Governor Elections are due to start in September 2020, with three vacancies available. If you are interested in standing as a Governor and helping make a difference to the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital (ROH), let us know and we may be able to offer some support with your application.
Director of Corporate Affairs and Company Secretary, Simon Grainger-Lloyd, has gratefully answered a few questions for us about why our Members and Council of Governors are so important to us.
As Director of Corporate Affairs and Company Secretary, how do you support Governors in their role with the organisation?
As a Foundation Trust, we are required to have in place a Council of Governors. The Council comprises a set of individuals from three main categories: public, staff and representatives from some of the key organisations and academic institutions with which the ROH works closely. It is my responsibility to ensure that the election or appointment to these key positions happens efficiently and to provide the governors with the tools they need to be able to discharge their legal duties. This includes inducting new governors into the organisation, training them and ensuring they have the opportunity to hold the Non-Executive Board members to account for the performance of the Trust.
I also act as the key point of contact for the governors on a day-to-day basis and ensure that they are kept up-to-date with the happenings in the Trust in between the formal Council meetings – this has been a big challenge during the recent months where due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been less opportunity for the governors to have formal meetings or come to the hospital site.
How do Foundation Trust Members and Governors add value to the organisation?
The value of members and governors is that they provide the ROH with the opportunity to develop using the voice of our local community. From sharing thoughts and ideas to helping out in and around our trust, from electing our governors to becoming a governor – there are many different ways you can help us deliver the best in care as a member of the ROH.
The more members we have means we have more opportunity to reflect the views of our patients. We need as many interested people as possible to join us – and we'd love you to be one of them.
What advice would you give to someone looking to apply to be a Governor?
Having a real interest in the ROH is important. We are very proud of the organisation and its rich history in Birmingham. You should be willing to be a part of this and to speak up and represent yours and the views of others on the operation of the hospital so that it retains its reputation of excellence for care and patient experience. There is no expectation for you to have undertaken a similar role before or have a particular skill set or experience, as training in the role is provided.
To stand as a Governor and have the opportunity to make a real difference, you will firstly need to sign up as a public Foundation Trust Member. To sign up simply visit www.roh.nhs.uk/about-us/membership.
