Become a Public Governor 2024

The Council of Governors consists of up to 20 people, most of whom are elected by our public members.

The council of governors is a central part of a foundation trust. It represents the interests of patients, public and staff and oversees the work of the Board in running the organisation. 

Could you be our next Public Governor and represent your area?

We are looking for 9 new governors to work with us and help steer and influence the services we provide to people living across the constituencies of Wirral, Cheshire, Knowsley and St Helens. Recently rated as Good with areas of Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) It is an exciting time for our Trust and we welcome and encourage public governors onboard.

The position requires a passion for the NHS and an interest in our Trust. You should be able to provide time to help influence the continued development of our organisation and the specialist services we provide.

The role of governor is voluntary, but brings huge value and opportunity to give patients, carers and service users a voice to help inform our provision, planning and ambitions.

What does the role of Governor involve?

Governors play many important roles, firstly providing a link between the NHS Trust and the community, but also appointing the non-executive directors to the board and maintaining overview of their contribution and the effective leadership of the Trust.

Induction and training are provided.

Our Governors:

• Actively listen and value the contributions of different people
• Are enthusiastic and committed and want to work as part of a team
• Learn and keep updated on Trust developments
• Read relevant documents and papers, attend relevant meetings and training the Trust will provide
• Understand and are able to champion the needs of patients, their families and carers and staff

Roles and responsibilities

• Appoint (or remove) the Trust’s Chairman and Non-Executive Directors
• Approve the appointment of the Trust’s Chief Executive
• Appoint the Trust’s external auditors
• Agree salaries of Non-Executive Directors and the Chairman
• Receive the annual report and accounts
• Advise the board and represent members views about the strategic direction
• Help the Trust to recruit members.

The governors role does not include managing the day-to-day business of the Trust. This responsibility remains with the executive team. 

Who sits on our council of Governors?

The majority of governors are elected by public members, but the council of governors will also include staff governors who are elected by our staff members and representatives from partner organisations.

Who can become a Governor?

Almost anyone who is 16 or over and lives in one of our five public constituencies (Birkenhead, Wallasey, Wirral South & Neston, Wirral West and Rest of England) can stand for election as a governor. The other members in that constituency will vote for the people they want to represent them.

To be eligible to become a governor you need to register as a member of the Trust. This is realleasy to do. Simply visit our Membership page where you can join using the online form – About our membership – Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust (wchc.nhs.uk)

Some people cannot become a governor, for example: a person who has been convicted of a criminal offence in the last five years and sentenced to imprisonment for three months or more, someone who has been declared bankrupt and not discharged, or anyone who is on the sex offender’s register.

Council of Governor Elections 2024

Are you interested in becoming a Governor for the Trust?

If the answer is yes, there are 11 elected seats as follows:

• 2 seats in Birkenhead
• 1 staff seats
• 2 seats in Wallasey
• 1 seat in Wirral West
• 1 seat for Rest of England

Council of Governors meetings

The Council of Governors meetings are open to the general public.  If you would like to attend or have any queries, please email [email protected] or call 0151 514 2203.