The post of Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman is made up of two statutory roles – the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration and the Health Service Commissioner for England. The Ombudsman is independent of government and has statutory responsibilities and powers to report to Parliament. She is solely responsible and accountable for the conduct and administration of all work carried out by her Office and for the decisions made. In January 2012 Ann Abraham retired as Ombudsman and Dame Julie Mellor, DBE took up the post.

To improve the transparency with which we operate, and to bolster the independence of the role, Ann Abraham established a non-statutory Advisory Board. The Advisory Board acts as a critical friend, supporting and advising the Ombudsman. External members are chosen because of their ability to bring a broad perspective to assist in the development of policy and practice.

As of 31 March 2012, the members of the Board were Paula Carter (Board Secretary at Channel 4), Linda Charlton (who has worked in the education sector, government departments and the National Health Service) and Tony Wright (former Chair of the Public Administration Select Committee).

Our governance arrangements also include:

• an Audit Committee, chaired by Sir Jon Shortridge (an experienced public servant and leader and former Permanent Secretary in Wales), responsible for providing advice and assurance to the Ombudsman as Accounting Officer, and to the Advisory Board and the Executive Board, on the adequacy and effectiveness of internal control and risk management; and
• a Pay Committee, responsible for providing advice on pay arrangements for the Office.

The Executive Board

An Executive Board, chaired by the Ombudsman and comprising the Deputy Ombudsman, the Deputy Chief Executive and the Director of Communications, manages the Office’s functions and activities. The Executive Board is responsible for the delivery of the Office’s strategic vision, policies and services to the public and other stakeholders.

Executive Board (as at 31 March 2012)

Advisory Board (as at 31 March 2012)

(external members)

Audit Committee

Audit Committee (as at 31 March 2012)

(external members)

Sir Jon Shortridge (Chair)

Mei Sim Lai

Brian Landers

Pay Committee (as at 31 March 2012)

(external members)

Paula Carter

Linda Charlton

More information about our governance arrangements and the members of our Boards and Committees is available on our website at www.ombudsman.org.uk.