A unique opportunity to influence the future of healthcare in the county is now available, as North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust (NCIC) is looking for 12 new public governors and three staff governors.
NCIC manages both acute and community services, including maternity, stroke and A&E. This means there are lots of opportunities to get involved and help shape the future direction of the Trust and the services it runs.
The Trust is looking for individuals to become involved and nominate themselves to become part of the NCIC Governors Council. This is a great opportunity to have a say in healthcare for your community and to feedback your views directly to the Board of Directors.
A governor awareness session will be held online on Friday 29th July at 10:30am. This session will explain the role of a governor and Governors’ Council and how you can apply to become a governor. Anyone who would like to attend the session can register their interest at AskYourGovernor@ncic.nhs.uk
Peter Scott, Chair of North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Governors have an important role to play in helping to shape and monitor the Trust’s services.
“They are appointed to represent the interests and views of our members and of the public.
“Governors bring valuable insights and experiences to our services and ensure that the NHS is accountable to its local population.
“As a governor you take part in a number of meetings and will be invited to take part in visits to our services alongside Non-Executive Directors. Governors appoint the Chair and Non-Executive Directors and hold them to account for the performance of the Board of Directors.”
William Miskelly, Deputy Lead Governor, would encourage everyone to become a governor so that everyone’s voice is valued and heard. He said: “The NHS has kept me alive - now I want to give something back and to ask more people to join me.
“As a member, you can do as much or as little as you want, but you are just part of something bigger with lots of opportunities. If we all speak, we will be heard and we can help shape our healthcare system for the future.
“The role of a governor is very interesting and also challenging.
“It is a great opportunity to help improve our local NHS and to ensure accountability between the Trust and the community.”
Local people can become a member to stand as a governor before the closing date of the nominations on August 8, 2022,
Those interested in nominating themselves can do so by completing the nomination form online or can request a paper version by contacting the Returning Officer.
The role description includes:
- Represent the interests of the members of the Trust as a whole and the interests of the public
- Hold the Non-Executive Directors to account for the performance of the Board of Directors
- Appoint, remove and decide the terms of office, including remuneration, of the Chair and other Non-Executive Directors
- Appoint or remove the Trust’s External Auditors
- Review the annual accounts, auditor’s report and annual report
- Express a view on the Board of Directors’ forward plans
The public vacancies include:
- 3 x Public Allerdale
- 2 x Public Furness
- 2 x Public Eden
- 2 x Public Carlisle
- 1 x North East England
- 2 x South Lakeland
There are no elections for public governors this year in Copeland or Lancashire.
The staff vacancies include:
- 1 x Furness and South Lakeland
- 2 x Carlisle and Eden
There are no elections for staff governors in Copeland or Allerdale.
The deadline for receipt of nominations is 5pm on August 8.
All governors are volunteers; however travel expenses will be reimbursed.
To stand for election you must be a member of North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust within the Public Constituency or Class of the Staff Constituency for which you wish to stand as a candidate.
To find out more about the vacancies in your area; what is involved in being a governor; to complete your nomination online or to request a paper nomination form, contact Civica, who are managing the election on behalf of the Trust:
Website: www.cesvotes.com/NCIC2022
Email: ftnominationenquiries@cesvotes.com
Tel: 0208 889 9203
To find out more about being a governor please contact the Corporate Governance Team by email AskYourGovernor@ncic.nhs.uk.