Governor Elections

As a vital part of our Trust, governors play an essential role in shaping the future of our healthcare services. They act as a voice for our patients, staff and local communities, ensuring we remain focused on the needs of those we serve.

Being a Governor is an exciting opportunity to influence decision-making and contribute to the direction of our Trust. Governors help hold the Non-Executive Directors to account for the performance of the Board and provide valuable feedback on the services we deliver.

If you are passionate about improving healthcare, representing your community or helping shape the future of our services, we encourage you to consider standing for election.

Seats available in the 2026 elections

The next elections for the Council of Governors will take place in spring 2026.

In order to apply to be a Governor in this election round, you must be aged 16+ and be a member in a constituency that has an available seat.

The following Governor positions are available for nominations:

Constituency	Number of seats
South East England and Greater London – Service User	1
West Sussex – Service User	2
West Sussex – Carer	1
East Sussex – Carer	1
Brighton & Hove – Service User	1
Brighton & Hove – Public	1

Election Timetable

Key dates

Nominations open: 20 April
Nominations close: 07 May
Election results announced: 18 June

For successful candidates:

Shadow Council of Governors meeting: 29 June
Governor induction: July (TBC), Portland House, Worthing, BN11 IHS
First Council of Governors meeting: 24 August

Further information on the role of a Governor, eligibility and the nomination process can be found in the sections below.

Influence Strategic Direction: Governors help shape the future of their NHS Foundation Trust by contributing to the annual priorities
Voice for the Community: They represent the views of service users, carers, staff, and the public, ensuring the trust reflects the needs of its community.
Improved Transparency and Accountability: Governors act as a check on the trust’s performance, promoting openness and good governance.
Develop New Skills: The role offers opportunities to gain experience in leadership, governance, and healthcare policy.
Make a Meaningful Impact: It provides a chance to contribute to improving local healthcare services and patient outcomes

Governors do not need to have any formal skills or qualifications to become a Governor, just a passion for mental health, learning disabilities services and neurodevelopmental care. We will provide all the help, training and support needed to carry out the role.

Although being a Governor is flexible and our Council of Governors is held as a hybrid meeting (online and in person) it is important to know that a Governor will need to commit to fulfilling the role. The commitments include:

One to two days a month of constituency engagement
Four Council meetings a year (Hybrid - held on weekdays)
Communication with members to find out their views and concerns
Working within our values: Compassionate, Accountable and Optimistic
Reading and interpreting papers and reports to make informed decisions
Opportunities to attend development sessions and observe our Board Committees
Appointment/Election for 3 years - which can be re-elected for a total of 9 years

To become a Governor, you will need to be a member of Sussex Partnership. Find out how to become a member.

If you wish to stand for election, you can find full details about the process and how to nominate yourself on our election provider webpage.

If you would like to discuss the Governor role please contact spft.corporategovernance@nhs.net.

Governor Elections