Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust

We are now nearing the stage where we can hold the elections for our first Council of Governors.  The role of Governor is a vital one in helping guide the Trust in the coming years and in helping local people have their say about mental and physical health and wellbeing services in Manchester.

Our Council of Governors will be made up of 25 individuals who are responsible for ensuring the views of the local communities are considered in decisions about how the Trust spends its money and develops services. The Council of Governors are responsible for representing the interests of our members and partner organisations, and for feeding back information to the members who elected or appointed them and act as the key link between members and the Board of Directors.

There are:

14 Public Governors, elected by other public members

4 Staff Governors, elected by staff of the Trust

7 Appointed Governors from partner and stakeholder organisation, such as local authorities, PCT's and voluntary organisations.

As well as representing the views of our members, the Council of Governors have also have a number of specific statutory duties:

• 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 a lead governor.
• Appoint and, if appropriate, remove the NHS foundation trust's auditor; and
• Receive the NHS foundation trust's annual accounts, any report of the auditor on them and the annual report;
• Provide the views of the public to the Board of Directors when it is preparing the Trust's annual plan.

We have arranged a number of meetings across Manchester to give all of our potential Governors the chance to meet the Chair of the Trust, Wyn Dignan and Foundation Trust Project Director, Jessica Williams. At these events you will be able to hear more details of what the role of Governor involves, learn more about the election process and how to fill in your nomination form.

If you are interested in standing as a governor you may find this additional information useful: