Council elections 2024: frequently asked questions

Find out about the nominations and elections process for this year's CSP Council elections, and the practicalities of being a CSP Council member.

What is it like to be a CSP Council member?

Katie Wilkie, vice-chair of council 2018-2021, shares her experience of what it's like to be a CSP Council member.


General questions

Why should I become a council member? What are the benefits?

  • Personal development: the CSP will provide you will ongoing training and support
  • You'll have the chance to shape the future of the CSP and the physiotherapy profession
  • You'll become part of a diverse professional network of professionals

How long is a term on council?

Four years, as written in Bye-Law 23:

  1. Council members may serve up to a maximum of eight consecutive years in office and thereafter shall not be eligible for re-election until a period of four years has elapsed.
  2. A Council member is elected for a term of office of up to four years.
  3. In this Bye-Law 23, a “year” means the period between one annual general meeting and the next.
  4. A council member duly elected in accordance with these Bye-Laws can take up office in advance of the annual general meeting at which their appointment is due to commence in order to fill any vacancies on council.

I am a student/I am an associate member – can I still stand for council election?

Yes, all sections of the CSP membership are encouraged to stand for council election – including associate and student members.


Are you able to put me in touch with a current council member?


Nominations

When is the deadline for nominations?

The nominations stage opens 18 March and closes 13 May 2024.


Can a current council member be a proposer of my nomination?

Yes, any CSP member can be a proposer. You are required to provide their full name, CSP membership number and email on a nominations application. Proposers will be verified by the CSP.


Can a CSP member propose more than one election nominee? 

Yes, a CSP member can propose more than one election nominee. Proposers will be verified by the CSP.


What should my 350-word address include?

Your election address should demonstrate how your skills and experience make you the right person to represent your profession as a CSP Council member.


I do not have access to the internet to submit my nominations application. What should I do?

Please contact the governance team and we'll provide you with a hard copy form which you can submit by post.


Elections

How do I canvass support from CSP members to vote for me?

You can canvass support for votes by:

  • speaking to members and informing them about why they should vote for you
  • using your social media accounts to promote yourself and connect with the wider membership

We encourage you to reach out to current CSP Council members to ask how they canvassed support previously. 


Can CSP social media accounts be used to help me canvass votes?

No candidate can be quoted, mentioned, liked, retweeted or have their posts or stories shared using CSP official accounts. Official CSP social media accounts include: country board, regional network, branch, national group of regional stewards, diversity network and student accounts and groups on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Whatsapp, Linkedin and other channels.


Can I ask a CSP staff member to help promote me as a candidate?

No, individual CSP staff social media accounts cannot not be used to publicise or promote candidates.

CSP Staff may not quote, mention, 'like', 'retweet' or share posts or 'stories' from candidates even if the subject is not about the election.

Members are requested to indicate to CSP staff if they are running for the 2024 Council elections. Nominations will not be known until nominations close after the 13 May.


I am a CSP member, can I support a candidate on my personal social media account?

Yes, members who are not themselves candidates can indicate their support for candidates on their personal social media accounts.

Members must not disparage candidates on social media.


As a member, can I vote online in the elections?

Trade Unions are required by law to run postal ballots for all statutory ballots and elections at no personal cost to members. Therefore, a pre-paid envelope is included for casting your vote. Online voting cannot be facilitated.

All CSP members will be sent an election pack by post. This will contain the candidates' election addresses, a ballot paper and a pre-paid return envelope for casting your vote.

During the voting period we will also publish the candidates' election addresses on the Civica Election Services Limited site.


As a CSP member, when can I vote?

The election opens on Monday 3 June 2024 and closes at 17.00 on Monday 3 July 2024.


I haven’t received a ballot paper in the post / I’ve damaged my ballot paper

A new ballot paper can be reissued. Please contact governance@csp.org.uk stating your full name, CSP membership number and address. A new ballot paper will be sent out to you by Civica Election Services Limited but please allow five working days for it to be delivered. 

Please note we can only send ballot papers to the address we have on our CSP membership system, so please make sure your CSP membership details are up to date.

If your ballot paper is damaged, please securely destroy it.


I’ve lost or damaged my return envelope.

Please post your ballot paper to Civica Election Services Limited, The Election Centre, 33 Clarendon Rd, Wood Green, London N8 0NW.


I’ve received two ballot papers

If they are not addressed to you, please put one back in the post to the ‘if undelivered’ address on the back of the main envelope (this does not require a stamp).

If they are both addressed to you, please securely destroy the second ballot paper.

NB if a member submits two or duplicate ballot papers this will be identified by Civica Election Services Limited. A CSP member will not get two votes.


When will I know the results of the election?

Results of the election will be announced to members on Monday 8 July 2024.


Being a CSP Council member

Will I receive training on how to be a council member?

Yes, if you are elected as a council member you will receive a council induction which isn’t just a one off, it continues from meeting to meeting. You’ll receive an induction in governance, finance, risk and strategy. You will all receive continuous support from the CSP governance team, directors and CEO to increase your exposure and develop your knowledge of the CSP’s work.


How much time do I have to commit to be a council member?

Typically, council members need to be able to commit the equivalent of between 20-25 days per year, made up of meetings, travel, preparation and training/development days. Only some of this time is for meetings during working hours. Council members generally fit their duties around other responsibilities – for example, by picking up tasks in the evening.

Key commitments

  • Induction days – 12 September and 2 October 2024, in person.
  • Council meetings – six times a year.  Four are full-day meetings, usually at CSP head office in London, two are half-day meetings and are held virtually.
  • Development day – March 2025, in person.
  • Annual representative conference – June 2025, two days, in person.
  • CSP Annual Conference – two days.
  • Annual general meeting.
  • Observing at committees or country boards (up to four).

The chair and vice-chair’s time commitment will be larger, up to two days per week for the chair.


As a council member, will my expenses be covered by the CSP?

All out-of-pocket expenses involved in serving as a council member are reimbursed, including travel and subsistence costs, childcare costs, overnight accommodation if required.


What happens if I want to leave my term early?

If an elected council member wishes to leave their term early, they are able to do so by providing notice in writing to the chief executive.

When applying for council we ask that members take into consideration the time commitment required for the role in addition to their paid employment. We encourage members to speak to current council members regarding their experience on council to delve into whether the role is suitable for them prior to standing for election.


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