The TVS SDE Governance

The TVS SDE is governed, and supported, by a number of committees which include both staff and public members. The governance structure is summarised in the diagram below.

Programme Board

The role of the programme board is to: 

• offer constructive challenge and provide advice, guidance and make recommendations to the Senior Responsible Officer, who is ultimately responsible for Programme decision making; and
• oversee programme governance, including managing risk and accountability
• provide assistance to the Programme in identifying opportunities for the implementation of products and services in support of the aims of the TVS SDE
• lead benefits realisation and communication of benefits and achievement of investment objectives

See terms of reference and membership of the Board.

Services and data Access Review Committee (SARC)

The role of the SARC is to:

• Set policy relating to data held by the TVS SDE;
• Assess and determine the outcome of applications for access to data held in the TVS SDE, having regard to the scope of the TVS SDE Purposes set out in the TVS SDE Provider Terms; and
• Agree the appropriate controls that are required for any approved applications.
• The Committee, in line with the rest of the SDE, shall use the Five Safes, as a framework for its work.

See terms of reference and membership of the SARC.

Development Committee (in development)

The role of the development committee is to:

• Monitor changes to and developments across the broader health and care data landscape
• Identify and prioritise development opportunities to support benefits realisation and the realisation of investment objectives;
• Identify additional opportunities to the Programme Board to for the TVS SDE to additionally meet the expectations of customers, funders and partners.

Senior Management Team (SMT)

The role of the senior management team is to:

• Deliver the SDE as set out in the business case 
• Operate the SDE on a day-to-day basis across workstreams 
• Guide the strategy & direction of the SDE 
• Oversee decisions, risks and issues 

The Senior Management team comprises of programme leadership, specialist advisors and the five operational team leads

Academic Research Advisory Committee (ARAC)

• ARAC is the key forum for academic stakeholders and management to discuss, review and guide the direction of development, sustainability, and use of the TVS SDE for collaborative academic research purposes. 
• As well as driving the delivery of services that are useful and affordable for academic stakeholders, this group will help universities to prepare for changes to existing governance processes – optimising the interface with the SDE. 
• Members will support the realisation of the benefits set out by the Board. 

The ARAC is made up of representatives from all the Higher Education institutions and Integrated Care Boards in the region, public members and, where appropriate, funding agencies and charities.

See terms of reference and membership of the ARAC.

Commercial Research Advisory Committee (CRAC)

• CRAC is the key forum for commercial stakeholders and management to discuss, review and guide the direction of development, sustainability and use of the TVS SDE for collaborative commercial research purposes. 
• this group will also help commercial organisations  to prepare for changes to existing governance processes, thus optimising their interaction with the SDE. 
• Members will support the realisation of the benefits set out by the TVS SDE Board.
• The CRAC will:
  • Facilitate communication between the SDE and commercial stakeholders.
  • Provide strategic advice on service development priorities.
  • Represent a diversity of commercial interests (startups, SMEs, global firms).
  • Promote awareness and engagement across the commercial health data ecosystem.

This advisory committee has moved to a more agile way of working, whereby the TVS SDE commercial team works closely with our commercial stakeholders to continually guide and review the changing landscape

Healthcare Professionals Advisory Committee (HPAC) (In development)

• Allows Healthcare Professional stakeholders and management to discuss, review and guide the direction of development, sustainability, and useability of the TVS SDE 
• Consider both research and non-research use cases 
• help to prepare for changes to existing governance processes, thus optimising their interaction with the SDE. 
• members will support the realisation of the benefits set out by the TVS SDE Board. 

Ethics and Engagement Advisory Group (EEAG)

The Ethics and Engagement Advisory Group supports the work across the Thames Valley and Surrey (TVS) on the Secure Data Environment and the Care Records Partnership by:

• Providing advice to the SROs and Boards across the two programmes of work on ethical issues that should be considered and addressed in their work programmes.
• Providing advice to the SROs and Boards across the two programmes of work that will support transparency for the purpose and process in relation to using patient data, so that public trust is supported.
• Acting as a forum for discussion across the TVS Partnership and Secure Data Environment Programme to support coordination of action in involvement and engagement.
• Supporting and sharing best approaches to involvement and coproduction with patients and the public, clinicians and practitioners.
• Promoting best communication methods, including consideration of the voice and needs of seldom-heard communities.
• Advising on approaches to secondary use of data such as access to data – who, what and when, in line with the appropriate governance structure in each initiative

The membership is drawn from across the TVS partnership systems and comprise 50% of members representing patients and the public and 50% of members representing staff and professional groups including: social care, primary and secondary care clinicians, junior staff, research, ethics, allied health professionals, information governance, Healthwatch and seldom heard groups of the population. 

TVS “Understanding Our Data” Community of Practice (CoP)

The Thames Valley and Surrey Understanding Our Data Community of Practice brings together patients, members of the public, and health and care staff to help co-design the processes, governance and frameworks that will underpin how the SDE is set-up, governed and managed. The work from the community of practice is summarised on the Get Involved page.