Network Governance
South West Burn Care Network Governance
The South West Burn Care Network (SWBCN) is reliant on clinicians, managers, commissioners and patients to function effectively and achieve the best clinical outcomes for patients. The Network has developed a Regional Governance Framework which aligns to a National Governance Framework for Operational Delivery Networks. A Governance Framework of Multi-professional groups has been established to oversee and deliver the work of the Network.
The Governance Framework that consists of:
- Network Management Team
- SWBCN Executive Board
- SWBCN Clinical Governance Group
- Specialist sub-groups for Nursing, Therapists and Psychologists
- SWBCN Emergency Planning and Resilience Group
- Short life Task and Finish Groups
Patient involvement has been difficult to achieve, however, we have been fortunate in recruiting a patient representative to the ODN Board.
The SWBCN collaborates with the other three Burn Care Networks. All Burn Care Networks are overseen by NHS England’s Trauma National Programme of Care and the Major Trauma Clinical Reference Group which brings together major trauma and burns. Both ensure Burn Care Networks are delivering against core and developmental standards as defined in the National Service Specification for Specialised Burn Care (all ages).
Network Management Team
The Network Management Team is chaired by the Network Manager and consists of the ODN Clinical Leads and ODN Lead Nurse. See The Team page for further details.
The group works on behalf of the ODN Board to deliver the ODN Governance Framework and produce an Annual Work Plan and Annual Report. It also advises on items for discussion at the Clinical Advisory Group and the ODN Board meetings. The Steering Group holds a weekly teleconference and aims to meet face to face on a monthly basis in order to review performance and progress against the Annual Work Plan.
South West Burn Care Network Executive Board
The Network Executive Board is currently chaired by Dr Tim Whittlestone, Medical Director of North Bristol NHS Trust. The Board meets three times a year and it was agreed the fourth meeting would be the annual Regional Morbidity and Mortality Audit meeting. The Board has standing Agenda items reviewing progress against the Work Plan, review of the Risk Register, Network financial report and review against the National Quality Dashboard.
The Network Executive Board includes members of the Network Management Team with additional members from:
- NHS England Specialised Commissioning (South)
- Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee (WHSSC)
- Service Clinical Leads from the Network specialised burn services
- Trust Management of burn services
- A patient representative
For further information, please see below the latest list of Board Members and Board Terms of Reference. Minutes of Board meetings are available on request.
Clinical Governance Group (CGG)
The Clinical Governance Group (CGG) was set up to standardise ODN protocols and guidelines and oversee any clinical risk and governance issues. The group is Chaired by a Network Clinical Director and reports directly to the Network Executive Board. Each Burn Care Service provides a written report to the Clinical Governance Group each quarter. The Board has also set up specialist interest groups (SIGs) for the Senior Nurses, Senior Therapists and Clinical Psychologists. These groups also provide a quarterly progress reports to the Clinical Governance Group on work streams associated to the Network Work Plan. Any items of concern are escalated to the Board.
Membership of the Clinical Governance Group consists of:
- Burn Service Clinical Leads
- Network Clinical Director
- Network Lead Nurse
- Network Allide Health Professional (AHP) & Quality Lead
- A Nominated Clinical Psychologist Lead
- Representatives from South Western Ambulance Services NHS Foundation Trust
- Representatives from the SW Critical Care Network
- Representatives from general ICUs
- Representatives from general paediatrics
- Network Manager
South West Burn Care Network Specialist Interest Groups (SIGs)
Specialist Interest Groups (SIGs) have been set up for burns specialist nurses, therapists (physiotherapists and occupational therapists) and psychologists. The groups consists of specialist from each of the burn services, allowing cross organisation collaborations in driving regional projects on improving burn care in the Network area. They also send representatives to national SIGs. To find out more about their role, please go to the Professionals section of this website.
South West Burn Care Network Emergency Planning and Resilience Group
Following the publication of the NHS England Concept of Operations for managing Mass Casualtiesand the Burns Annex, the Network set up an Emergency Planning and Resilience Group consisting of representatives from each Specialised Burn Service. The aim of this group is to provide assurance to the Network Executive Board and in turn NHS England, that each of the specialised burn services in the Network area have an Emergency Plan in place that is embedded into their Trust's/Health Board's Emergency Plan. The group provides a consultative forum for burns mass casualty strategic and management issues across the Network.