Board Meeting - 21st February 2024

The Healthy Minds Board of trustees met on Wednesday evening, 21st February 2024, with eight trustees present, and Chief Officer, two Operations Managers and Business Sustainability Manager (notes), also in attendance.  
The board considered several options for the 2024-25 pay award. Each option proposed was considered to be in line with the pay principles approved at the board’s meeting of 21st February 2024: affordability; staff recruitment, retention and reward; acknowledgement of inflation/cost of living increases; same pay for working at similar level; broader valuing of staff and supporting wellbeing; benchmarking. The option agreed proposed retains the same number of pay rates at present; increases the amount paid to all staff; rounds up hourly rates and annual FTE salaries. The pay award at individual pay band level has been communicated to all staff over the next few days. 
The board considered the proposed new Wellbeing Policy. Whilst the board does not routinely review operational policies, this Policy was regarded as of particular importance, following the staff survey of 12 months ago, and the detailed consultation undertaken. The board thanks staff for their active engagement in the survey and following consultation, and the Chief Officer and others who have clearly sought to listen to any concerns expressed. The board understands that teams have responded positively to new proposed Policy. The board believes that the proposed Policy clearly addresses issues and concerns raised through the survey and following consultation, and to  be a comprehensive, detailed and engaged response that values staff and supports wellbeing. The board appreciates that the Policy will be communicated to existing and new staff, through induction and regular discussion at team meetings, creating opportunities to reflect on and strengthen our culture, in line with our recently agreed vision, mission and values. The Policy was approved by the board, with thanks to all staff. The survey will be repeated in 2025, having given time for the new Policy to be implemented. 
The board received the annual Safeguarding Report. The services provided by Healthy Minds inevitably give rise to safeguarding issues from time to time. Safeguarding is a standing item of each board meeting, in which the board receives assurance each meeting that all known issues are being managed, and is made aware of any particular issues that need board consideration for any reason. Specific issues requiring board consideration have been raised on occasion, as brought by the Operational Manager with Safeguarding responsibility, or any other member of the senior team. The board thanks staff for a consistent, skilled, well-informed and committed approach to safeguarding within and across the services we provide. The board is assured that staff are engaging with other organisations where appropriate, and recognises that is not always easy. The board received assurance following an update to a specific case brought to the February board, in which we had concerns regarding statutory engagement.  
The board also received a detailed report from the Chief Officer, covering recruitment, service developments, funding. The board was particularly pleased to note that the re-commissioning of Link is under the new Provider Selection Regime (PSR) regime and hopes that this will provide opportunities for the re-commissioning of other services in the future.  The board approved the budget for 2024-25, previously considered in draft. The budget approved allows for the approved pay award. The Board’s Essential Trustee self-assessment and following actions was reviewed, as were reports from the Development Sub Committee and Finance Sub Committee. The board thanks the Volunteer Coordinator for invitations to the volunteers’ party on 6th June 2024. 
The board is proud and thankful for the work of all staff and volunteers in the services provided to local people, across Calderdale.  
Paul Hunt 
Chair of Trustees, 23rd July 2024