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Wirral University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Roles and Responsibilities

Roles and Responsibilities

The Council of Governors represents the interests of both public and staff members and of partnership organisations. Governors act as a conduit between the Trust and its members, and also engage with the wider community in an ambassadorial role, to raise awareness of the Trust and its vision and seek feedback on the Trust and its services. Governors also perform a number of statutory duties. 

The Council meets four times a year and is led and directed by the Chairman of the Trust. All Governors are expected, as a minimum, to attend these quarterly meetings, along with our Annual Members Meeting. Members of the Board of Directors attend the quarterly Council of Governors meetings. The quarterly meetings are also open to the public.

Many Governors, in addition to the quarterly meetings, also attend various workshops and sub-groups

Statutory Duties

All governors have the same two core statutory duties:

  1. Hold the non-executive directors, individually and collectively, to account for the performance of the board of directors
  2. Represent the interests of the members of the trust as a whole and the interests of the public.

Other Duties

These are carried out as and when required, and are key roles that the Council will fulfil over time.

Appointments and Remuneration

  • Appointing/removing Chair and NEDs
  • Remuneration of Chair/NEDs
  • Appointing/removing Trust external auditor
  • Approving/not approving appointment of Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Finance and Business Development

  • Receiving annual reports and accounts
  • Receiving auditor’s report
  • Approving/not approving increases to non-NHS income of more than 5% of total income a year
  • Approving/not approving acquisitions, mergers, separations, and dissolutions
  • Approving/not approving significant transaction
  • Expressing a view on Board’s forward plans in advance of submission

Approving changes to Constitution

  • Jointly approving, with the Board of Directors, changes to the Trust’s constitution