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The Role of the NIAS Trust Board

The Trust Board is currently comprised of a Chairman, 5 Non-Executive Directors and 5 Executive Directors (including the Chief Executive). The Chairman is responsible for leading the Board and for ensuring that it successfully discharges its overall responsibility for the organisation as a whole. The Non-Executive Directors are appointed by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety Unit (DHSSPS) and they are appointed on merit to act in a personal capicity on the Trust Board.

The Executive Directors, led by the Chief Executive, are the (full-time) operational Directors of the Trust and are responsible for the operation of the organisation and for the implementation of the Board's decisions.

The Trust Board's role is to:

Set the strategic direction of NIAS within the overall policies and priorities of the HPSS, define its annual and longer-term objectives and agree plans to achieve them;

• Oversee the delivery of planned results by monitoring performance against objectives and ensuring corrective action is taken where necessary;
• Ensure effective finanical stewartship through value for money, budgetary control, planning and strategy;
• Ensure high standards of corporate governance and personal behaviour are maintained in the conduct of the business of the whole organisation;
• Appoint, appraise and remunerate Senior Executives;
• Ensure that there is effective dialogue and communications between NIAS and the local community on its plans and performance and that these are responsive to the community's needs.

Trust Board Frequency of Meetings

The Trust Board meets bi-monthly (usually on a Thursday) in public venues across Northern Ireland and comprises a Chairman, five Executive and Non-Executive Directors. Members of the public are made aware of these dates and venues of meetings via press and website notifications. Prior to a public meeting (where appropriate), the Trust Board members visit a local ambulance station in the area so that they have direct contact with Ambulance Service Area Managers, Station Officers, operational and support staff. It allows Trust Board members to see firsthand the facilites and the environment that staff work in and also to speak to staff directly etc which is seen as a good basis for effective communication between Management and staff.

The Trust Board meeting is advertised in the Belfast Telegraph at least seven clear days before the meeting is due to take place. However, feel free to contact the Chief Executive's Office on Telephone No: (028) 9040 0412 for further information.