Spotlight
Join our trust as a Governor
We are a foundation trust which enables greater local accountability and greater financial freedom. Our council of governors is part of our governance structure and holds the Trust Board to account. This means it has a number of duties which include the appointment of the non-executive directors and external auditors and it can scrutinise the performance of the trust board. They represent the views and opinions of our trust’s members.
We have three categories of governors; public, staff and partnership or appointed governors. Governors stand for a three-year term and can stand for re-election (public or staff governors) or be reappointed (appointed or partner governors) for a further two terms.
We are currently holding public and staff governor elections to appoint 11 public governor and two staff governor seats on the Council of Governors with nominations closing on Wednesday 5 March 2025.
To give you a better idea about what being a governor is all about, and why you should consider it yourself, two of our current governors have taken the time to answer our questions.
Jack Torr – governor for five years
What made you originally consider becoming a governor?
In the days when I had a 'proper' job I supported international pharmaceutical and devices companies, initially launching and then supporting products used by primary and secondary care physicians. I had significant contact with providers like the NHS but from a very different perspective. The objective was to ultimately improve patient outcomes.
In my later career I moved to purely independent medical education using grants from major international pharmaceutical and device companies to provide independent educational programmes primarily for hospital physicians. To be able to get a grant and have a programme independently accredited we had to prove there is an unmet patient need in a particular therapy area, how that need can be remedied and what clinician knowledge, skills and attitudes need to be improved or addressed to meet the patient needs. This once again brings us back to improving patient outcomes. I saw being a Governor a continuation in some way of improving patient outcomes.
What are you typically involved in as a governor?
The great thing about being a Governor is that you can be involved in as much or as little as you wish. There is a minimum requirement, to attend Council of Governor meetings, but very few of my co-governors do just that.
I am part of two governor working groups; Membership and Involvement and communication and quality and patient experience. The first group is focused on Trust membership, how to maintain it, getting members involved in Trust activity and how the Trust communicates not only with members but the wider Somerset and national audiences. The second is really much more patient focused. Reviewing Trust performance; for example looking at statistics of waiting times, post operative care, infection rates, incidence of pressure sores and more.
Each group gives Governors the opportunity to question and sometimes challenge the performance of the Trust. I am also the Governor representative on the Mental Health Legislation Committee as I have a special interest in mental health. For two Trusts and two private mental hospital groups I review patients held (Sectioned) under the Mental Health Act.
I am also involved in Governor Surgeries where we take a small area in an hospital outpatient area and talk to patients and their carers about the Trust and answer any questions. Another example includes going to leadership 'walk rounds' where a Governor joins an Executive Director and Non-Executive director in literally walking round a specific area talking to staff and patients giving them the opportunity to comment on the Trust and its management.
What do you enjoy about being a governor?
As you know SFT as a Trust is unique but not only in its facilities but how the Executive Board and Non Executives engage with the Governors. They make Governors feel valued and part the Trust, not just a constitutional 'necessity'!
I have attended numerous PLACE (Patient Led Assessment of the Care Environment) visits where Governors accompanied by ward colleagues and estates management visit wards and departments looking at the 'environment'. from a patient perspective. What is the decor like, are there pictures on the wall, are the toilets clean, are direction sign clear, are there any hazards like unrepaired chairs or slippery floors. It also gives us the opportunity to talk to staff and patients.
Would you encourage others to consider becoming a governor, and why?
If anyone has an interest in patient care and improving the health environment in Somerset and wanting a 'voice' then I would recommend being a Governor. I will be very disappointed when I get to the end of my tenure. I am hoping to be re-elected next year for my final third year term. (No more than 3 terms is allowed in our Trust constitution).
Ian Hawkins – governor for 3 years at Somerset FT, 9 years at Somerset Partnership
What made you originally consider becoming a governor?
I’ve known several people across the years who have sadly taken their own lives and I wanted to learn how I could help more in my local community, so I joined the Samaritans where I was able learn about all the work surrounding mental health. Taunton Samaritans had a governor’s seat with Somerset Partnership NHS Trust (which merged with Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust) so I was first introduced to the role of governors then, when I became an appointment governor there. After I had finished my allotted time, I decided to stand as a public governor for South Somerset for Somerset NHS Foundation Trust.
What are you typically involved in as a governor?
My interest is in mental health and supporting people but I like to get involved in everything. I have been part of all the different governor working groups across my time. I attend committees, board meetings, and we are encouraged to take part in quite a lot of things such as Governors surgeries too.
What do you enjoy about being a governor?
I enjoy so much about being a governor, especially leadership walkarounds which give you a chance to get to know the trust and get to know colleagues and see them in their working environment. I have been continually impressed by the care and nature of our colleagues, how they look after patients, physically and mentally, every day.
Would you encourage others to consider becoming a governor, and why?
Being a governor is such a rewarding role. In being a Foundation Trust, it’s important that the public are involved and have their say in how the trust is run for the benefit of all. Although governors have no power, we can still use our influence and make a difference for our community through our role.
Interested in finding out more?
The seats coming up for election are:
- Mendip – 1 seat
- Sedgemoor – 1seat
- Somerset West and Taunton – 3 for 3 year term and 1 (current vacancy) for 1 year term (e.g. to 30 April 2026)
- South Somerset – 4
- Outside Somerset – 1
- Staff – 2