Board and committee effectiveness reviews
Evidence-based approach to help you identify strengths, areas for improvement, and actionable recommendations to enhance governance, decision-making, and strategic oversight.
Why regular reviews matter
Regular board and committee effectiveness reviews help ensure your governance structures, processes and relationships are fit for purpose – supporting your organisation’s strategic goals and contributing to the wider health and care system.
We offer independent, tailored reviews that give you clear insight into what’s working, what could improve, and how your board can operate even more effectively.
📌 Code of Governance requirement
NHS provider trusts are advised to carry out an external board effectiveness review every three to five years (Section C, 4.7). For foundation trusts, the council of governors should also carry out regular performance assessments (Section C, 4.8).
Making board reviews work for you
Our Approach
We don’t just assess – we help you improve.
Our evidence-based reviews deliver clear, practical recommendations to strengthen governance and board performance.
- Tailored to your needs
Every review is customised to your organisation’s structure, challenges, and priorities. - Independent, NHS-specific expertise
Led by former NHS chairs, non-executive directors, executive directors, and governance professionals. - Actionable insights
We give you practical next steps to enhance decision-making, board effectiveness and strategic oversight.
How we conduct reviews
Each review gives you a clear, evidence-based view of how your board is performing – and where there’s room to go further.
- Document analysis
Key documents such as governance frameworks, board papers and policies are reviewed to understand how your trust is working in practice. - Stakeholder engagement
Board members, executives and key stakeholders are interviewed to bring in lived experience and insight. - Surveys
Anonymous surveys gather a broad range of perspectives on how well your board is functioning. - Meeting observations
Board and committee meetings are observed to understand behaviours, group dynamics, and how effectively decisions are made.
Review process phases
A structured but flexible approach helps you get the most out of each review.
With full transparency, board-level engagement, and outcomes that are practical and relevant. Reviews can also include executive or operational-level meetings where helpful.
1️⃣ Project initiation
Understanding your board’s objectives and defining the scope of the review.
2️⃣ Diagnostic phase
Review key documents and run surveys to identify areas of focus.
3️⃣ Engagement phase
Carry out interviews and observe meetings to assess board behaviours, decision-making and governance effectiveness.
4️⃣ Findings & reporting
Receive clear, evidence-based insights and a final report with practical, actionable recommendations.
Why choose NHS Providers?
- Deep NHS sector knowledge – Benefit from insights shaped by close engagement with NHS trusts and foundation trusts across acute, mental health, community, and ambulance sectors.
- Access to best practice – Draw on governance approaches developed through direct engagement with NHS boards across England.
- Experienced reviewers – Work with former NHS chairs, non-executive and executive directors, and governance professionals who bring real-world expertise.
- Development-focused approach – We don’t just assess; we help you embed meaningful governance improvements.
- Cost-effective solutions – As a not-for-profit organisation, we offer high-quality reviews at competitive rates.
Fresh eyes that drew on the experiences of a wide number of foundation trusts meant we could be assessed in the context of best practice nationally.
Chair, Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation