NHS Shared Business Services has a robust governance structure to ensure compliance and accountability in its business practices. The organisation was created as a 50/50 joint venture between DH and Steria (formerly Xansa). The governance of the joint venture is managed through a ‘hung’ Board structure consisting of three directors from each of the joint venture partners, a non-executive director and a non-executive chairman.
There is a common Delivery Governance Framework for NHS SBS, and, as a joint venture, the NHS SBS Board has formal reporting obligations to the Department of Health and Steria.
The Board has overall responsibility for managing the affairs of NHS SBS, subject to the Memorandum and Articles of Association. However, NHS SBS’s senior management team oversees the day-to-day management. The Board consists of eight directors, three representing DH, three appointed by the Private Partner, a non-executive director and a final director, jointly appointed, who is independent and acts as the Chairman of NHS SBS.
The following people represent the Department of Health on NHS SBS Board of Directors:
SAS70
NHS SBS has an SAS70 accreditation, which is an auditing standard developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). This represents an in-depth audit of their control objectives and control activities, which often include controls over information technology and related processes.
Independent auditing
NHS SBS regularly have both internal and external audits carried out by independent auditors who provide the Audit Committee with any relevant recommendations.
