Phase one - SHA-led Trust Development Phase

In the first phase of the assessment process, strategic health authorities (SHAs) work with NHS trusts to develop robust and credible NHS foundation trust applications.

As the local headquarters of the NHS, SHAs take ownership of and accountability for the readiness of applicants and the quality of NHS foundation trust applications submitted to the Secretary of State for Health.

There are three main stages to the SHA-led Development Phase:

  1. Pre-consultation – draft business plan and financial model, trust and board review;
  2. Public consultation – minimum of 12 weeks; and
  3. Post consultation – final business plan and financial model, historical due diligence, board-to-board practice.

Once all three stages are complete, the SHA will need to demonstrate to the Secretary of State that the applicant NHS trust is ready to be assessed by Monitor and, if authorised, to operate as an NHS foundation trust. SHAs are required to build a body of evidence to demonstrate that applicants have met the seven domains of Secretary of State assurance.

The seven domains of Secretary of State assurance

SHA support for applications to the Secretary of State is dependent on the SHA being able to verify that the applicant trust has satisfied the seven domains of Secretary of State assurance. The domains are supported by a series of assurance indicators.

The SHA will need to compile a body of evidence to support its opinions on the state of readiness of applicants applying to the Secretary of State based on these domains.

This diagram gives more information about the seven domains and assurance indicators. (PDF)

Once the SHA is satisfied that an applicant trust is ready, the trust formally applies to the Secretary of State, with the full support of the SHA. The applicant trust will then begin phase two of the NHS foundation trust application process.