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.
James Mac
Job title
Public Governor
About
I have lived in South London since 2011, and have been a member of SLaM since 2015. After attending SLaM Board Meetings (public), Annual Meetings, and Council of Governors meetings as an observer from 2016-2022, I decided to run for Governor in 2023.
I now join the Council of Governors representing the neurodiversity community, with a particular interest in supporting childhood and adult Autism services. Sharing my experience receiving a diagnosis via the NHS, I have empathy for those waiting patiently in all too long mental health pathways.
More broadly, I bring a wealth of experience working within the NHS as an Analytics specialist. I have built cross-site patient booking systems and optimised capacity through AI "smart" waitlists. Before moving to the NHS and after my MBA at Oxford, I worked as an IT Director, Finance Director, and an Analytics Director in the private healthcare sector.
These days, I bring my passion for building user-friendly technology platforms and connecting real-time data across different patient systems. My understanding of the nuance of these systems comes from working at acute hospitals (2017-2024) and community providers (2015-2016).
I hope to contribute to SLaM and the Board of Governor by getting stuck in on a range of topics, and by listening to the challenges the staff and users are facing.
Record last modified
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
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
