Collection

NHS foundation trusts: documents and guidance

Guidance and information for NHS foundation trusts (FTs).

FT bulletin and correspondence

Read the foundation trust bulletins for information on consultations and NHS priorities, guidance updates and announcements.

Correspondence sent by Monitor to NHS foundation trusts, NHS trusts, clinical commissioning groups and other NHS organisations.

Events and webinars

Find out more about Monitor’s upcoming events and webinars for foundation trusts.

Planning and reporting

You must submit an annual plan and quarterly and ad hoc reports to Monitor. These are used to assess risk and to hold your board to account.

Monitoring and enforcement

As an NHS foundation trust, you’re monitored according to the risk-based system of regulation set out in the ‘Risk assessment framework’.

If you don’t meet the standards required, Monitor may open an investigation to decide whether to take regulatory action.

Finance

A range of guidance for NHS foundation trust finance staff. This covers year-end accounts, the foundation trust consolidation process and the agreement of balances process.

Governance

Good governance is essential in ensuring your NHS foundation trust continues to provide safe, sustainable and high-quality care for patients.

The updated model election rules are on the NHS Providers website.

The NHS payment system

Monitor and NHS England invite you to take part in shaping the development of the NHS payment system. You can find out more in this collection of publications on the payment system.

Procurement, choice and competition

As an NHS foundation trust, you must comply with the choice and competition conditions of the provider licence.

You can find out more in the collection of publications on procurement, choice and competition.

Mergers and transactions

After a period of public consultation, Monitor updated appendix C of the ‘Risk assessment framework’, which relates to NHS foundation trust transactions.

Integrated care

Under the NHS provider licence, you must not act in a way that is detrimental to the delivery of integrated care.

Improving patient flow

Evidence from Monitor to support local decisions on options for improving patient flow.

Developing your strategy

You can request joining our LinkedIn Strategy and Development Planning group to discuss management issues and best practice.

Developing your staff

Guidance for leaders and directors to develop strategic change to help their organisation meet the challenges of the modern health service.

Service-line management

Service-line management is an approach to management developed for the NHS by Monitor.

You can find out more in our collection of publications on service-line management.

Reports on foundation trusts

These documents show Monitor tracking the performance of NHS foundation trusts.

You can also read these NHS foundation trusts quarterly performance reports which summarise the performance of the NHS foundation trust sector.

Governors and members

The publications for governors and members provide further information on how governors should carry out their duties.

About Monitor

Updates to this page

Published 16 May 2014
Last updated 1 February 2016 + show all updates
  1. Added shared planning guidance for 2016/17 to 2020/21.

  2. Added new section on strategy development. Refreshed page with latest updates on tariff arrangements for 2015/16 and accounting guidance documents.

  3. Added FT bulletin and correspondence links.

  4. Updated with 'Detailed requirements for quality reports 2014/15'.

  5. Added the publication: 'Integrated care: how to comply with Monitor’s requirements'

  6. We've added new guidance on mergers and transactions, and an update on NHS trusts in special measures, to the collection.

  7. Added the NHS National Tariff Payment System 2015/16: engagement documents

  8. First published.