/her right to vote in their absence

6. Quoracy

A minimum of three voting members are required for the meeting to be quorate.

7. Meeting arrangements

The Host Organisation Nominated Executive Director shall convene the LCRN Executive Group (i.e. shall ensure that Group is established and meeting regularly).

Meeting frequency and duration shall be determined by the business requirement, with an expected minimum of one meeting per quarter as agreed by the Host Executive. Ad hoc meetings may be called upon should the business requirement demand it.

The LCRN Management Team shall provide the secretariat function.

8. Review Date: These ToRs will be reviewed in April 2024