Governor's Personal Statement

I have had the honour of serving as public governor for Amber Valley South for almost three years. As you will know the Trust has had much adverse publicity: though not undeserved this has, I have felt, tended to overshadow the great work that has throughout been done for and with those who have needed our help (and their families). Derbyshire Healthcare has more than ninety clinical teams in the field and it has been my privilege to visit more than half of them to learn first-hand about their work and observe their enthusiasm. I have lived for most of my life in Amber Valley. I went to school in Belper where I worked for thirty-seven years as a GP. The Trust has always, of course, been in partnership with other organisations and this is now more obviously a necessity than ever in the past. I have observed how the Trust is always trying to work more efficiently while striving to improve its services. I have attended public meetings in Heanor and Belper where local services have been discussed. Attendance at Board meetings has shown how the complex organisation evolves while maintaining the human touch. I have felt that my local connection has helped me as your representative on the Trust's Council of Governors of which I have been lead governor in the past year. Governors have become better informed, better trained and more effective in their role of representing the public interest and holding the Trust Board to account.

Governor's Personal Statement

Carole started her working career as a midwife and spent over 20 years working in the industry. She has been a volunteer in a national youth organisation for over 40 years and she also has 35 years experience in school governance, gaining transferable skills that she hopes will enable her as a governor to be a critical friend, challenging the Trust to deliver a caring, compassionate and efficient mental health service

Governor's Personal Statement

Karen has lived in Amber Valley for the past 13 years and is familiar with the area and community. For the past 11 years Karen has been a school governor – firstly within an infant school and currently as the vice-chair within a secondary school. In these roles Karen has gained experience of school governance, recruitment, working with stakeholders and being a critical friend. Currently Karen is a registered Social Worker working with adults within Derbyshire. This role involves safeguarding and multi-disciplinary working with partnership agencies including health professionals and agencies. On a personal note Karen has a parent living with dementia which gives her insight into the services both her parent and their carers need.

Governor's Personal Statement

Martin moved to Derbyshire 12 years ago. He is passionate about the NHS and would like to keep it as it is whilst helping to improve the services provided to the general public. Whilst Martin lived in Doncaster he set up a garden centre and landscape business and during this time he helped to set up a hospice centre with the local MP. Martin was a Branch Secretary for AUEW Engineering Union for 27 year and was also member of Doncaster Royal Infirmary, and Chair of Governors at three senior schools.

Governor's Personal Statement

Rob is a retired Primary School Head teacher with experience as a school governor for over 30 years. Rob thoroughly enjoyed his years in teaching both as a classroom teacher and as a school leader. He has lived in Derbyshire since 1977. Rob is passionate about the NHS and sees his role as public governor as an ideal opportunity to give something back to support our public services. As public governor Rob hopes to champion the needs of the local population. He feels strongly about our healthcare service and believes the NHS is at a critical stage in its history and at great threat from a lack of investment. On a personal level Rob has a parent living with vascular dementia which gives Rob insight into their needs.

Governor's Personal Statement

Lynda's area of expertise is that of business management, administration, logistics, accounts and customer service. Her role included being an NVQ Assessor. Part of her responsibility was that of internal quality assurance, therefore, she is acquainted with the standards required within the workplace. Having taken early retirement from her lecturing post, Lynda now has sufficient time to collaborate with patients, carers and staff to work towards an increase in public satisfaction.

Governor's Personal Statement

I am a person of lived experience in mental health. I also run two mental health self-help groups, Rethink MASH and Rethink Good Companions. The aims of the group are to promote wellbeing and to avoid admission to acute inpatient mental health units by keeping “well”. I also serve on the Diocesan Mental Health Steering Group for the Church of England. I hold the Bishop’s badge for services to mental health. I am also well known throughout the county as a Mental Health Activist. I featured in The Derbyshire Times last September, campaigning against people on benefits paying Council Tax. There are many mentally ill people on benefits, mental health being the largest cause of disability. I bring my experience to the Council of Governors, and will “tell it as it is” from a patients point of view in order to improve matters.

Governor's Personal Statement

I am good at listening to others, then taking forward concerns to create change. Having a service which meets the needs of service users is critical to me, and to the longevity of the service. I have worked for 20+ years in Housing for a central London Local Authority and three Housing Associations so have experience of leading and training teams as well as delivering support. As a volunteer I have experience of organising successful events which over 13,000 customers and involved 250+ volunteers over 10 days. I am therefore able to work at many levels and bring a balanced package of knowledge with me. I moved to Chaddesden in 2010 having lived previously in Northern Ireland, London and the Isle of Wight. I have experience of the superb service provided at Derby Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and have been a member of Derby’s Carer’s Hub. When my daughter was at primary school I was part of the Parent Teachers Association and spent time assisting children with their reading ability. I like to get involved and improve things for everyone.

Governor's Personal Statement

I said to you three years ago, I will not stay silent until Derbyshire's needs are met. Since then I have been proactive as a governor during difficult times, such as when our most senior managers betrayed the Trust through failure to follow due process and lost an expensive Employment Tribunal. I researched what should have happened, and be happening, and was one of the most informed and outspoken governors during this process. I continually seek information to assure myself that the Trust's processes and best practice are now being followed and have been thorough and fearless in questioning. New challenges lie ahead. Government is asking for savings across the NHS and told Trusts to work together and share services. Negotiations are going ahead for us to merge with Derbyshire Community Trust. This makes sense as both work across the whole of Derbyshire and our mental health and community children's services can benefit from services from one provider, if merging is handled properly. MH continues to be underfunded; waiting times long and services not available but following my repeated requests governors met with the CCG's chief executive and made clear what we expect for MH. We need to ensure that in a merged trust MH, the biggest service provided, gets the priority and funding it needs. Governors can work towards this and I would like your vote for Derby City West as I am in a good position to make this happen. Feel free to contact me at any time.

Governor's Personal Statement

I would like to be able to use my previous work and experience with the Trust to help involve and engage with both members and the wider public about the health and wellbeing of the people we serve. I have been involved with the Trust for over nine years as a carer, ambassador, volunteer and membership champion. I have attended over 60 public, stakeholder and carer events over the years and I continue to support membership engagement within the Trust. I have recruited almost a 1000 public members to the Trust and I have built up a positive and productive relationship within the community. I am aware of the huge challenges facing the NHS and that clinical care is at the centre of everything we do.

Governor's Personal Statement

I have a diverse knowledge off supporting people with learning difficulties, physical disabilities along with mental health in which I have too experienced myself. My role as support worker, working for Mencap was supporting individuals to lead as independent a life as their condition allowed, enabling them to reach their full potential which is of great importance. This was achieved with consistency, care, respect and above all else empowerment. Never two days were the same and I had a sense of achievement that I found to be personally rewarding, knowing I was helping to make a difference in their day to day lives. Unfortunately at the end of January 2013 my mental health took a downward turn and I had no choice but to finish doing the job I loved. Now that I’ve given you a little insight to what kind of a person I am I hope I have given you enough confidence in me being your governor with the Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and trust is what I give to you. I hope you share the same inspiration as me to allow me to help make changes where needed by speaking up for you no matter what the situation may bring.

Governor's Personal Statement

I am a Post Graduate Engineer with businesses management experience. I also have a great interest in health and at a personal level practice Yoga and Meditation. After retirement, I have become a Therapist and offer help with Mental/Emotional and Body level issues. Through MacMillan, I have completed a course to support patients and families affected by cancer. I am actively contributing to the following charities: - The Long Eaton and District 50+ Forum – as a Treasurer - Gujarat Samaj, an Ethnic charity (Indian Gujarati community) – as a Committee Member and Assistant Treasurer. In the past, I have served as a Trustee on the Board of Nottingham Counselling Services. I believe that more can be done in the preventive side of health. Education and early help can prevent manifestation of serious diseases and health problems.

Governor's Personal Statement

Ann has been an Occupational Therapist for 30 years working in both statutory and private health services with people of all ages and a range of physical and mental health conditions. Ann’s career includes work for provider organisations and with commissioners of services – she understands the pressures and challenges for both resources and budgets. Ann has also worked as an Expert Witness to provide care and quantum reports in medico legal cases in which she has had to accurately represent the needs of patients for The Courts. Five years ago, Ann developed an innovative occupational therapy mental health service in the Derbyshire Dales and through her involvement with this she hears first-hand the health and social care issues of patients, families and carers. Ann has worked with Voluntary and Charity sectors and understands the challenges they also face. As a public governor for High Peak and Derbyshire Dales Ann wants to make a positive difference and help shape the delivery of excellent services. She feels that the needs of our community can be met in an integrated way if statutory, voluntary and private sectors all work together.

Governor's Personal Statement

Throughout Marie’s professional and personal life, she has been instrumental in improving outcomes for people in her community. Marie began her career as a youth worker in the Derbyshire Dales area and later qualified as a Social Worker working throughout Derbyshire. Before retirement she was Area Manager for High Peak and Derbyshire Dales, working closely with both Adult and Child health service providers. Marie also had a working knowledge of the Statutory and Voluntary sectors supporting the most vulnerable in the community. My work required me to work with and support families with varying degrees of problems including both physical and mental health issues, supporting families with children who have additional needs and parents and young people with substance abuse problems. In her public governor role, Marie is keen to continue contributing to serving our most vulnerable.

Governor's Personal Statement

Throughout my life I have been honoured and privileged to represent residents of South Derbyshire for over 35 years including within that period the Mining Industry as a full time trade union official, Local Authority as a District Councillor (19 yrs) as well as serving for several years on the South Derbyshire Community Health Council. I have been a Board member of several charitable organisations and believe I have the commitment, discipline, skills and knowledge to further serve South Derbyshire residents. I am a firm believer in the NHS and do not accept the break up and selling off of profitable sections of the service, if you want someone to fight for the continuation and improvements to the NHS please consider voting for me, if you are agreeable and support the privatisation of the NHS, then I am not your man. Thank you for taking the time to read my election statement.

Governor's Personal Statement

Rosemary would like to use her dual experience as a service user and mental health professional to help achieve the best possible mental health care for the people of Derbyshire. Having received excellent care within the Trust for the past 15 years, she would like to give something back. Rosemary is also setting up a fund to assist individual service users in their recoveries.

Governor's Personal Statement

I have worked in the Trust since 2010 as a trainee and now as a Speciality Doctor in one of the Trust's busy inpatient wards and I've seen many changes in that time, some good and some not so good. I believe the Trust is working hard in very challenging times to provide the right services for the people of Derbyshire, and I would like to represent the voices of medical staff at a strategic level as we continue to develop and improve. As a long-serving BMA representative I have experience in gathering and expressing colleagues? views in some tricky negotiations, and believe I can do this as a Governor. The highest priority for our Trust is providing safe, compassionate care for patients, and we have to do this in an environment of ever decreasing resources. As a Staff Governor I would aim to provide a clinical perspective from the experience of doctors throughout the Trust to help us to decide where to put our resources and how to structure services.

Governor's Personal Statement

April is passionate about recovery; to enable and empower patients to take control of their life and wellbeing. She would like to make positive changes for the people she cares for and the team she works within, through her role as a staff governor. April is an experienced Senior Occupational Therapist working in the community

Governor's Personal Statement

This is Kelly’s second term as a staff governor. She strongly believes that it is vital that the staff voice is heard. She feels that it is an absolute honour to represent her constituency, which includes admin, clerical, Estates & Facilities Management and corporate staff.  She is looking forward to continuing to represent the views of her constituency and take any issues raised with her to the Council of Governors, with an aim to improve working lives and to improve our patients’ experience. Kelly is fully committed to the role and the duties it entails, such as holding the Non-Executive Directors to account and attending and contributing to the Council of Governor meetings and Governance Committee. Kelly is also a member of the Engagement Group and the Staff Forum. She believes that she is in a position to really do the role of staff governor justice and is readily available for staff to approach her with any issues that concern them. Kelly feels confident in representing the views of others.

Governor's Personal Statement

Tony has been working within mental health services for over twelve years and joined Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust in August of 2017 as a Nursing Assistant based on Cubley Court Male. Tony is passionate about working within mental health services, developing them to create an environment that supports and nurtures its staff team so they are better equipped to meet the needs of our client group. Tony is a great believer in communicating with people to create change and is looking forward in his governor role to create connections with the wider Trust team to ensure that their voice is heard when developments are being considered. Tony has recently taken up the role of Nursing Ambassador for our Trust and he has also been a member of the Care Maker programme since 2014 both of which are led by NHS England – allowing Tony to gain a wider understanding of the drivers at a national level.

Governor's Personal Statement

Jo trained as a RMN in 1974 in Nottingham, and since qualifying she has worked for the Trust in both parts of the county. Jo currently works as a Ward Manager/Senior Nurse on one of the acute wards on Hartington Unit. Jo is passionate about working on the frontline in acute wards. Jo holds the Trust values very much to her heart and completely believes that by putting colleagues first, we can achieve a more positive, happy and productive place, which can only positively impact on our care delivery to our patients. In her staff governor role Jo is looking forward to representing staff at forums at a higher level and ensuring that their views are made known. As a governor she is committed to representing both the interests and views of her colleagues.

Governor's Personal Statement

Al has been working as a Registered Nurse within our Trust since April 2000 and currently works as a Night Coordinator based at the Radbourne Unit in Derby. In this role, Al supports all levels of staff to ensure that the Trust continues to offer high quality care for the patients. Al is passionate about supporting colleagues and patients alike and is committed to making a difference.

Governor's Personal Statement

Wendy is currently the Head of School of Nursing and Professional Practice at the University of Derby. Wendy trained as a nurse, and progressed to a career in District Nursing specialist practice. Subsequently, Wendy supported students on specialist community programmes as a Practice Teacher and Practice Educator. Wendy currently practices as a Hospice at Home Nurse for a local hospice alongside her academic role. Wendy’s expertise predominantly lies in the following clinical areas: community, palliative and end of life care, tissue viability, higher level practice and clinical leadership. Wendy’s research interests include the role of the practice educator and the support they require in the assessment of higher level practice, the impact of cohort sizes on teaching and learning, and the developing role of the advanced clinical practitioner within general practice, community, acute and out of hours care settings. 

Governor's Personal Statement

I am one of the appointed governors for the voluntary sector. I have worked in a variety of roles in voluntary organisations for thirty years, and have been Manager of Derbyshire Mental Health Forum for seventeen years. Previously I worked in Community Transport and Councils for Voluntary Services. In my current role I support a range of mental health and non-mental health charities across Southern Derbyshire, including Derby City, and represent their interests to commissioners and other statutory and private services. Our membership is 67 organisations but we also provide information through Forum News bulletins and Mental Health Awareness training to a much wider range of people across all types of organisations. Over the years we have supported our members to work more closely with DHCFT in areas such as advocacy, training, patient and carer representation and race equality. I am a member of the Co-ordination Group for Mental Health Together run by the local Healthwatch, which supports patient and carer involvement in planning. I also sit on the multi-agency Suicide Prevention Partnership Group and work closely with Derbyshire Public Health on other prevention and lifestyle services that improve people’s mental health and wellbeing. I am a member of the Joined Up Care Derbyshire’s STP mental health programme group and wish to support them to provide more meaningful services to people close to where they live. I have lived and worked in Derbyshire all my life (apart from a brief time ‘over the border’ in Eastwood, which as a Derby County supporter I prefer not to dwell on!) I am therefore very passionate and committed to ensuring that mental health services meet the needs of our local communities.

Governor's Personal Statement

I have been Derbyshire Voluntary Action’s (Formerly NDVA) Mental Health Liaison Worker since 2005. My role is to represent and support voluntary sector service providers and user led organisations across the north of Derbyshire. I am pleased to have been appointed as a DHCFT governor. I am particularly interested helping DHCFT to foster close links and partnerships with all providers to ensure the best possible services for the people of Derbyshire.

Governor's Personal Statement

Until his retirement in 2003, Jim ran a successful transport, haulage and freight logistics company which was based in Derbyshire and travelled Europe-wide. Jim became interested in helping the local community during that time and was a Scout Master for 25 years. He enjoyed helping and giving guidance to the young people involved in Scouting and was particularly interested in encouraging the young people to be involved in first aid techniques – a practical, lifelong skill.  Jim is currently involved with helping local facilities in his area to become dementia friendly and encouraging a dementia-friendly community. Jim became involved in local politics some 20 years ago, has been a Borough Councillor for the last eight years and elected to the County Council in 2017.  As the County Council provides a governor representative on the Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Council of Governors, Jim was particularly pleased to be asked to fulfil this role. As appointed governor for the Trust, Jim is enjoying the chance to expand his knowledge of the NHS as a whole and the services offered locally, whilst having the opportunity to help raise awareness of these within his local community.

Governor's Personal Statement

Dr Gemma Stacey qualified as a mental health nurse in 2004 after completing the undergraduate Master of Nursing program at the University of Nottingham. She went onto work for the Nottinghamshire Healthcare Trust in a range of recovery orientated community servicers. In 2006 Gemma commenced a part time research post at the University of Nottingham which involved managing an action research project exploring service user involvement in the assessment of student nurses in practice (SUSA). She has gone onto implement and evaluate a range of educational initiatives centred on lived experience. This complements Gemma's doctoral research interest in the socialisation of student nurses and the educational factors which influence the development, maintenance and expression of person centred values. She is the leader of the Critical Values Based Practice Network who conduct research into this area along with an explicit focus on the perception and influence of power and hierarchy amongst professional groups. Gemma is currently employed as an Associate Professor in the School of Health Sciences at the University of Nottingham where she is the Lead for Graduate Entry Nursing.

Governor's Personal Statement

Roy Webb is a Councillor for Derby City Council and has represented Allestree Ward in Derby City since 1985 as both county and city councillor.