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Our Governors

Our Council of Governors acts as a link between service users, carers, staff, the general public and the Trust's Board of Directors.

They support the Board of Directors in setting the long-term vision for our organisation, and hold the non-executive directors to account for the actions of the Board. Our Board of Directors has a duty to consult, and listen to the views of, the Council of Governors.

Photo of Mark Ganderton

Mark Ganderton

Job title Public Governor
About

With over 25 years of experience representing the public (a Student Union, the National Union of Students, PPI Forums, LiNK, Healthwatch, NHS England, NSUN and Time to Change), I am delighted to be a Governor. I worked with the Mass Vaccination programme from February 2021 until December 2022 where I became a Health and Wellbeing Champion. My 12 years of Service User representation and involvement was extensive, featuring a return to work employment programme, becoming a Mental Health First Aid Trainer and Youth Trainer before LiNK for nearly 5 years, chairing an Adult Mental Health Group and a Prison Health Forum. I then moved to Healthwatch as a Board member, joining two NHS England Clinical Senate groups and the Time to Change campaign as well as delivering sessions on Mental Health for staff induction with a large NHS Foundation Trust. This was followed by working on the 4Pi Service User involvement document for NSUN, taking nearly 2 years to complete, since adopted by dozens of organisations (including SLAM). Highly proactive, I thrive on working with Service Users, Staff and fellow Governors.

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Contact your governors

If you have a question for your governors, please email governors@slam.nhs.uk

The Council of Governors is made up of:

  • Appointed members from organisations that the Trust works with
  • People who use the Trust's services elected by our membership
  • Carers of people who use the Trust's services elected by our membership
  • Members of the public elected by our membership
  • Members of staff elected by our membership

The Council's responsibilities include:

  • Appointing the Chair and other non-executive directors
  • Removing, if three quarters of the council of governors decide that it is necessary, the chair or other non-executive directors
  • Approving, by a majority, the appointment of the Chief Executive by the non-executive directors
  • Appointing or removing the Trust's auditor
  • Supporting and engaging with the Trust board
  • Holding the non-executive directors to account for the performance of the Trust Board
  • Representing the interests of the members of the Trust as a whole and the interests of the public
  • Approving 'significant transactions'
  • Deciding whether non-NHS work would significantly impact on the Trust's core role
  • Approving, by an overall majority, an application by the Trust to enter into a merger, acquisition, separation or dissolution
  • Approving amendments to the Trust's constitution

Governors review

The governors review includes information about the role of governors and their activities over the preceding year:
Governors review 2021-22

Governors review 2020-21

How to become a governor

Governors are elected to the Council of Governors from the public, service user, carer and staff constituencies. Elected governors serve a three-year term on the Council of Governors. Governors are also appointed by partner organisations. 

If you are interested in becoming a governor, vacancies will be advertised here or you can contact us to find our more via governors@slam.nhs.uk

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