NHS Trust looking for 10 people to represent local people on its Members’ Council
The South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, which provides mental health and learning disability services to the people of Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield, is holding elections to fill 10 public places on its Members’ Council.
The Members’ Council was established to be representative of the views of the Trust’s 14,000 members and help the Foundation Trust reach decisions. The Council’s role is to make sure that the board of directors, which retains responsibility for the day to day running of the Trust, is accountable to the local community; the Trust’s members.
The Members’ Council is made up of 20 elected representatives of public members, 7 elected representatives of staff members and also 12 nominated members from key local partner organisations.
The Trust is looking for its members to stand for 10 new public governors in the following constituencies:
- Calderdale – 2 seats
- Kirklees – 3 seats
- Wakefield – 4 seats
- Yorkshire and Humber – 1 seat
There are also a further two seats open to Trust staff who work in non-clinical support services and staff nursing support, which is nearly half of the Trust’s workforce in total.
The Trust’s chair Joyce Catterick said, "I’d really like to encourage our local members to stand for election to the Members’ Council. Our Trust is a dynamic, forward-thinking organisation that strives to provide the highest possible quality of care. The Members’ Council is a vital part of the Trust as it ensures members are involved in improvements to services, but it also places an emphasis on local people having a continued voice in the organisation and being able to influence decisions. I am looking forward to the elections where local people who are members will decide who represents them."
To make sure that the elections are completely independent and transparent, the Trust does not have any part in them. Instead the Electoral Reform Service (ERS) is conducting the elections. Charlene Hannon from the ERS can be contacted on 020 8365 8909 to answer any questions about the elections.
A nomination form to stand for election can be obtained from: Electoral Reform Services Limited The Election Centre 33 Clarendon Road London, N8 0NW Tel 0208 889 9203
Nomination papers need to be retuned by 12 noon on Friday 26th February 2010. All public members of the Trust will get the opportunity to vote and ballot papers will be distributed to qualifying members on Monday 22nd March 2010.
If any local people would like to join the Trust as a member so they can then stand or vote in the elections, call 01924 327567 or email membership@swyt.nhs.uk.
To find out more about the Members’ Council or becoming a member visit the Trust’s website: or follow the Trust on Twitter.