ONLINE IHEEM AE EVENT
Review of IHEEM’s Terms of Reference explained
A one-day IHEEM online event on 9 June sought to underline the important role that Authorising Engineers (AEs) play in the safe, efficient, and compliant running of healthcare facilities’ water, electrical, medical gas, ventilation, decontamination, and fire safety systems. As HEJ’s editor, Jonathan Baillie, reports, in the day’s first session, the Institute’s President, Paul Fenton, discussed a recent review of the Terms of Reference for both IHEEM’s Technical Platforms and its AE Boards of Registration, and the rationale behind it.
The day began with a short introduction from IHEEM’s CEO, Pete Sellars, who reminded the audience that this was a fully accredited CPD event, and that all the day’s presentations were being recorded, and would thus be viewable on IHEEM’s YouTube channel (at
https://tinyurl.com/cj6ush6a) post-event. Pete Sellars explained that the first of three speakers in the session would be IHEEM President, Paul Fenton, Director of Estates and Facilities at East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, who had chaired the IHEEM Working Group that developed the new Terms of Reference for the Institute’s Technical Platforms and its AE Boards of Registration, and would explain how the work was undertaken. Next, David Harper, an IHEEM-registered AE (Water) and internationally renowned water safety expert, would give his perspective on the importance of water safety in healthcare. Then, Maz Daoud, Chair of the IHEEM Fire Safety Technical Platform, and recently appointed as NHS England and NHS Improvement’s Fire Officer, would explain how IHEEM could help Institute- registered AEs develop and enhance their
professional careers within the healthcare sector, and discuss IHEEM’s ongoing work to create a register for fire risk assessors.
A focal point
Pete Sellars told the audience: “Firstly, however, I’d like to briefly explain why we felt it essential to review and update the Terms of Reference of our Technical Platforms. The Platforms’ primary purpose is to act as focal point for all technical matters for the specialism they represent. This includes the creation and maintenance of relevant policies, managing the Institute’s activities and technical responses to policy-makers and professional bodies, and managing the registration and ongoing upkeep of IHEEM’s various accredited Authorising Engineer registers.
“The reason we conducted this review is that, following a Head Office review of our governance back in 2019, it was agreed that the management of these activities presented a significant corporate risk to the Institute.” Pete Sellars explained that, in particular, the review highlighted the need to strengthen the governance and transparency of
IHEEM’s core business. He said: “This was important at the time, since during 2019 the Engineering Council issued IHEEM with a ‘red alert’ with regard to how our Technical Platforms were being managed.” He continued: “I’m delighted to confirm that this work is now complete – the review is finished, and that the Engineering Council has changed our status to ‘green’ – ‘fantastic news’, demonstrating why this work is so important. Alongside this, we need to ensure that AEs and members of IHEEM’s Technical Platforms are protected from any professional litigation for reputational damage, as well as to ensure transparency, fairness, and inclusiveness, and that all our Technical Platforms operate in a consistent manner.”
Providing assurance The review sought to clarify the Terms of Reference for IHEEM's Technical Platforms.
Pete Sellars noted that it was also important ‘to provide confidence across the system’ – in terms of assurance that when people appointed IHEEM-registered Authorising Engineers, they could be sure that the individual concerned had been through a proper due diligence, governance, and peer review. He said: “It is also about ensuring that we meet the criteria set out in our 5-Year Business Plan, looking ahead to how we can modernise how the Institute operates going forward. Having ‘set the scene’, he handed over to Paul Fenton, who told attendees he would start by recapping on a few things Pete Sellars had mentioned explaining why IHEEM had undertaken the review. He said: “I’m sure many of today’s attendees will know that HTM 00 states that healthcare organisations have a duty of care to patients, staff, and visitors, to ensure a safe and appropriate environment for healthcare. The requirement is identified in a wide range of legislation and common law – as you will all know, starting with the Health and Safety Work etc Act, and running through other legislation and guidance.” At the most senior level within any organisation, as with an NHS Trust, he explained, the
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