The Council of Governors at Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust is gearing up for its upcoming elections and inviting new people to join them. Could you be the next governor to join the Trust?
Governors take part in discussions about the Trust’s services and future plans, hold the Trust’s Non-Executive Directors to account for the performance of the Board and say what members, local people, patients and staff think about services and plans. People don’t need any special qualifications to become a governor; they just need to be a member of the Trust. Membership is free and further details about how to become a member can be found on the Trust website. If you’ve got a passion for healthcare and want to support your local NHS trust to improve, then the role of a Governor might be a perfect fit for you.
There are four different types of Governors:
1. Public Governors: elected by our Public members and required to represent the views of our membership and the public to the Trust Board.
2. Service User and Carer Governors: elected by our service users and carers and required to represent the views of service users and carers to the Trust Board.
3. Staff Governors: employed by the Trust, elected by our staff and required to represent the views of staff working at the Trust to the Trust Board.
4. Appointed Governors: a selection of key partners who nominate someone from their organisation to attend Council of Governor meetings to represent the views of those organisations to the Trust Board.
The Trust currently has 5 Public Governor vacancies (2 in Hull, 2 in East Riding of Yorkshire and 1 in Whitby, Scarborough and Ryedale. The Trust would like its Council of Governors to be representative of the local communities and is hoping a diverse range of people will nominate themselves to become a Governor.
With the minimum age to become a Governor being set at 16 these roles could also be of interest to young people who would like to further their career aspirations and gain valuable experience of the NHS and wider healthcare.
Trust Chair Caroline Flint said, “We want people who are passionate about making sure local people are heard to influence our services and future plans. As a Governor you would get a real look into how Humber Trust works and seek assurance that patients are cared for, services are accessible, and finances are sound. The minimum we ask is to attend four meetings a year and Governor support is available. So please join us.”
It’s a really exciting time to be a part of the Trust and join a diverse and inspiring group. The Governor election nominations are open from Tuesday 19 September 2023 and nominations must be submitted by the closing date of Tuesday 17 October 2023. For those interesting in standing, a nomination form can be obtained by calling 020 8889 9203 or emailing ftnominationenquiries@cesvotes.com.