Want to make a difference for your community? Become a governor
1 Jul 2024
We are looking for people to bring the voices of their communities to our Trust by nominating themselves to be a public governor.
What is a governor?
Governors share their feedback with members of the Board of Directors, those at the highest level of the Trust, to represent the interests of local people.
As well as representing people in your area, governors play a vital role in the governance of the Trust. The Council of Governors appoints the Trust’s Non-Executive Directors (NEDs) and holds them to account for the performance of the Board.
Public governors work alongside staff governors and appointed governors from Devon County Council and the University of Exeter, so that the Council of Governors as a whole represents the voices of our staff, patients and wider communities.
Governors have a wide range of experiences and backgrounds, but what they share is a passion for helping to shape local health services in a way that best meets the needs of patients and the public.
Take a look at this video to see what our Council of Governors has achieved in the past year.
What do people say about becoming a Royal Devon governor?
Dame Shan Morgan, Royal Devon Chair, said: “This is an exciting time to become a governor at the Royal Devon as we continue to improve our performance and respond to the challenges facing the NHS and Devon system as a whole. Our Council of Governors helps ensure we act in the best interests of our patients and wider communities.
“I am really grateful for the valuable insights and perspectives the governors have shared with me as Chair and with my colleagues who sit on the Board of Directors. If you think you have something to offer, we want to hear from you.”
Richard Westlake, public governor representing Exeter, Teignbridge, Torbay, South Hams, and Plymouth, said: “It’s a steep learning curve, but I’ve found it extremely interesting. I’ve enjoyed the stimulation of actually seeing improvements to the health service, talking to staff and talking to members.
“You can be at home, sat down in a chair and having a moan, but you’re putting yourself in a position where you can actually achieve something and do something for the public that you represent.”
Kay Foster, public governor representing East Devon, Dorset, Somerset, and the Rest of England, said: “I became a governor because I decided I’d like to give something back. It’s a role that gives me great gratitude, it’s a real honour. I get back a lot, through giving service.
“Look at the role carefully because it is a commitment, but it’s a fantastic way of serving your community and serving the Trust. I think there are lots of people in the community who have something to offer.”
Find out more about the governor role
Being a governor is a voluntary role and involves attending a minimum of eight meetings per year, with further opportunities to get involved depending on your interests.
To help people understand the role, we have published an introductory guide and FAQs about becoming a governor. These resources and details on how to nominate yourself are available on the governor elections page of our website.
We are also holding three information webinars with a panel of current public governors and Trust staff. The sessions will be held on MS Teams on:
Please click on the date you are interested in attending to register your interest and get the joining link.
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