RCN Council

RCN Council provides leadership and direction for the organisation. It ensures that the RCN always has a clear vision and strategic plan, acts as a guardian of the RCN’s assets and holds management to account. You can use this section to find out more about RCN Council's responsibilities.

RCN Council

RCN Council has 17 members: one member each from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and one from each of the nine English regions: East Midlands, Eastern, London, North West, Northern, South East, South West,  West Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber. They are elected by members in their country or region.

The remaining five members are:

• the President and Deputy President of the RCN
• the Chair of RCN Congress
• a nursing support worker member representing HCAs and APs
• a student member.

Council's responsibilities

RCN Council is responsible for:

• ensuring that the RCN delivers its statutory purposes through its Royal Charter and Standing Orders and is compliant with trade union and company legislation 
• the affairs and activity of the college
• making decisions and delegating authority for the affairs and activity of the college 
• appointing the Chief Executive & General Secretary. Delegating the effective running of the organisation, agreeing key performance indicators, and holding the management to account for their delivery
• advocating the RCN among members, the wider public and a broad range of stakeholder organisations/decision makers/opinion formers 
• providing leadership and direction. Ensuring the RCN has a clear vision and strategic plan and is financially sustainable 
• guarding the assets of the RCN – both tangible and intangible, including its historic traditions 
• providing advice and expertise on nursing, health and employment issues ensuring the views of members are harnessed and engaged
• seeks and provides assurance that the RCN and its activity meets performance and quality standards and improvement targets
• ensuring appropriate risk management and effective internal control.