The following are all essential requirements unless specifically stated and will be assessed through the application and interview / assessment process.
Eligibility and commitment
- Be a public, service user or carer member of the Trust.
- Not be disqualified by the criteria set out in the Trust Constitution. (see below)
- Demonstrate compliance with the requirements of the ‘Fit and Proper Person’ Test. (see below)
- Have sufficient time to commit to the role.
Experience and Background
- The ideal candidate must have strong academic qualifications and be a professionally qualified accountant.
- Recent and relevant financial experience and commercial acumen.
- Understanding of good financial governance, performance management, financial control and planning.
- Track record of achievement at Board level in an organisation of similar size and complexity to the Trust, whether in the private, public or voluntary sectors. (desirable)
- Understanding of performance and financial reporting and monitoring.
- Proven ability to think strategically, understand complex issues and make pragmatic decisions.
- Applications are welcomed from candidates with broad and relevant backgrounds, however we are particularly keen to receive applications from those with recent and relevant financial experience, ideally with experience in the fields of Risk and Audit.
- Sound knowledge of understanding corporate governance and risk with experience of managing large budgets.
- Experience of building working relationships with a complex range of stakeholders.
- Experience of leading or managing significant change.
- Experience of holding senior management teams to account and, in turn, accustomed to a high level of accountability.
- Can add to the existing board members life experience through one or more of the following; if you can bring insights into:
- BAME heritage
- Younger people
- Those who are open about their faith
- The lives of people from socially deprived backgrounds
- Those who live with a disability
- LGBTQ+
Knowledge
- A genuine interest in healthcare issues and an understanding of the services provided by the Trust.
- Non-Executive Principles. (Cadbury, Higgs, Nolan)
- Corporate strategic business planning.
- Building effective teams.
- Managing effective productivity.
- Knowledge of regulatory compliance.
Personal Qualities
- Commitment to the NHS and the principles of Foundation Trust governance.
- Political astuteness.
- Sound independent judgment, enquiring mind and intellectual rigor.
- Team working, including collaborative/delegation.
- Conciliator/negotiator.
- The ability to form strong relationships.
Compliance with the NHS Foundation Trust Code of Governance
On appointment, the Non-Executive Director must meet the independence criteria as set out in the NHS Foundation Trust Code of Governance i.e. must not:
- Have been an employee of the Trust within the last 5 years;
- Have had within the last three years, a material business relationship with the Trust either directly, or as a partner, shareholder, director or senior employee of a body that has such a relationship with the NHS Foundation Trust;
- Have close family ties with any of the Trust’s advisors, directors or senior employees;
- Hold cross-directorships or have significant links with other directors through involvement in other companies or bodies;
- Be an appointed representative of the Trust’s university medical or dental.
In addition, all other significant commitments must be declared prior to appointment, e.g. other executive or non-executive directorships.
Fit and Proper Persons Requirements
All organisations regulated by the Care Quality Commission need to ensure that successful candidates meet the Fit and Proper Persons Requirement (Regulation 5 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014). This means that the care provider must not appoint a director unless:
- The individual will have strong academic qualifications and membership of a recognised professional accountancy body, and posses the competence, skills and experience to successfully carry out this role.
- The individual is of good character;
- The individual is able by reason of their health, after reasonable adjustments are made, to properly perform tasks which are intrinsic to the office or position for which they are appointed or to the work for which they are employed;
- The individual has not been responsible for, been privy to, contributed to or facilitated any serious misconduct or mismanagement (whether lawful or not) in the course of carrying on a regulated activity or providing a service elsewhere which, if provided in England, would be a regulated activity;
- None of the grounds of unfitness specified in Part 1 or Schedule 4 apply to the individual (e.g. bankruptcy, sequestration and insolvency, appearing on barred lists and being prohibited from holding directorships under other laws);
Good Character is Measured by the Criteria Set Out in Part 2 of Schedule 4 of the Regulations:
- Whether the person has been convicted in the UK of any offence or been convicted elsewhere of any offence which if committed in any part of the UK would constitute an offence;
- Whether a person has been erased, removed or struck off a register maintained by a regulator of a health or social work professional.