Operational Management Group

Terms of Reference 

1. Role of the Group

The LCRN Chief Operating Officer shall convene the LCRN Operational Management Group.

The role of this Group is to ensure effective LCRN management and performance. It will:

(a) act as the forum to address cross-divisional and operational issues;

(b) liaise with the Clinical Leaders Group and LCRN Clinical Research Specialty Groups regarding performance issues, resource allocation, the balance of the LCRN portfolio and availability of opportunities in the LCRN area for all patients to participate in research;

(c) monitor the day-to-day operational performance of the LCRN, in particular delivery of objectives;

(d) work with the CRN Coordinating Centre at an operational level on national work relating to the LCRN.

2. Membership of the Group

The membership of the Group shall include the Chief Operating Officer (Chair) and the LCRN senior operational managers who comprise the LCRN management team, including Deputy Chief operating Officer, Research Delivery Managers and the Industry Operations Manager, Communications Lead, Finance and BI Manager.

Additional membership from the Lead Nurse / AHP and R&D Managers group will be reviewed on a yearly basis to allow for rotation.

3. Business

The Group will:

● include a standing agenda item at the beginning of each meeting for members to declare interests

● liaise with the Clinical Leadership and Local Clinical Research Specialty Groups regarding performance issues, resource allocation, the balance of the LCRN portfolio and availability of opportunities in the LCRN area for all patients to participate in research;

● monitor and oversee the management of the day-to-day operational performance of the LCRN, in particular delivery of objectives;

● monitor performance of NIHR CRN Portfolio studies by Specialty and Cluster and identify ways to address underperformance;

● work with the national CRN Coordinating Centre at an operational level on national issues relating to the LCRN

● develop the annual business plan, agree local operational policies and make recommendations on resource allocation and strategic issues to the LCRN Executive and Partnership Groups

4. 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.

5. Quoracy

A quorum will be the CRN: SWP COO or Deputy COO and a minimum of 3 LCRN senior operational managers.

6. Meeting Arrangements

● The LCRN Management Team shall provide the secretariat function.

● 12 meetings will be held annually.

● Agenda and papers will be circulated five working days in advance of the meeting.

● Meetings will be held monthly on a Wednesday afternoon, virtually via teams - Link which will be forwarded in the meeting request or (alternating between Exeter and Plymouth)

● Members are expected to attend a minimum of 10 meetings per year.

Review Date: These ToRs will be reviewed April 2024