Do you want to have more of a say in helping to shape local healthcare services in your area?  If so, a role as a Public Governor with your local NHS Foundation Trust could be just the opportunity you’re looking for! 

Southern Health provides mental health, learning disability, children’s, and community services across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight – and now has a number of vacancies for Public Governors in the following constituencies: 

Southampton – 1 vacancy 

South West Hampshire – 2 vacancies 

South East Hampshire – 2 vacancies 

Isle of Wight – 2 new roles. 

Governors become members of the Council of Governors and provide a vital link between the public and the Trust.  They help communicate the ideas, feedback, and concerns of local people. Their role is to raise concerns and ask questions on behalf of people living in the constituencies they represent, to support our patients, their families, and carers, and help shape the way the Trust provides healthcare services. 

Lynne Hunt, Chair of Southern Health, explained: “Our Public Governors play such a vital role. They not only help us make strategic decisions about our services but, most importantly, they are the voice of the public and our patients. So, if you have a passion for healthcare and want to make a sizeable difference, I encourage you to become a Public Governor.” 

Being a Governor is a rewarding role that enables you to be at the heart of the NHS in your community. Governors have played a strong role in Trust developments in recent years – sitting on interview panels for new Board members, being involved in work that directly affects frontline services and attending public events to share the work of the Trust. 

Adrian Thorne, Southern Health’s Lead Governor, added: “Governors play a key role in making sure our patients’ and carers’ voices are heard, and they are a critical friend to the Trust. To be most effective, we need individuals with all sorts of backgrounds, interests, and skills to join the Council of Governors and fully represent our communities across Hampshire.” 

If you would like to find out more about being a governor, we are hosting a virtual teams session for interested candidates on Tuesday 9 July at 0930-1030 – to register your interest please email corporate.governance@southernhealth.nhs.uk

Nominations for the Governor elections are now open and will close on Friday 12 July at 5pm. Apply today: https://www.mi-nomination.com/southernhealth

For more information, visit our website here. 

To view our current Governors, visit here.