Council of Governors

As an NHS foundation trust, we have a Council of Governors who represent the views of the Foundation Trust membership and hold the Trust Board to account.

The Council of Governors provides support and advice to the Trust to:

• ensure that the Trust delivers services that best meet the needs of patients and the communities we serve
• ensure that the Trust provides high-quality, effective, and patient-focused services
• ensure high standards of corporate governance and personal conduct
• promote effective dialogue between the Trust and the local communities we serve.

The Role of the Governor

The Council of Governors acts as the voice of the community, ensuring that local people have a say in the running of their hospital.

Governors are either elected by members of the Trust or appointed by appropriate stakeholder partners, which include nominated representatives from the Local Authority, University, and other partnership organisations.

As a Governor, you will play a very important role in the Trust. You will act as a link between Foundation Trust members and the Board of Directors. You will represent members and act as an ambassador for both the Trust and the membership. You will help the Trust make sure that the views of members are heard by the Board of Directors.

Overarching general duties:

1. Representing the interests of members and the public
2. Holding the Non-Executive Directors to account for the performance of the Board

Governors have a number of statutory duties and responsibilities, which include:

• Appoint and, if appropriate, remove the Chair
• Appoint and, if appropriate, remove the other non-executive directors
• Decide the remuneration and allowances, and the other terms and conditions of office, of the Chair and the other Non-executive Directors
• Approve the appointment of the Chief Executive
• Appoint and, if appropriate, remove the NHS Foundation Trust’s external auditor; and receive the NHS Foundation Trust’s Annual Accounts, any report of the Auditor on them and the Annual Report and Quality Report
• Jointly approve, with the Board, changes to the Trust’s Constitution.

In addition, in preparing the NHS Foundation Trust’s “Forward Plan”, the Board of Directors must have regard to the views of the Council of Governors.

It should be stressed that governors are not responsible for the day-to-day management of the Trust and must act in the best interests of the NHS Foundation Trust, adhering to its values and code of conduct at all times.