04.02.20
RCN launches independent governance review
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has started an independent review of its internal decision-making process and governance.
The review will be led by the Centre for Public Scrutiny and was called by members during RCN Congress in 2019 following concerns about RCN’s handling of a pay deal the previous year.
Chair of RCN Council Dee Sissons said:
“We are determined to learn from what has gone before and ensure we are not only committed to listening to our members but know for sure we have the structures in place to hear their voice.”
The review aims to make sure that RCN’s members fully understand the organisation’s strategy and key decision-making process going forward, as well as having the opportunity to influence and shape the organisation.
Mrs Sissons continued:
“I would urge as many members as possible to respond to the review in what I hope will be a constructive and learning process and will lead to the RCN being much more open, transparent and responsive to the views of members.”
The review will use surveys, emailed to members during February, as well as having focus groups later in the year. The results will be made available shortly before this year’s RCN Congress in Liverpool.
The 2018 pay deal that sparked this review wasn’t sufficiently understood by executives and therefore not properly explained to members, leading to complaints that the deal they received wasn’t the deal they were promised.
The RCN Council said:
“The Executive Team, Council, Trade Union Committee, and the membership were not fully informed about the details and impacts of the deal in a way that enabled them to make an informed balanced judgement.”
RCN accepted responsibility for the miscommunication and held an Extraordinary General Meeting following a vote of no confidence in the union’s senior officials signed by more than 1,000 members.