East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT) is inviting people with an interest in healthcare to consider standing for election to its Council of Governors.
The Trust, which runs Colchester and Ipswich hospitals and a range of community health services, is looking for anyone who would like to get involved or has an interest in shaping services for the future to apply.
ESNEFT’s Council of Governors is made up of 18 elected public governors, seven elected staff governors and 10 appointed governors.
At this election, ESNEFT is asking for nominations to fill 12 public governor vacancies. This includes six seats in Essex, and six in Suffolk. The Trust also wants to fill two staff governor seats.
You can nominate yourself to stand for election as a public governor.
To be eligible, you must:
- over the age of 16 · be a Foundation Trust member. This is completely free and you can apply quickly and easily online (Visit www.esneft.nhs.uk/get-involved/become-a-member), and
- live in the constituency in which you would like to stand.
You can stand as a staff governor if you have:
- a permanent contract with the Trust
- a fixed term contract of at least 12 months, or
- been continuously employed by the Trust under a contract of employment for at least 12 months.
You do not need any specific qualifications for the governor role. All you need is an interest in healthcare and a commitment to representing the diverse needs of the Trust’s staff and local community.
As a governor, you will play an important role in representing the interests of your community. This includes making sure the Trust hears the voices of patients, carers and staff when it is developing health services.
ESNEFT is looking for people from a wide range of cultural backgrounds who reflect the diverse community it works with and serves.
The Trust would like to see governors from these communities bringing their lived experience to the role, so everyone’s views are heard and well represented
Anyone who wishes to stand for election will need to complete their nomination by 5pm on Wednesday 13 August.
If you are elected, your term of office will begin on 1 November 2025 and will last three years. Read more about the elections and complete your nomination form on the ESNEFT election website.
For help and nomination forms, contact the Trust’s election provider, Civica on 0208 889 9203, or email ftnominationenquiries@cesvotes.com
You can also email ft.membership@esneft.nhs.uk to find out more and read about the Council of Governors and its work on the ESNEFT website.
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