Policy paper

Annex B: wider guidance

Published 25 August 2022

The following general guidance documents and instructions apply to NHS Digital. The department may require NHS Digital to provide additional management information on an ad hoc basis. Where this is the case, the department will provide NHS Digital with clear reasons for the request and will allow as much time as possible to comply with the request.

General

The general guidance and instructions that apply to NHS Digital include:

• this document
• appropriate adaptations of sections of Corporate Governance in Central Government Departments: Code of Good Practice and its related guidance
• Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies
• Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies
• Managing Public Money
• Public Sector Internal Audit Standards (PSIAS)
• Management of Risk Principles and Concepts Orange Book
• Government Financial Reporting Manual (FReM)
• relevant Dear Accounting Officer letters
• counter fraud Government Functional Standard GovS 013: Counter Fraud
• The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s Principles of Good administration
• partnerships between departments and ALBs: Code of Good Practice
• appropriate adaptations of sections of Model Code for Staff of Executive Non-Departmental Public Bodies (Cabinet Office) in Public Bodies: A Guide for Departments – Chapter 5
• relevant Freedom of Information Act guidance and instructions (Ministry of Justice) Cabinet Office Freedom of Information Code of Practice
• other relevant guidance and instructions issued by HM Treasury in respect of Whole of Government Accounts
• other relevant instructions and guidance issued by the central departments
• specific instructions and guidance issued by the department, including requests for information
• any departmental plans to ensure continuity of services
• recommendations made by the Public Accounts Committee, or by other Parliamentary authority, that have been accepted by the government
• in line with Managing Public Money, have regard to the relevant functional standards

Specific areas in agreement

The role of the sponsorship team

For partnerships between departments and arm’s length bodies (ALBs), see: Code of Good Practice

Accounting officers

See this guidance:

• Chapter 3 Managing Public Money
• Relevant Dear Accounting Officer letters

Governance and Accountability

See this guidance:

• Corporate Governance in Central Government Departments: Code of Good Practice
• relevant Functional Standards
• Managing Public Money Annex 3.1

Appointment and responsibilities of chief executive, the board and chair

See:

• Public Appointments No2, Order in Council.
• Governance Code on Public Appointments
• The Seven Principles of Public Life
• The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s principles of good administration

Individual board member responsibilities

• 12 Principles of Governance for all Public Body NEDs

Delegated and spending authorities

See:

• Annex 2.2. in Managing Public Money and other appropriate sections.
• DHSC delegations letter

Procurement

See:

• Commercial Operating Standards
• Grants Standards
• The Public Contract Regulations 2015

Risk management

See:

• Management of Risk Principles and Concepts Orange Book

Counter fraud and theft

See:

• Government Functional Standard GovS 013: Counter Fraud
• Fraud annex 4.9 Managing Public Money

Human resources

See:

• DHSC Pay Framework for very senior managers in special health authorities
• Pay and conditions of service Civil Service management code
• Senior pay guidance Guidance for approval of senior pay
• Public Bodies: A Guide for Departments Chapter 5
• Public sector pay and terms: guidance note
• Proposals on severance rules chapter 4 Managing Public Money

Finance (banking and managing cash, annual report and accounts, audit)

See:

• Government Financial Reporting Manual (FReM)
• Public Sector Internal Audit Standards (PSIAS)
• Fees and charges guide, Chapter 6 of Managing Public Money
• Banking and managing cash Annex 5.6 of Managing Public Money

Arrangements in the event that the ALB is wound up

See:

Public Bodies: A Guide for Departments - Chapter 10: Dissolving a Public Body

DHSC Specific

Estates and Sustainability

See:

• Greening Government Commitments
• Office of Government Property Controls and standards for office accommodation (available from DHSC)
• The Department of Health & Social Care Property Asset Management procedures (available from DHSC)

Information Governance and Security

See:

• all documents relating to Government security
• HMG IA Standard No. 6: Protecting Personal Data and Managing Information Risk (available from DHSC)
• guidance on the keeping, management and destruction of records Code of Practice on the Management of Records issued under section 46 the Freedom of Information Act 2000
• Information Security Management: NHS Code of Practice
• Confidentiality: NHS Code of Practice.
• NHS Records Management Code of Practice
• data security and protection NHS Data Security and Protection Toolkit
• DHSC group accounting manual

Transparency

See:

• appropriate sections Managing Public Money
• appropriate sections of Framework Agreement