Meet your governor

Good healthcare, particularly at a time of unprecedented change, is vital to the health and success of every community. Timely access to local high-quality NHS services that meet the needs of our communities is what we should expect. I come from an NHS family and I’ve worked in Mental Health since 1983. I have developed a strong understanding of complex services, changing health landscapes and the multiplicity of people’s requirements. I live in Amber Valley and enjoy being part of a vibrant community. I will work hard to represent the views of the community and support Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Trust in the development and continuous improvement of services for residents in Amber Valley and across Derbyshire.

Angela has lived in Amber Valley most of her life and brings a wealth of experience on mental health to the governor role. She has worked in the local voluntary sector for 35 years, the last 20 years in mental health. Angela recently retired and is looking forward to using the skills she developed during her working life to benefit people who use mental health services, their carers and the organisations that deliver care. She is passionate that all communities should be included in developing services that make it easier for everyone to access and benefit from care that is tailored to individuals’ needs. Angela was previously an appointed governor on the Council of Governors representing the voluntary sector.

Rob has been re-elected for a third term of office representing our members in Bolsover and North East Derbyshire. He is a retired Primary School headteacher with experience as a school governor for over 30 years. He thoroughly enjoyed his years in teaching both as a classroom teacher and as a school leader. In his retirement Rob wishes to give something back to support our public services. He believes the NHS is at a critical stage in its history. He is passionate about the NHS and wants to help to protect its future, ensuring it is fit for purpose and resourced appropriately. He feels that the NHS needs to be regenerated putting the health of patients above all other interests and challenging inequalities so that all of us get the healthcare we need and deserve.

Statement to follow.

Jill has recently retired from her role as Head of Adult Safeguarding in Derbyshire. During her 43 year career in social care she managed community services and worked with local health communities to develop services that meet the needs of local people including the shaping of mental health services. Jill is passionate about improving mental health services and has worked with partners to try and ensure that the needs of local people are met. Jill has been a carer for the last 15 years and has lived experience of acute mental illness from a carers point of view.

Dave worked at Chesterfield Royal Hospital as a Biomedical Scientist for over 40 years and in addition is an elected Councillor on Derbyshire County Council. He appreciates that the responsibilities of the Trust are extensive and cover many of the services that the general population may need. Over the years he has been involved with individuals and families that need mental health and general support. Dave has also actively supported voluntary and statuary organisations within the county in their work. He is aware that the pressures of both the pandemic and current economic situation have affected the mental health people of all ages. Dave believes that the recent development of Joined Up Care Derbyshire is a good basis to try to achieve a more seamless service with joint working with NHS Trusts, adult care and voluntary sector organisations. Dave is looking forward to being more involved in Joined Up Care Derbyshire and holding the Non-Executive Directors to account to help in the development of services.

Graeme has lived and worked in Derby since 2011, prior to this he was in the Royal Navy for nearly 20 years. Graeme has lived experience as a carer for his daughter who sadly took her own life. Since then he has become a passionate advocate for mental health. He is determined to help others and support the NHS any way he can. Graeme is involved with the National Suicide Prevention Alliance where he uses his lived experience to help develop awareness of and improvements in suicide prevention. Becoming a Trust Governor has been an aspiration of Graeme’s for some time now as he sees it as a way of giving something back, supporting others and being actively involved in improving mental health services.

I would relish the opportunity to give something back to my local community which I value being part of. My mother spent most of her working career as a nurse, as a father I watched my son being born in NHS care and personally I have been a patient before so feel I have a connection with the system. I want to ensure that patients are the first priority ensuring that they receive effective care from caring, compassionate and committed staff. I will question and hold the Board of Directors to account ensuring openness, transparency and honesty throughout the system, about matters of concern and effectively represent the interests of the members. This is a role which I feel I would thrive in and really push to make a difference. I believe that the NHS is a pillar of our society and an integral part of our everyday lives. I firmly believe it is an institution worth protecting and making sure it is in a constant state of evolution and improvement, and although the financial constraints of the NHS are well known, I want to be a part of the process to help ensure its changes are managed with the best intentions.

Ogechi arrived in Derby in 2014 where she trained to become a GP; and where she now works and lives. She believes in sustaining the NHS and increasing its effectiveness in providing healthcare. She also believes that the NHS can do more to support people with mental health issues. Ogechi has lived experience of mental ill health and understands the issues that people face. She is passionate about the NHS providing better support to people with mental health issues. Ogechi is looking forward to working together with the people of Derby City West, sharing in our stories and ensuring proper representation.

I have been a governor and volunteer at the Trust for twelve years. I know how hard it has been for the whole community over the last two years and you will be feeling overwhelmed and lonely and feel as though you have no voice. The next few years will be crucial in getting back to normality and members and patients will be looking for answers on how the system is moving forward. Governors play a very important role in the Trust, ensuring that there is a strong connection with the community served by the Trust and with the staff who work for it. I have always been committed to the values and behaviours of the Trust and support its goals and objectives. I want stand as a governor at DHCFT I am driven to continue to influence and improve the care and treatment of mental health service users and to represent my constituents of Derby City West. The last twelve years I have taken on additional roles sitting on the Panel of Living With and Beyond Cancer, also the EQUAL group relating to patient experience and being a voice for the patients and members I have the experience and the time to commit to a broader role as a public governor. People need to know what services are available for them. You will need a strong voice to go to the Board and Directors on your behalf. Let me be your voice.

This is Andrew’s second term as public governor for Erewash. Prior to retiring Andrew worked for nearly six years for Queen’s Medical Centre covering hospital wide IT support. Prior to this Andrew worked in statistics having graduated in Maths and Statistics followed by a masters in Operational Research which enables him to analyse data. Andrew has also taught at night school and has undertaken a variety of care-orientated voluntary roles. Andrew is passionate about improving care for those with mental health issues. On a personal level Andrew has lived experience of suffering with depression.

Simon is passionate about positive mental health and believes that everyone deserves equal access to high-quality mental health services. As a former mental health nurse with first-hand experience of the challenges faced by people with mental health issues, he is committed to making a positive difference to people’s lives. Also as a person with lived-experience of mental health issues, Simon has experienced the challenges of accessing quality mental health services and is committed to ensuring that the Trust provides the best possible care to its patients and their families. He feels that his communication and interpersonal skills will help him to work collaboratively with other governors to help to develop the services that the Trust provides. As a governor Simon wants to be able to increase awareness about mental health issues and reducing the stigma associated with it. He is committed to making a positive impact in the lives of people with mental health issues.

I have a long standing involvement in health policy and management and with patient safety in particular. My latest book is an international review of health events that went wrong and the lessons that can be learned from these experiences. This contrasts with much of my earlier research which was focused on the future and the opportunities presented by the amazing developments in medical science. I am an Emeritus Professor of Health Care Development at the University of Sheffield where I was Dean of the School for Health and Related Research. I was for four years President of the European Healthcare Federation. I was Chairman of the predecessor organisation to the Health Professions Council which deepened my interest and respect for the professions we regulated. It is now some years since I played an active role in health affairs but these are tough times for the NHS and I still might have something to contribute to my local Community Trust. I now have a very personal , interest in innovative and sensitive services for the elderly!

Fiona works at the University of Nottingham and research into the NHS allowed her to meet many committed and courageous practitioners in the NHS. Fiona would like the opportunity to support them and their patients and clients to get a better experience from our health service. She is aware that there is such a lot of potential in those excellent staff, and in the system, for making the NHS a better place to work and a better place to go to for help for all of us.

Hazel is a former psychiatric nurse who has a frontal lobe brain injury which has caused other conditions. Hazel believes that as a former nurse and now service user she is in a unique position to see things from both sides. She currently volunteers as an Expert by Experience for Mental Health Together. Hazel is aware that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted on many people’s mental health which in turn is likely to impact on demand for services. Hazel is keen to use her experience and skills to help move mental health services forward in a safe, therapeutic and supportive environment for both staff and patients.

Anson is passionate about people receiving the highest possible standard of care. Anson was previously a mental health service user, and also studied Mental Health Nursing where he was based in Derby for a year. Because of these experiences he understands a range of perspectives regarding mental health and can relate to a wide variety of people. He also worked in Japan as an English teacher in a multicultural environment where fellow language teachers were from a wide variety of countries. As a result, Anson is culturally sensitive and can understand that different communities can have different issues. Anson enjoys writing poems and short stories (some of which have a mental health theme) and obtained a Distinction in Creative Writing from Oxford University and have had poems and short stories published in many university publications. As a result of this he is very passionate about mental health and the arts, and feels that the creative arts can contribute to some people mentally healing. Whilst at university he won a national radio playwriting competition, and has recently had two plays performed. Anson is looking forward to his role as governor.

Laurie has worked for the Trust for a number of years and is looking forward to providing a positive contribution to the Council of Governors in representing the interest of medical colleagues. She has wide-ranging experience in medical practice and the desire to strive for better and more compassionate patient care while ensuring the Trust is held to account for its activities and care delivery, both to patients and the colleagues.

Fiona has been an Occupational Therapist for 12 years and has worked in the Trust for 10 years in a range of roles in our Adult Neurodevelopmental Services, Student Practice Learning team, and for the last four years as OT Professional Lead. She has taken a role in our Forensic and Rehabilitation division, which now means that she has worked in every division across the Trust. She is also involved in AHP service provision and workforce development at a system level, working collaboratively with partners from health, social care and VCSE organisations to ensure a joined-up approach to care for people in Derby and Derbyshire. Fiona is looking forward to representing the interests of the Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) within the Trust on the Council of Governors. She sees AHPs as a key part of the workforce who make an invaluable contribution to the services the Trust provides. She wants to be able to ensure that the AHP voice is heard and that our Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Dietitians, Speech and Language Therapists and Social Workers are recognised and supported for the brilliant work that they do. She is committed to ensuring that the Trust values are embedded into everyday practice and that we provide an excellent service to all who access support from us.

During my first term as a governor, I learnt so much about the workings of the Trust and representing the admin and allied support staff in holding the Board to account. I think the Council of Governors plays such an important role and I am delighted to continue supporting them in my role as staff governor for another three years. I have worked in the NHS for over 28 years and am passionate about the role admin and allied support staff can play in improving patient care. I have worked in libraries in different types of NHS organisations and in this role I have come into contact with all types of staff from across each of these organisations. I think I have a good idea of the types of issues they have, but also how they can make a difference. My job is to help all our staff use evidence in their everyday practice and I think this can be transferred to the governor role in helping the Trust become more evidence based.

Claire has worked in the NHS for 23 years mainly in administration. She is currently the team administrator with the Substance Misuse team which she really enjoys. Claire is hoping that as a staff governor, she will have the opportunity to influence the direction of the Trust on current issues; and give colleagues a voice. Claire believes that patients should be treated equally, fairly and with respect and that they should have the opportunity to have the very best care provided by our Trust. As a disabled member of staff, she also hopes to be able to help other disabled staff members to have their voices heard and promote inclusion in the Trust and within the community. By becoming a staff governor Claire feels it will provide her with both professional and personal rewards.

Jo was re-elected for a third term of office. She trained as a RMN in Nottingham, and since qualifying she has worked for the Trust in both parts of the county. She loves frontline working and is currently working as a Ward Manager on one of the acute wards on Hartington Unit. Jo is due to retire in the next three years and is looking forward to continuing in representing her colleagues as staff governor. She continues to hold the Trust values very much to her heart and completely believes that by putting our colleagues first, we can achieve a more positive, happy, productive place, which can only impact on our care delivery to our patients. She is looking forward to continuing to represent staff at various forums and ensure that their views are made known, their ideas explored and activated and their hopes materialised. She is motivated and enthusiastic to continue to improve the delivery of Trust services to the patients in our care and to the staff in our workplace. She believes her previous experience puts her in a good position to represent staff and contribute fully to the Trust decision making process.

Sifo is a Mental Health Nurse and is currently the Clinical and Operations Project Manager for the Trust’s Making Room for Dignity programme. As a Mental Health Nurse, Sifo has first-hand experience of the challenges our dedicated nursing staff face. His role in the Making Room for Dignity programme has refined his skills in strategic planning, enhancing patient care, and operational efficiency. As a governor Sifo is looking forward to championing mental health nursing, and wants to ensure that his colleagues voices are heard. His leadership style is rooted in Trust values, will foster collaboration and bridge gaps between nursing and other departments.

Dr David Robertshaw is Head of School for Nursing and Midwifery at the University of Derby

Statement to follow.

Rachel works as the Community Engagement Worker for Derbyshire Voluntary Action. Within the last year she has taken over managing the Mental Health Liaison Service. Her role is to represent and support voluntary sector organisations and community groups across the north of Derbyshire. She is dedicated to building strong relationships across the voluntary, public and private sector, and believes that the most meaningful work comes through innovation and collaboration. Rachel also sits on the Chesterfield Mental Health Partnership Group, a sub-group of the Health and Wellbeing Board, as well as the multi-agency Suicide Prevention Partnership Group. She is pleased to have been appointed as a Derbyshire Healthcare governor and is keen to begin working closely with the other governors.

Cllr Garry Hickton is a councillor for Derbyshire County Council and is the Cabinet Support Member for Children’s Services and Safeguarding.

Dr David Charnock qualified as a learning disabilities nurse in 1986 at the Royal Earlswood Hospital in East Surrey. Since qualifying, David has worked for health services in Surrey and Nottinghamshire. David first worked as a staff nurse in a community nursing team, and then progressed to senior management roles including Community Service Manager for a specialist mental health and learning disability trust. In 2002, David moved to the School of Health Sciences at the University of Nottingham to take up post as an Assistant Professor in Nursing. The role involves course and module leadership, teaching and assessment of undergraduate and postgraduate student nurses. In 2013 David was awarded a PhD from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. The doctoral research focused on the construction of masculinity and the lived experience of boys and men with learning disabilities. This has led to international collaborations with academics in Australia. Postdoctoral research interests also include the mental wellbeing of caregivers who have a child with a learning disability, the needs of young people with learning disabilities at risk of entering the criminal justice system and the needs of fathers of children with learning disabilities. David has recently been appointed as the Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion for the School of Health Sciences and is looking forward to the new challenges this role will bring.

Cllr Alison Martin is a councillor for Derby City Council.