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Homepage|About our Trust|Governors and Members|Our Council of Governors
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The Council of Governors is made up of people of all ages and backgrounds who all share one thing in common – the continued development of The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust.

The council represents the interests of the Trust’s many members and the partner organisations with whom we work locally, for example local councils and commissioners.

The council is responsible for holding the non-executive directors to account for the Trust’s Board of Directors stewardship of the organisation. The council advises and supports the Board which is responsible for the management of the Trust on a day-to-day basis.

The council also helps the Trust carry out its duties in ways that meet with NHS values and the terms agreed with the regulator for NHS Foundation Trusts, NHS England (formerly Monitor) whose role it is to oversee foundation trusts.

The council was formed with effect from 1st October 2008 and originally had 39 governors made up of public and staff elected members, together with people appointed to represent the interests of our local partner organisations. Following the merger with Adult Community Services in April 2011, and a comprehensive review of the composition of the Council of Governors, this is now made up of 25 Governors.

The breakdown of the council is as follows:

  • Public elected governors – 13
  • Appointed by our local partner organisations – 4
  • Staff elected governors – 8
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The role of a governor

Governors provide a vital link between the Trust and the communities that we serve.

They gather views from local people and to feedback that information back to the Trust.

They reflect the interests of the people they represent and work on their behalf to improve health services for the future.

They do not have any administrative powers in the hospital, but they have statutory responsibilities. These are set out in the Health and Social Care Act 2012.

They are also expected to follow the requirements of the Code of Governance published by Monitor, (the former independent regulator for foundation trusts, now NHS England/ Improvement).  The role in brief includes:

  • Appoint and (if required) remove the  chairman and non-executive directors
  • Hold non-executive directors to account individually and collectively for the performance of the Trust
  • Approve appointment of chief executive
  • Appoint and if required, remove the external auditor
  • Right to comment on major changes to services
  • Review performance information
  • Be consulted on forward planning
  • Represent the interests of members
  • Approve significant transactions
  • Request directors to attend meetings
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Frequently asked questions - Governors'

Members can stand as a Governor and can be elected by fellow members from the constituency in which they live or staff category in which they work.

There are 25 elected and appointed Governors.

Our Foundation Trust is committed to supporting communication between members of the Trust and their Governors. We facilitate this through the Foundation Trust Office in the first instance. Members can contact their Governor through a dedicated Foundation Trust telephone number and via e-mail. The Foundation Trust office also supports Governors’ communication with the membership using the in-house magazine, Your Trust.

The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust holds four meetings of the Council of Governors each year. As a Governor, you will be expected to attend these meetings, which are also be open to Members and the general public. We will set the dates of meetings for the year ahead, and circulate this information widely through the Trust website and newsletter publications to Members.  Governors are also asked to serve on sub committees of the Council that meet between four and six times each year.

No, Governors do not receive payment, but reasonable travelling and other expenses will be paid. These could include caring costs. Rates of reimbursement will be published in the Foundation Trust Annual Report.