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A portrait of a man, identified as Sunday Adebayo, seated at a wooden desk and looking directly at the camera with a gentle smile. He is wearing a dark blue suit jacket, a red and white checkered dress shirt, a solid blue tie, and dark-rimmed glasses. On the desk in front of him are a open grey ThinkPad laptop, a white ceramic mug, and a black pen holder with several pens.

Sunday Adebayo

Clinical staff governor

More information

I am a registered Occupational Therapist currently working as a Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist within Adult Inpatient Mental Health Services at Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT).
I have over 14 years of clinical experience across different areas of healthcare, including mental health, acute medicine, rehabilitation, paediatrics and community-based services. Before joining EPUT, I worked in several clinical and leadership roles both internationally and within the NHS, including as a Band 7 Team Lead Occupational Therapist.
Throughout my career, I have developed a strong passion for patient-centred care, staff development, multidisciplinary working and improving the quality of services we provide. In my current role, I work closely with occupational therapists, other Allied Health Professionals, nursing and medical colleagues, support staff, managers and wider multidisciplinary teams.

I decided to become a Clinical Staff Governor because I believe that the voices and experiences of frontline clinical staff should be represented and heard at every level of our organisation.
Those working directly with patients and service users see both the strengths of our services and the challenges that can affect the delivery of high-quality care. I wanted to create a stronger connection between those frontline experiences and the wider strategic direction of the Trust.

As a Governor, I want to be an approachable and visible representative for clinical staff, providing opportunities for colleagues to share their views, ideas, achievements and concerns. I am particularly passionate about ensuring that the contribution of Allied Health Professionals and the wider multidisciplinary workforce continues to be recognised within the Trust.

I also see the Governor role as an opportunity to contribute positively to EPUT's continued development, supporting openness, accountability, staff engagement and, ultimately, better outcomes and experiences for our patients and service users.
I believe leadership is not only about holding a position; it is about listening, representing others, asking constructive questions and helping to influence positive change.

During my term as Clinical Staff Governor, I hope to engage regularly with colleagues across different professions, services and locations within EPUT. I want staff to feel comfortable approaching me and to know that their perspectives matter.
It is a privilege to have been elected by colleagues to serve as a Clinical Staff Governor, and I am grateful for the trust placed in me. I look forward to working with fellow Governors, the Council of Governors, the Board and colleagues across EPUT to help make our organisation an even better place for our staff to work and for our patients and service users to receive care.