Chamber and committees

Core criteria were that candidates must:

• have management experience at a senior or board-equivalent level in the voluntary, public or private sectors
• demonstrate leadership and motivation skills
• demonstrate the ability to see the "bigger picture"
• demonstrate the ability to think and plan ahead
• demonstrate the ability to understand complicated issues
• demonstrate the ability to work as part of a team
• be an effective communicator at all levels with good listening and interpersonal skills
• be able to take decisions on a collective basis
• be confident and willing to challenge and test proposals on which the board must decide
• demonstrate a strong personal commitment to the NHS
• demonstrate an understanding of, and interest in, government health policies
• be committed to engaging positively and openly with key partners and the public
• be committed to the idea of public service accountability, honesty, openness and equality of treatment and opportunity
• be able to spend around three days per week as Chair on the work of the board

Desirable criteria were that candidates would have:

• experience in serving in the voluntary sector, particularly in an organisation with links to the health sector
• experience of other countries' approach to health education and improvement
• specialist skills or knowledge relevant to HEBS

Candidates were short-listed for interview by Trevor Jones (Chief Executive, NHS Scotland), Ken Thomson (Head of Health Improvement Strategy Division, Scottish Executive Health Department) and Alistair Dempster (Independent Assessor).

Those interviewed were invited to prepare a four minute presentation on "Making Health Improvement a Reality". The presentations were delivered at interview.

The interviews were conducted by those who selected the short-list

As part of her induction as an independent assessor, Anne McLean attended the interviews as an observer but took no part in the interview process.

This is available from the website at:

http://www.ocpa.gov.uk/leaflets/codeofpractice.pdf

Note: The figures in the table are not directly comparable. In 1998-99 and in 1999-2000, some fees were means tested. The balance of fee payments was for continuing students. In 2000-01, the agency paid the full tuition fee for all eligible domiciled Scottish Students. This included EU Students.

No reports have yet been published under the new methodology.