NHS Foundation Trust - become a Member
Do you know someone who has a mental health condition or
learning disability? For example:
- Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia
- autism;
- anxiety;
- depression
- an eating disorder
Probably, since
one in every four people will have a mental health
problem like these at some time in their life, from childhood to
old age – three times as many as will have
cancer.
Somerset Partnership
provides specialist mental health services for the people of
Somerset, and we want Somerset people to have a say in how we
develop our services to best support those who need us, and their
families. We are also keen to involve people outside the
county who have an interest in Somerset's mental health
services.
What is an NHS
Foundation Trust?
An NHS Foundation Trust
is a new type of NHS organisation -all existing NHS Trusts have
been asked to apply to become NHS Foundation Trusts. Being an
NHS Foundation Trust does not affect the way in which people can
access our services, or reduce the quality of care we deliver.
As an NHS Foundation
Trust, we have more independence, and can therefore make plans to
develop and improve services to meet local needs. Because our
income is guaranteed for three years at a time through legally
binding contracts, we are able to plan over longer periods,
something we could not do previously. As well, if we have a
surplus at the end of a financial year, we are able to keep this
and use it to improve our services, which non- foundations NHS
Trusts cannot do.
We would like you
to support us in our work
We have become an NHS
Foundation Trust because we want to provide the best possible care
for people with mental health problems, and believe that being an
NHS Foundation Trust will make this easier. This is because
we would be accountable to local people who become
Members of the NHS Foundation Trust, and we would
very much like you to become a Member. We need as many
members as possible to ensure that we hear and use the experiences
and opinions of the people we serve.
Everyone aged 12
years or over, who lives in England or Wales, can apply to
become a Member.
As a Member, you will
receive regular updates on what we are doing and our plans for the
future, and will be invited to give your views. You can also
stand for election to the Members’ Council, if you are aged 16
years or over. The Members’ Council has an important role in
helping to agree the Trust’s plans, and in ensuring that the views
of our Members are taken into account.
Please join us as a Member of our
NHS Foundation Trust, to find out about our work, and to have your
say in how we provide services, so that when somebody you know
needs us, we will be there to offer the best possible help and
support.
Membership benefits
As a Member you will:
- be kept in touch with
news and developments in our regular members’ newsletter;
- be invited to members’
meetings on mental health issues and the Trust’s activities
and future plans;
- be invited to give your
views on our plans for the future through questionnaires and
meetings;
- be able to vote in
elections to the Members’ Council, which works with the Board of
Directors to develop services;
- be able to stand for
election to the Members’ Council yourself, if you are aged 16 years
or over.
Membership and members’
activities are free, and you will not be asked to commit yourself
to anything – you decide how much involvement you want.
Joining is
easy!
All you need to do is
complete the Online Membership Form (internal link)
We know you are likely to
have questions about membership and may want more information about
NHS Foundation Trusts, so please call our NHS Foundation Trust
office on 01278 – 432026, or email
foundationtrust@sompar.nhs.uk
and we will be pleased to help.
Contact the Membership Office
2nd Floor, Mallard Court
Express Park
Bristol Road
Bridgwater
TA6 4RN
Tel: 01278 432026
Fax: 01278 432099
Email the Membership office
Email a member of our Members' Council
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