Council of Governors

Our Council of Governors is an important link between Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, our members, our staff, our partners and the wider public.

Governors help us stay connected to the people and communities we serve. They bring different experiences and perspectives, ask questions and help make sure the organisation remains open and accountable.

What governors do

Governors do not run the organisation day to day. That is the role of the Board of Directors.

Instead, governors:

  • represent the interests of members and the public
  • hold our Non-Executive Directors to account for the performance of the Board
  • help ensure strong leadership by appointing the Chair and Non-Executive Directors
  • approve the appointment of the Chief Executive
  • appoint the external auditor
  • receive and consider the Trust’s annual report and accounts
  • contribute views on the Trust’s plans and future direction
  • act as a critical friend — curious, constructive and independent

What governors do not do

It is important to be clear about the role.

Governors do not:

  • manage services or make day-to-day decisions
  • deal with individual complaints or personal cases
  • act as individual decision-makers
  • represent a single issue or personal agenda
  • act as Non-Executive Directors
  • speak on behalf of the Trust unless asked to do so

If someone raises an individual concern with a governor, the governor can help signpost them to the right team, such as Patient Advice and Liaison Service, complaints or another appropriate route.

Who sits on the Council of Governors?

Our Council of Governors includes:

  • public governors, elected by public members
  • staff governors, elected by staff members
  • appointed governors, nominated by partner organisations

Public governors represent different geographical constituencies. Staff governors represent different staff groups. Appointed governors help bring views from key partner organisations.

Together, governors help us understand a broad range of views and experiences.

Public constituencies

Our public constituencies are:

  • Torbay
  • Teignbridge
  • South Hams and Plymouth
  • Rest of the South West Peninsula *

Members are placed into a constituency based on where they live. Public members vote for governors in their own constituency.

* all electoral wards in Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset and Bristol, not included in the 3 other Public Constituencies listed above.

How governors work with the Board

The Board of Directors is responsible for running the organisation and making decisions about strategy, services, quality, finance and performance.

The Council of Governors has a different role. Governors help ensure the Trust is accountable to members and the public. They do this mainly by holding the Non-Executive Directors to account for how the Board performs.

This means governors need to understand the organisation, listen to members and communities, and ask thoughtful questions about how the Trust is being led.

Council of Governors meetings

The Council of Governors usually meets four times a year. Members of the public may attend routine Council of Governors meetings, unless confidential items need to be considered.

The Trust also holds an Annual Members’ Meeting each year, where members and the public can hear about our work, our performance and our future plans.

Key documents

The work of the Council of Governors is supported by key documents, including:

Also see:

Find out more

Contact the Foundation Trust Office

If you would like to contact a governor, raise an issue for the Council of Governors or find out more about the role, please contact the Foundation Trust Office.

Phone: 01803 655406
Email: Foundation Trust Office