Health Sponsorship is the activity that delivers effective relationships between the Scottish Government’s Directorate General Health and Social Care and NHS Scotland. Effective relationships help NHS Scotland and Scottish Government to collaborate and co-operate to deliver safe, person-centred and effective care to the people of Scotland.
Sponsor teams act as the golden thread between Directorate General Health and Social Care and NHS Scotland to deliver these outcomes. It’s a vitally important role in helping develop a culture where there are strong, open, trusting and candid relationships.
The quality and adequacy of oversight and assurance provided by the sponsor teams is key to ensuring that both the Scottish Government and NHS Scotland are operating in line with relevant law and are discharging their responsibilities and duties. Clear Governance and Accountability arrangements set out in a Framework Agreement, which is monitored, reviewed and updated on a regular basis ensures the best working practice.
If you would like further information on Sponsorship arrangements between Directorate General Health and Social Care and NHS Scotland, please contact: HealthSponsorship@gov.scot
Framework Document for Territorial NHS Boards
Published on 4 April 2024 through DL (2024) 08. The Scottish Public Finance Manual requires the Director-General/ Chief Executive to put a framework in place for sponsored bodies.
The Framework is designed to:
Strengthen the relationship between the Scottish Government and NHS Boards, based on openness, honesty, learning support and constructive challenge. It emphasises the importance of clear two-way communication, and early notification of issues and risks.
Improve the alignment of the Scottish Government’s priorities and the NHS Board’s planning processes, and the involvement of NHS Boards in the formulation of Scottish Government policy and decision-making.
Improve knowledge management, enabling the consistent implementation of the law and Government policy. It signposts key information on policy, law, published guidance, and contacts within the Health & Social Care Directorates.
The NHS Scotland support and intervention framework is one of the key elements of our evidence-based approach to monitoring performance and managing risk across the NHS in Scotland.
The framework is overseen by the National Planning and Performance Oversight Group, a sub-group of the Government’s Health and Social Care Management Board.
Please note this framework applies to NHS territorial boards only. Arrangements for national NHS boards are covered by separate arrangements.
If you require an alternative copy of any of the information available on this page or require further accessibility of the content please contact: HealthSponsorship@gov.scot
