The Role of the Chief Executive

The Chief Executive has responsibility for:

• establishing the Primary Care Trust (PCT) as an organisation;
• providing clear vision and strategic direction;
• overall performance of the executive functions of the PCT;
• achieving value for money from the resources available to the PCT;
• using to best effect the funds available to meet the needs of the local population for:
• • commissioning good quality secondary healthcare
  • developing and delivering appropriate services to improve the health of local communities
  • developing and promoting health improvement plans for the population covered by the PCT
• ensuring the discharge of obligations under the Financial Directions;
• esuring the financial, legal and contractual requirements of the organisation are met;
• providing strategic leadership to the NHS locally for its contribution to wider partnerships including strategic partnerships, neighbourhood renewal, community regeneration and general community wellbeing;
• signing any document as a step in legal proceedings on behalf of the PCT, unless any enactment otherwise requires;
• ensuring effective management systems that safeguard public funds and assist PCT Chairman to implement requirements of corporate governance including ensuring managers:
• • have a clear view of their objectives and the means to assess achievements in relation to those objectives;
  • be assigned well defined responsibilities for making best use of resources;
  • have the information, training and access to the expert advice they need to exercise their responsibilities effectively.

Accountability

The Chief Executive is accountable to the Chairman and board of the PCT for the overall performance of the organisation’s activities.

The Chief Executive is the Accountable Officer for the PCT and is responsible for ensuring the discharge of obligations under the Financial Directions and is accountable to Parliament for stewardship of PCT resources.

The Chief Executive ensures that the accounts of the PCT are prepared under principles and in a format directed by the Secretary of State and can sign such accounts on behalf of the Board and also the following statements included in the accounts:

• statement in the accounts outlining responsibilities as the Accountable Officer; and
• statement in the accounts outlining responsibilities in respect of Internal Control.

Delegated Authority

Those functions of the PCT which are not retained as reserved by the Board or delegated to the Clinical Commissioning Executive, other committee or sub-committee or joint-committee are exercised on behalf of the PCT by the Chief Executive.

The Chief Executive determines which functions he/she will perform personally and shall nominate officers to undertake the remaining functions for which he/she will still retain accountability to the PCT.

Procedural statutory obligations undertaken by the Chief Executive

The Chief Executive has a duty to report non-compliance with the Standing Orders and Standing Financial Instructions of the PCT. All members of the PCT Board and Executive Committee and staff have a duty to disclose any non-compliance with these Standing Orders to the Chief Executive as soon as possible.

The Chief Executive ensures that a Register of Interests is established to record formally declarations of interests of the Board members.

The security of the common seal of the PCT is the responsibility of the Chief Executive and the Chief Executive maintains a register in which a record of the sealing of every document is noted.

Monitoring and ensuring compliance with the Secretary of State’s Directions on fraud and corruption including the appointment of the Local Counter Fraud Specialist.

Reporting to Board/Clinical Commissioning Executive

The Chief Executive, supported by Director of Finance, ensures that appropriate advice is given to the Board and Clinical Commissioning Executive on all matters of probity, regularity, prudent and economical administration, efficiency and effectiveness.

The Chief Executive is accountable to the Chairman and non-executive members of the Board for ensuring that its decisions are implemented, that the organisation works effectively, in accordance with Government policy and public service values, and for the maintenance of proper financial stewardship.

It is the responsibility of the Chief Executive to compile and submit to the Board a local delivery plan which takes into account financial targets and forecast limits of available resources and contains:

• a statement of the significant assumptions on which the plan is based; and
• details of major changes in workload, delivery of services or resources required to achieve the plan.

Tenders

The Chief Executive is responsible for the receipt, endorsement and safe custody of tenders received and is responsible for maintaining a register to show each set of competitive tender invitations dispatched.

The Chief Executive will ensure that appropriate checks are carried out as to the technical and financial capability of those firms that are invited to tender or quote.

The Chief Executive shall be responsible for ensuring that best value for money can be demonstrated for all services provided on an in-house basis.

The Chief Executive shall nominate an officer to oversee and manage the contract on behalf of the PCT.

The Chief Executive must ensure the PCT enters into suitable Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with service providers for the provision of NHS services and that regular reports are provided to the Board detailing actual and forecast expenditure against the SLA.