The Board is supported by our staff led Council of Governors, our shareholder representative group and our Community Forum.
As an employee-owned organisation, we have a leadership structure where managers and the Board support the operation of clinical services and their interface with patients and public.
This inverted hierarchy is stabilised by two key functions; The Council of Governors and Community Forum.
Community Forum
The Community Forum enables patients, local groups and organisations to help shape and improve First Community services and makes sure out services reflect the view of our communities in east Surrey and West Sussex.
The Community Forum is open to the public including service users, carers, volunteers, representatives from any health and social care agencies, GPs, local community groups, the local council, voluntary sector organisations and local businesses.
Council of Governors
The Council of Governors are employee representatives elected by staff who provide a link between employees as shareholders and the Board.
The Articles of Association (rules of our Company) state: “Individual Governors of the Council are expected to promote and encourage participation by Members in the Company’s affairs”. Our representatives have a key role in shaping the organisation and promoting staff engagement to look at the strategic direction of First Community.
All members of staff are equal shareholders in First Community which gives them a voice on key decisions in the organisation. All employees will automatically become a shareholder and given the option to opt out.
For more information about The Council of Governors please contact: cog@firstcommunitysurrey-cic.nhs.uk
Board
The Board of Directors is responsible for our operations and affairs. The Board is also responsible for ensuring that First Community Health and Care CIC is organised and operated in a manner consistent with its Articles of Association as an employee owned social enterprise.
As a commercial organisation, Board meetings are held every quarter in private.
Commissioners
First Community services are commissioned by three main organisations:
We are also commissioned by NHS Sussex and other providers in Surrey and Sussex.
Data protection impact assessments
Before First Community undertakes a new service or makes a significant enhancement to an existing service, a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) will be undertaken. Principally these will be undertaken by our commissioners before commissioning services which will process personal data. To request a copy, please contact us by following this link.
Surrey Heartlands Health and Care Partnership
First Community is part of the Surrey Heartlands Health and Care Partnership. This is a partnership where health organisations, the local authorities and others take a collective responsibility for improving the health of the local population, managing resources (including money) and making sure services are high quality. The partnership includes acute hospital trusts, mental health, community services, and local authorities. Find out more on the Surrey Heartlands website.