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Board of Directors

The Trust Board consists of the chair, executive and non-executive directors, including the chief executive. They are collectively responsible for the performance of the Trust. The Board of Directors is made up of executive directors who are employed by the Trust, and non-executive directors who are appointed by the Council of Governors. The role of the Board is to consider strategic, managerial, and performance issues facing the Trust. Directors are accountable for meeting national standards, performance targets, and governance and financial targets.

The executive directors are responsible for the day-to-day running of the organisation, working with the nonexecutive directors to translate the Trust’s strategic vision into operational practice. These roles are occupied by appropriately qualified professionals able to discharge the functions expected from those professions and as defined in the Trust’s Constitution.

The non-executive directors draw on a range of backgrounds and provide an independent view on strategic issues, performance, key appointments to bring rigorous and constructive challenge when holding the executive directors to account.

In 2023/24, the Board included:

  • Six voting non-executive directors, including the Trust Chair, who are independent.
  • One non-voting associate non-executive director.
  • Hosting one NExT Director scheme placement, a scheme which is created and designed to support the next generation of talented people from groups who are currently under-represented on NHS boards.
  • Six voting executive directors, including the Chief Executive, Director of Operations, Director of Finance, Digital and Estates, Medical Director, Director of People, and Director of Nursing and Quality.
  • One non-voting member of the Chief Executive’s team, the Director of Corporate Governance, who regularly attends Board meetings and supports in day-to-day operational management of the Trust.

The Board’s business was conducted through six Board of Directors meetings in 2023/24, which were held in public. In addition, the Board has a range of Committees to provide further scrutiny and assurance. The minutes and other papers from the Board of Directors meetings are published on the Trust website www.lpft.nhs.uk/board

There are robust processes in place in order to hold the Board of Directors account for the decisions which they make and to evaluate their performance, as a whole and individually. This includes:

  • The Trust Chair conducts an annual appraisal with the Chief Executive.
  • The Trust Chair conducts annual appraisals with the non-executive directors. This process is developed in connection with the Council of Governors and the outcome is presented at Council of Governors meetings. It is within the powers of the Council of Governors to remove or suspend any of the non-executive directors, the process for which is set out within the Trust Constitution. These powers have not been required in 2023/24.
  • The Chief Executive conducts annual appraisals with the executive directors and other members of the Chief Executive’s team.
  • The Lead Governor and the Senior Independent Non-Executive Director conduct an annual appraisal with the Trust Chair. This process includes governors, directors, and stakeholders being invited to comment on the Trust Chair’s performance.

The people who served on the Board of Directors for the year ending 31 March 2023 follow on the coming pages.

Return to the accountability report page
Return to the annual report contents page