Nominations are now open for the 2018 election to the Council of Governors for Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust. The trust, which offers children’s mental healthcare locally, is inviting members of the community to have their voice heard and put themselves forward for election as governor.
There are public, patient and staff governor opportunities in Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire and BaNES (Bath and North East Somerset).
Governors elected and appointed as volunteers to the Council of Governors represent the views of its foundation trust members to the Board of Directors. Being a governor also means having a say in the organisation’s planning, as well as the appointment of its non-executive directors, chief executive officer and chair.
Governors are volunteers drawn from the community the trust serves and made up of the public, staff, patients and carers. Once elected, a governor may initially serve a term of up to three years.
Current public governor Abdul Okoro (pictured) said: “With a nursing background myself, my motivation for becoming a governor at Oxford Health was a passion for good quality care. I use my role to support the trust in involving patients and carers to achieve the best outcomes of care, safety and experience.
“I believe that representing the views and interests of other foundation trust members can influence the future and changes to services. As a governor I am able to provide a direct link to the decision makers at the trust.”
Kerry Rogers, the trust’s director of corporate affairs and company secretary, said: “At Oxford Health we recognise the value of our foundation members and how their contribution can help shape our vision for sustainability and improvement.
“For our patients, carers, staff and the wider community, becoming a governor provides a bridge between our members and the board.”
There are a total of 10 governor vacancies across the entire trust.
| Constituency | Class | Vacancies |
| Public | Buckinghamshire
Rest of England and Wales |
1
1 |
| Staff | Older Peoples Services
Children & Young Peoples Services Corporate Services |
2
1 1 |
| Patient | Service Users: Oxfordshire
Service Users: Buckinghamshire & other counties Carers |
1
2 1 |
Nomination is open to any current member of the trust. Membership is free and open to all members of the communities served by Oxford Health. To find out more visit https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk/about-us/foundation-trust/membership-categories.
Nominate online at www.ersvotes.com/oxfordhealth2018. Alternatively, a nomination form can be obtained from the Returning Officer, Ciara Norris in the following ways:
Email: ftnominationenquiries@electoralreform.co.uk
Telephone: 020 8889 9203
Text: Text 2FT OF and your name and address to 88802
Post: Electoral Reform Services, 33 Clarendon Road, London, N8 0NW.
All nominations should be received by the Returning Officer by 5pm on Friday 6 April 2018. Members will be able to vote for their preferred governor nominee once ballot papers are distributed to members on 27 April 2018.
Published: 7 March 2018