NHFT Governor Elections 2025 - all you need to know
It's election time! NHFT is calling on people in the community to stand as a Trust Governor and make a positive difference to shaping the future of local healthcare.
Governors play an essential role to support our Trust, providing a bridge between our membership, our community and our Board.
Nominations to stand as a Governor opened on 6 February 2025, and will close on Friday, 21 February 2025 at 5pm.
People can join our Become a Governor webinar on Monday 17 February 2025 from 5.30pm and find what more about how to stand and hear from current Governors about how you can make a positive difference. Book your place on the webinar here.
There are no NHFT staff governor seats vacant this year, but there are vacant seats in:
- Daventry and South Northamptonshire - one seat
- Kettering and Corby - one seat
- Wellingborough and East Northamptonshire - one seat
The term will be three years.
Read more on our website at www.nhft.nhs.uk/elections
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a governor?
The role of a governor is to provide a link between the local community and NHFT's Board of Directors. Governors represent the interests of members of the Trust as a whole and the interests of the public, contributing to the forward plans of our Trust and holding the non-executive directors (collectively and individually) to account for the way our Board of Directors performs.
We consider governors as a 'critical friend' giving their support to the Trust whilst keeping an eye on its performance against targets and standards
Governors do not have any administrative powers.
Governors have some statutory powers which are set out in the NHS Act 2006 as amended by the Health and Social Care Act 2012 and a number of other duties set out in Monitor's NHS Foundation Trust Code of Governance. There are also some duties that the Trust will decide locally. These are set out in the Governors' role description document and the Terms of Reference for the Council of Governors. The 2012 Act places a greater emphasis on local responsibilities and accountabilities.
Governors give up their time voluntarily and make a major contribution to the way the Trust engages with its service users, their carers and the wider community and public. Governors do not 'run' the services, the Board of Directors does that; however, governors work with the Board and hold it to account on behalf of the membership and wider public.
NHFT positively encourages nominations from under-represented groups such as people from BAME communities, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ people and young people.
What qualifications are needed to become a governor?
Governors do not need to have any formal skills or qualifications to become a governor, just a passion for community, mental health and learning disabilities services. We will provide all the help, training and support needed to carry out the role.
For the Public and Patient and Carer seats you will also need to be a member of NHFT. If you aren't a member please sign up for a membership first by filling in the form on www.nhft.nhs.uk/membership
For Staff seats, all NHFT staff are now automatically Foundation Trust members unless they chose to opt out.
As holders of public office, governors will be expected to adhere to the seven Nolan principles of public life which are:
- Selflessness
- Integrity
- Objectivity
- Accountability
- Openness
- Honesty
- Leadership
We will also require governors to adhere to our Trust PRIDE values which we liken to a compass. They help team NHFT make decisions and decide what matters most to us. They are incredibly simple, so here is what PRIDE stands for:
- People first
- Respect and compassion
- Improving lives
- Dedication
- Equality
We also have a governors' Code of Conduct which we ask governors to read and sign when they start their term with us. This has recently been reviewed and refreshed by the Council of Governors.
What time will I need to commit to being a governor?
Although being a governor is flexible and we aim to support our governors in their role, it is important to know that a governor will need to commit to fulfilling the role. Attending the formal meetings is essential.
In particular a governor would need to:
- undertake necessary training to ensure they are properly supported to carry out of their role - some training is mandatory for all governors
- be able to attend up to six general meetings* per year, these meetings last around three hours. Times vary from morning to late afternoon starts.
- be available to attend our Annual Members Meeting - which is usually held in September.
- be able to prepare for meetings (such as reading papers) to ensure they can participate appropriately and carry out their roles effectively
- spend time engaging with members
Consider if you have the flexibility to join and contribute to other Governor Committees and workshops. Times vary and may be during the day or early evening.
You will need to have some basic IT skills and access to IT equipment to be able to join meetings (this could be a laptop, tablet or smartphone).
*Please be aware that all formal meetings are currently being held virtually on MS Teams
How do I put myself forward to stand as a governor?
First of all, for public and patient and carer seats you will need to be a member of NHFT. If you aren't a member please fill in the How do I join form at www.nhft.nhs.uk/membership. For Staff seats, all NHFT staff are now automatically Foundation Trust members unless they chose to opt out.
Once you are a member you will need to go to the website - www.cesvotes.com/NHFT2025 - to submit your nomination form. You can submit your nomination form online or you can send it in by post, but please make sure you do so by the deadline of 5pm on 21 February 2025.
On the website there are links to a number of useful and helpful documents including statement preparation and the notice of election.
Nominations close at 5pm on 21 February 2025. On 13 March until 2 April 2025 the election and voting will take place (where seats are contested). Voters can only vote if they are a member and if they are a part of the relevant constituency. For example: a staff governor can only be voted for by members of staff who are members of the Trust or a public governor for East Northamptonshire can only be voted for by members of East Northamptonshire constituency.
The declaration of results will be on 3 April 2025.
How long are governors in office for?
Governors are elected or appointed for a term of office of up to three years.
When a governor's term of office has finished, they are eligible for re-election. An elected governor shall be eligible for re-election at the end of their term unless since 24 April 2012 they have held office for more than eight consecutive years before their next term of office would otherwise commence. Years of office are consecutive unless there is a break of at least one year between them. For the avoidance of doubt, no individual may be an elected governor for more than a total of three terms of office (nine years).
Are governors paid?
This is a voluntary role and we are not able to pay governors for carrying out their role. However, the Trust will reimburse travel expenses and other costs that might be incurred.
If you are interested in paid employment, you can search, and apply, for NHS roles via www.nhft.nhs.uk/jobs
For Staff Governors, under the Special Leave for Domestic, Personal & Family Matters Procedure (HRP004), elected Staff Governors are able to take time off during contracted hours for Staff Governor duties.
What is the Council of Governors?
The Council of Governors does not run the trust and is not responsible for the day-to-day management of the Trust. This is the responsibility of the Board of Directors, but the Council of Governors performs an essential role in the governance and development of the Trust. The governing body holds the non-executive directors on the Board to account for the performance of the board in managing the trust and represent the interests of members and of the public.
The full Council of Governors comprises of two groups. The first group is elected by members from their own area - these are called constituencies. The second group has been appointed by key (or partner) organisations that work closely with the Trust. The elected governors are in the majority.
You can find out more about the Council of Governors by visiting www.nhft.nhs.uk/governors
What is the role of the Council of Governors?
The Council of Governors monitors the performance of the Board of Directors which is accountable to the Council. The Council will do this by holding the non-executive directors to account (individually and collectively) for the performance of the Board.
The Council will help shape and endorse the forward plans of the Trust and provide a critical link between the Board of Directors and the membership, the public and our partner organisations.
It is also responsible for feeding back information to members about how the Trust has performed and how it has carried out its duties.
What is the role of the Board of Directors?
The Board of Directors is responsible for all aspects of the performance of the Trust. All the powers of the Trust (including the legal powers) are exercisable by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors has a mix of executive and non-executive directors and should include a balance of each, with the majority of directors being independent non-executive directors.
What is the difference between a governor and a director?
Directors run the organisation. They are accountable, and if something goes wrong they will be held responsible and in some instances legally liable. The Board of Directors is made up of four Executive directors (including the Chief Executive) who work full time. They have a contract of employment and are paid a salary like any other member of staff. They are appointed by a panel made up of a majority of non-executive directors. There are also seven non-executive directors (including the Chair of the Trust) and the Trust currently also has two (non-voting) Associate Non-Executive Directors. Non-executive directors are appointed by the Council of Governors. They work in the Trust, but only part-time and generally have other roles/employment outside of the Trust. Non-executive directors are remunerated (not salaried) and provide an independent challenge to the executive directors, bringing outside skills and experience to the Board.
Governors are volunteer representatives of our local communities, service users, carers, staff and partners organisations. They are elected by the membership and appointed by our partner organisations. They have certain powers but they are not held accountable if things go wrong in the Trust.
What governors can't do
Governors and the Council of Governors will not be involved in the day-to-day running of the Trust for example, setting budgets, staff pay, undertaking contractual arrangements or other operational matters. These responsibilities lie with the Board of Directors and individual directors who will manage the Trust day-to-day and exercise the powers granted to it.
The Council of Governors has no role in considering matters such as the appointment or dismissal, appraisal, pay levels, performance or conditions of service of executive directors or any other member of staff or officer of the Trust.
Governors are not there to raise complaints on behalf of individuals, to act as advocates, nor to act as staff representatives.
Governors are also not responsible for making representations on behalf of individuals or groups of members and going back to them in the way a local politician might.
Governors also cannot make unannounced visits to wards or areas of service delivery. Governors are not inspectors.
The Governor role has statutory specific duties and is more about holding to account and representing views rather than directly getting involved in service development. If you have a strong interest in service improvement you may wish to become an involvee instead. Please visit www.nhft.nhs.uk/involvement for more info.
If you are looking or other ways to contribute you may wish to contribute to the NHS as a volunteer instead which has more varied roles. Please visit www.nhft.nhs.uk/volunteer
What is the role of the Lead Governor?
The lead governor has a role to play in facilitating direct communication between NHS England and the Trust's Council of Governors.
There will be limited number of circumstances when this form of communication may be appropriate and where the normal channels via the Chair of the Trust or the Director of Corporate Governance are not suitable.