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Governor Elections 2021

Governor Word Cloud 2

Click here for a nomination form

Click here to become a member of our Trust

The Trust is looking to recruit new public governors to help influence the future of its health services.

Sadly, many of our long serving governors have come to the end of their term, and a great opportunity has arisen to become the ‘voice’ of local people as a governor in the following constituencies:

City of York x 2 vacancies

Ryedale & East Yorkshire x 3 vacancies

East Coast of Yorkshire x 2 vacancies

Out of Area x 1 vacancy

Governors are not responsible for the day-to-day running of the Trust and are not about ‘rubber stamping’ decisions made by the Board. However, Governors have an important role in the effective running of the Trust in that they hold the Board to account and advise the Board of public and staff opinion, acting as guardians of the public and staff interest. They make suggestions and when appropriate constructively question Board decisions.

One of the Governors’ main responsibilities is to help communicate with the membership and public, and make sure the views of the membership and public are fed back to the Board.

Governors also act as ambassadors and champions, helping to promote the work of the Trust in their communities.

Why become a governor?

It is an opportunity to support your local hospitals, perhaps giving something back if the NHS has had an impact on your life or those close to you.
You can make a difference to the care and services provided to patients.
You can use your existing skills, knowledge and experience to make a positive contribution.
You can learn more about the health service and your local hospitals.

How much time is involved?

Governors will tell you they enjoy the role but the time commitment should not be underestimated.
As well as attending four formal Council meetings a year, there are other things that you will need to get involved in such as attending Council sub-committee/working group meetings and engagement events. Time will also be required to prepare for and read papers provided for each meeting.
Governors are also expected to reach out into the local communities to encourage wide and represent the membership; this may involve using your own networks or attending Trust organised membership and engagement events.
Attendance at induction and mandatory training and development events will be required to ensure you are kept up to date with what is happening in the NHS and to learn more about the Governor role.
Meetings take place on weekdays during the day.

Who can stand for election?

We aim to have Governors who are representative of all walks of life; you do not need special skills or qualifications to become an effective Governor. You need to be enthusiastic, committed, and care about your local services. All types of people can become Governors, with the exception of a disqualified person (listed below), but you must:

Be over the age of 16.
Be a member of York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Live in the geographical area you want to represent. Staff governors represent the staff in their work base area.
Have an interest in the health service.
Be willing to act in the best interests of the Trust, and abide by the values of the Trust and Nolan principles of public life.
Have good interpersonal skills as you will need to talk to others.

The Election Process

Our election process is run by Civica Election Services (CES), who manage the elections on our behalf.

Members wishing to put themselves forward for election as Governors must apply for a nomination form, which includes writing a statement of around 150 – 250 words outlining why they think members should vote for them to become a Governor, e.g. explaining the reasons for standing and including any relevant skills, knowledge and attributes. There is also the option of providing a photograph.

CES will send out ballot papers (either by post or email) to all members in each constituency where there is a vacant seat and this will include the election statements of each candidate. Members will then vote for their preferred candidate and return their vote by post or electronically to CES.

There may be circumstances when no election is needed, ie. When there is only one person standing for one vacant seat; this is classed as uncontested.

CES will inform the Trust of the results and the candidates will then be contacted by the Chair or the Assistant to FT Secretary (on the Chair’s behalf).

Each vacancy is for a period of 3 years. Upon election, Governors may serve a maximum of 9 years.

The Election Timetable

From Monday 12 July 2021, a nomination form to stand for election can be obtained from the Returning Officer, Ciara Hutchinson, in the following ways:

Tel: 0208 365 8909

Email: ciara.hutchinson@civica.co.uk

Post: Civica Election Services, The Election Centre, 33 Clarendon Road, London. N8 0NW

Or click here to be taken to the nomination form and information.

All nominations should be received by the Returning Officer, at the address as detailed above, by 5pm on Monday 9 August 2021.

Should any nominee wish to withdraw their nomination, they must put this in writing to the Returning Officer by 5pm on Thursday 12 August 2021.

For all contested constituencies voting will open on Wednesday 1 September 2021 and close at 5pm on Wednesday 29 September 2021.

The results of the elections will be available from Thursday 30 September 2021.

If you are interested in becoming a governor and want to find out more then please email governors@york.nhs.uk.

Previous Elections