Governance of the foundation
SAS Dial Foundation is governed by a board of trustees, supported by three committees. Trustee appointments and the registration number are being confirmed.
Board of trustees
The trustees hold the purpose of the foundation in trust. They set its strategy, approve its budget, appoint and oversee those running the programme day to day, and carry responsibility for everything done in its name.
The board meets quarterly, with additional meetings called when a decision cannot wait. Each meeting works through a standing agenda of programme performance, finances against budget, clinical quality and risk, fundraising, and any conflicts of interest declared for that meeting.
Minutes are kept for every meeting and adopted at the next.
- Quarterly board meetings, with decisions and dissent recorded in the minutes
- An annual review of strategy, budget and the running costs of the foundation
- A register of interests, reviewed at the start of every meeting
- Fixed terms of office for trustees
Board roles
Trustees are being appointed. Each name is published as the appointment is confirmed.
[Name to be confirmed]
Leads the board, sets its agenda, holds the foundation to its purpose and represents it externally.
[Name to be confirmed]
Deputises for the Chair, and takes the lead on board development and trustee recruitment.
[Name to be confirmed]
Oversees financial management, presents the accounts to the board and signs off every published financial figure.
[Name to be confirmed]
Keeps the records, convenes meetings, maintains the register of interests and handles statutory filings.
[Name to be confirmed]
Advises the board on clinical standards, reviews quality reporting from the programme and chairs the clinical quality committee.
[Name to be confirmed]
Brings independent judgement to the board, with a focus on fundraising and partnerships.
[Name to be confirmed]
Brings independent judgement to the board, with a focus on community representation and patient perspective.
Trustee vacancies
The board is looking for trustees with finance, legal, clinical governance or fundraising experience.
Put yourself forwardBoard committees
Each committee reports to the board with findings and recommendations, and keeps its own minutes.
Finance and audit
Reviews management accounts, income against budget and the reserves position. Oversees the annual audit or independent examination. Tests that restricted funds were spent on their stated purpose. Reviews payments made to or received from any related party.
Clinical quality
Reviews the clinical reporting from the programme, covering dialysis adequacy, infection control, machine and water treatment maintenance, adverse events and complaints. Satisfies the board that subsidised patients receive the same standard of care as any other.
Fundraising
Oversees appeals, partnerships and donor care. Checks that no fundraising claim outruns what the programme can evidence. Approves the wording of published reporting before it is issued.
Controls and commitments
Registration status
SAS Dial Foundation is being established as an independent legal entity. Its registration number is [registration number to be confirmed], and it is published here and in the footer of our documents as soon as it is issued.
Financial controls
Separate bank accounts are held in the foundation's own name. Payments above a threshold set by the board require two authorised signatories. The budget is approved annually and monitored quarterly. Restricted funds are tracked separately from general funds. The accounts are examined independently each year.
Conflicts of interest
A register of interests is maintained and reviewed at the start of every board meeting. Any trustee with an interest in a matter declares it, withdraws from the discussion and does not vote. Every transaction with the clinical partner is treated as a related party transaction and disclosed.
Safeguarding and patient confidentiality
The foundation adopts a safeguarding policy covering everyone acting in its name, including volunteers and visitors to the clinic. Patient information stays with the clinical team, and the foundation receives aggregate figures. No patient is identified in any material without their written consent.
Complaints
Anyone can raise a concern about the conduct of the foundation in writing to the Chair through our contact page. Complaints are acknowledged, investigated, answered in writing and reported to the board in summary, including any that were upheld.
Documents on request
The governing document, the annual report and accounts, and the principal policies of the foundation are available on request once adopted.
SAS Lweza Clinic
The renal clinic and haemodialysis programme was launched and hosted by SAS Lweza Clinic, a fully licensed medical facility in Seguku operating since 2012, and treatment continues to be delivered there.
- Separate legal entities. The clinic is a business. The foundation is a charitable body with its own registration, board, accounts and auditors.
- Clinical authority. Which patients need dialysis, and on what schedule, is a clinical judgement made by the clinicians.
- Funding at arm's length. The foundation pays for subsidised treatment on agreed terms, against records of sessions delivered.
- Related party discipline. Any trustee connected to the clinic declares that interest and takes no part in decisions about the funding relationship, which is disclosed in the accounts.
