Terms of reference: Data Strategy Advisory Panel

Role

The Data Strategy Advisory Panel (the Panel) is an independent stakeholder group that provides advice, challenge and co-design for work on data policy conducted by the Joint Digital Policy Unit (the Joint Unit). The Joint Unit is a joint DHSC/NHS England unit, based within NHS England's Transformation Directorate. This includes work on public and staff engagement, transparency, and emerging policy / programme developments.

Objectives

Objectives include (but are not limited to):

1. support the Joint Unit to deliver the vision of the Data Saves Lives Strategy by providing expert advice on planned and proposed strategies, policies and programmes;
2. foster an environment of trust, transparency and collaboration to provide a safe space for colleagues to discuss emerging strategy and policy thinking and developments relating to health and care data;
3. support the growth of public confidence in the secure collection, storage and use of health and care data.

Scope

The Panel is expected to:

1. support implementation of the commitments in Data Saves Lives, and provide advice and challenge, as appropriate;
2. represent the perspectives of different stakeholders, in particular those of the public and people working in the system.

The following are not in scope:

1. technical and architectural design issues that should be referred to the relevant programme teams;
2. issues relating to specific data collections (e.g. requests for new collections, or data access requests);
3. issues that are specific to particular local areas or regions, as the Panel has a national focus.

Principles

Members of the Panel are expected to:

1. provide their expert advice, as well as raise concerns and flag emerging issues relating to national strategy and policy on health and care data;
2. represent the views of their organisations/networks, as appropriate;
3. engage in pre-reading/tasks as necessary to present their views in a structured way;
4. flag areas for discussion to the chair or secretariat at least six weeks before the next meeting, and be prepared to present to the rest of the Panel, as appropriate;
5. where asked by the chair, coordinate input with other members of the Panel (or the networks they represent / are part of) and present a holistic view back for discussion;
6. ensure contributions are balanced and constructive - aiming to identify positive actions and outline wider stakeholder benefits, as well as raising issues or concerns;
7. observe Chatham House rules, unless informed otherwise;
8. maintain a secure, open, honest, and collaborative environment to ensure the Panel can deliver on its objectives.

Operational arrangements

1. The meeting will be Chaired by the Deputy Director of Data Policy, in the Department of Health and Social Care (hosted within the Joint Unit).
2. The Data Policy team will provide the secretariat (also part of the Joint Unit).
3. The Panel reports their recommendations and feedback to the chair. The chair will report back on any decisions made related to the work of the Panel.
4. The Panel will meet every 8 weeks. and meetings will alternate between 1-hour update meetings (virtually), and 2-3 hour strategy meetings (in person).
5. An additional 2 hours (minimum) every 8 weeks will be required outside of the meeting to review documentation / engage across networks.
6. Members will be expected to attend as many meetings as possible and should ensure that the secretariat is made aware if they are unable to attend. Members are encouraged to nominate a suitable deputy if they cannot attend.
7. The chair may request additional steers by email from the Panel outside of the regular meeting times, if there is an urgent need.
8. The Panel will not have final sign-off on policy approaches or products but will be kept updated by the secretariat of key decisions.

Membership

1. Membership draws from across expert health and care stakeholders, as well as patients and regional/system representatives.
2. The Panel’s membership will be reviewed annually by the Chair, with advice from the Panel, to ensure that it functions appropriately. Non-members may be invited to attend meetings – as a one-off guest – depending on the topic. When this is the case, guests will be expected to abide by the same terms, set out here, including Chatham House Rules.