We started our application to become a Foundation Trust in
October 2009 and have successfully achieved all the milestones
since then. The change in status will mean increased
opportunities for service user and carer engagement, more financial
freedom for the Trust and greater accountability through an elected
Council of Governors
Our application has been approved
by both NHS North West and the Department of Health, meaning
we are now in the final Monitor stage of the process (Monitor
are the independent body that regulate and approve Foundation
Trusts). As part of this phase Monitor will send a team into the
Trust to look at all aspects of our finances and the care we
provide to decide whether to approve the application.
We've received positive feedback from
Monitor to date, as well as some helpful suggestions as to how we
can best demonstrate the quality standards that underpin all that
we do. Following the appointment of our new CEO, Michele Moran (
you can view Michele's vodcast by clicking here), a Board to
Board date with Monitor has been arranged for early summer
2013. Some of our Governors also talked about what becoming a
Foundation Trust meant to them and their organisations for a video
we produced in March 2013. You can see and hear what they
have to say here.
One way of being involved in the
application is to become a member of the Trust. Members
of the Trust receive an exclusive quarterly newsletter by
either post or e-mail. We also hold an annual Member Event
to promote wellbeing in Manchester our next one will be taking
place at Manchester Town Hall on Sunday 8
September - save the date in your diary! Members are
also able to stand as Governors and vote in Governor elections.
As part of our application, we launched
our Governor elections on 6 February 2012 and we announced our
first ever Council of Governors on 2 April 2012 following our
elections. Staff Governors and Governors who have been appointed by
partner organisations also sit on the Council.
View our Tripartite Formal Agreement.
Sign up to become a member.
For more information on becoming a
member or standing for Governor please contact the team on ftmembership@mhsc.nhs.uk
or call 0161 882 1077.