Board of Management – Terms of Reference

PURPOSE 

Home Nursing Foundation is one of Singapore’s largest home care charities, dedicated to serving patients in their homes, and to helping them live happy, dignified and meaningful lives in the community. Our vision is for the patients to receive the support they need to continue to live well in the security of familiar surroundings.  

RESPONSIBILITIES 

The Board of Management (‘the Board’) is collectively responsible for setting the charity’s strategic directions, monitoring the delivery of the charity’s objectives, and upholding the charity’s values and governance. In addition, the Board oversees and advises the Chief Executive Officer and management team in their roles. The Board’s main responsibilities include the following: 

1. Establishment and management of the following Board Committees: 

a) Executive Committee – To support the Board. The committee provides timely advice and directions to the Chief Executive Officer on matters pertaining to Finance, and Appointment and Nomination; 

b) Audit & Risk Management Committee – To assist the Board in identifying, monitoring and mitigating possible risks incurred by the charity; 

c) Clinical & Continuing Education Committee – To assist the Board on matters relating to clinical programmes and outcomes; 

d) Communications & Development Committee – To assist the Board in fundraising and outreach, and in developing strategies to engage Donors and Volunteers, and to guide the external activities of HNF to build ties in the community, create public awareness, and develop sustainable giving; 

e) Facility Medifund Committee – To facilitate Medifund and Medifund silver applications and to administer payments out of the Facility Medifund Account; 

f) Facility Medifund Committee – To facilitate Medifund and Medifund silver applications and to administer payments out of the Facility Medifund Account; 

g) Staff & Remuneration Committee – To oversee matters pertaining to human resource including recruitment, salaries, benefits, career development, training, performance appraisals, discipline, staff related awards / accreditations and exit procedures; 

h) Technology Strategy Committee – To assist the Board with regard to the expansion and development of HNF’s technology and digital infrastructure. 

 

2. Governance 

a) To oversee and advise the Chief Executive Officer and the management team in the execution of their duties; 

b) To regularly review the performance of each committee against its Terms of Reference; 

c) To ensure compliance with the charity’s Constitution and all relevant laws and regulations, including: 

  • Finance Policies
  • Human Resource Policies 
  • Investment Policies 
  • Risk Management Policies 

 

3. Strategic planning 

a) To periodically review the purpose and vision of the charity to ensure these remain relevant, and to make amendments to the same where appropriate; 

b) To ensure that plans are in place to build the charity’s capacity and capabilities and to monitor the progress of such plans. Capacity refers to infrastructural and operational aspects (hardware), while capability refers to aspects of expertise, skills and knowledge (software);  

c) To review and approve (or reject) plans/materials endorsed by the Board committees; 

d) To review and approve (or reject) plans/proposals brought forth by the Chief Executive Officer and the management team, ensuring its alignment to the charity’s objectives and values, such as: 

  • Annual budgets and financial statements  
  • New programme development  

e) To ensure that there are adequate resources to sustain the charity’s operations and that such resources are effectively and efficiently managed;  

f) To review the strategic plans and evaluate programmes periodically. 

 

DELEGATION 

The Board delegates part of its approving rights to the Board Committees, such that each Board Committee is authorised to approve proposals, plans or recommendations under its purview on behalf of the Board, subject to certain financial limits depending on whether the project has an approved budget. The financial limits are as follows: 

a) Budgeted projects: Approval by Board Committees is valid for projects up to $250,000 in expenditure. 

b) Unbudgeted projects: Approval by the Board is required for unbudgeted expenses above $25,000 per annum. 

For all projects with expenditure exceeding that of the financial limits imposed on the committees reporting to the Board, the Board has the authority to approve such projects.

 

COMPOSITION AND TERM OF OFFICE 

a) The Board President chairs the Board. 

b) The members of the Board comprise the President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, six Ordinary Board Members and up to four Co-opted Board Members. 

c) The Chief Executive Officer attends meetings as an ex-officio member to provide information to the Board; the Chief Executive Officer shall not vote or participate in the Board’s decision-making. 

d) Each term of office for a Board Member is three years, subject always to the charity’s Constitution. 

 

FREQUENCY OF MEETINGS 

The Board of Management shall meet at least four times a year. A quorum shall be reached when at least 50% of the Board members are present at the meeting, excluding any ex-officio members. 

 

ACCOUNTABILITY 

The Board of Management may approve (or reject) issues and plans brought forth by the Chief Executive Officer and/or the Board Committees. 

 

Effective date:  13 July 2021