Non Executive Director

South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust is one of the top performing organisations within the NHS. Our staff think this is a great place to work and we hope you will agree. We have recently been rated as 'Outstanding' by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following our most recent inspection.

We provide services across Warwickshire and beyond ranging from Hospitals in Warwick, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Royal Leamington Spa and Shipston-on Stour to Community Services across the whole county. This includes our Community Teams in North Warwickshire.

We are a progressive, expanding organisation with great ambition around improving quality, integrating pathways and delivering high levels of productivity. Over 5900 people work for the Trust and many of them have been here a long time. People find they don't need to go elsewhere to find a fulfilling career in healthcare.

The first thing you will notice about us is how we take our values seriously. We believe that our values underpin everything we do. If you are interested in a role with us you need to make sure our values match your own.

Our values can be summed up in one sentence. We are 'Trusted to provide inclusive, safe, effective and compassionate care'. Throughout the recruitment process you will be asked to think about how you demonstrate these values and how they impact on your work. It doesn't matter what role you do, whether it is patient facing or not, we are all working in the same way with our values at the core.

Probationary Period

All new staff to the Trust will be subject to a standard 6 month probationary period, the details of which will duly follow in your contract of employment.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust is committed to creating and sustaining a positive and inclusive working environment for all our employees. Our aim is to ensure that employees are equally valued and respected and that our organisation is representative of all members of society. We define diversity as valuing everyone as an individual - we value our employees, job applicants, students, patients and visitors as people. This is reflected within our values of being Inclusive, Safe, Effective, Compassionate and Trusted.

Agile and Flexible Working

All our staff will have a work base. However the Trust operates as an Agile Working Team therefore staff may be working from home on a regular basis as required by the service. However, occasionally travel around Warwickshire and into your base will be required so access to your own transport would be helpful.

The Trust also welcome staff to work flexibly and we would welcome the conversation at interview regarding flexible working.

Staff Benefits

The Trust offer a wide range of additional benefits to staff. Anyone who joins us on a substantive basis can assess things such as the Lease Car Scheme, Electronics Scheme, Discounted Leisure and Travel, Cycle to work scheme amongst many others available.

Car Parking

The Trust have recently completed the construction of a multi-storey car park at our Warwick Hospital site which has allowed us to reduce waiting times for car parking passes.

To keep up to date on our latest recruitment activity follow us on twitter @swftrecruit or look us up on Facebook (Recruitment - South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust).

Job overview

South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust is looking to appoint a Non-Executive Director to Chair its Audit Committee

This post will chair the Audit Committee and as such requires a Financial and/or Accounting qualification. The successful candidate will have a successful track record and Board/Senior-level experience in large, complex organisations and will demonstrate capability in strategic thinking and the ability to challenge, influence and build consensus on a wide range of issues.

You should also demonstrate a good understanding of the health care agenda. To be appointed as a Non-Executive Director you must be a Member of the Public Constituency of the Trust.

The Trust operates acute and community services out of a number of sites across Warwickshire, including Warwick and Stratford Hospitals and Leamington Spa Rehabilitation Hospital.

At the last inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the Trust was given the highest rating of 'Outstanding' in all areas. The Trust is the only general acute and community provider in the West Midlands region, and one of only 10 nationally, to receive the prestigious 'Outstanding' rating. It confirms that the care provided to local people is amongst the very best in the NHS.

Remuneration will be £15,000 for Chair of Audit Committee, for an average time commitment of 4 days per month.

Alongside application please forward cover letter to Gertie Nic Philib

Interviews: Early July, final date TBC

Main duties of the job

ROLE SUMMARY

The Non-Executive Directors work alongside the Chair and Executive Directors of the Foundation Trust Board of Directors, to advise on the development of strategy and to oversee the performance of South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust.

They share responsibility with other Directors for the success of the organisation using the available resources to deliver healthcare and improve the health of local people.

The Non-Executive Directors are members of the Board of Directors and bring independence, external skills and perspectives. Board members share a corporate responsibility for the governance and performance of the Trust in meeting both strategic and operational objectives.

The Non-Executive Directors are held to account by the Council of Governors and as such are expected to attend the quarterly Council of Governors meetings and Council Sub-Committee meetings (where appropriate), and also engage with Governors through more informal means.

Working for our organisation

Come and join a Trust rated Outstanding by the CQC. South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust have been rated as outstanding following our latest inspection by the CQC and we are recruiting new staff to come and help us improve even further. In addition our staff survey results have placed us 4 th in the country for recommended place to work.

We provide services across Warwickshire and beyond ranging from Hospitals in Warwick, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Royal Leamington Spa and Shipston-on Stour to Community Services across the county. We are a progressive, expanding organisation with great ambition around improving quality, integrating pathways and delivering high levels of productivity.

Our values can be summed up in one sentence. We are 'Trusted to provide safe, inclusive, effective and compassionate care'. Throughout the recruitment process you will be asked to think about how you demonstrate these values and how they impact on your work. It doesn't matter what role you do, whether it is patient facing or not, we are all working in the same way with our values at the core.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

KEY RESONSIBILITIES:

Set the Trust's strategic values and standards and ensure that its obligations to its patients and others are understood and met.

Set the Trust's strategic aims, ensure that the necessary financial and human resources are in place for the Trust to meet its objectives and review management performance.

Provide leadership of the Trust within a framework of prudent and effective controls which enable risk to be assessed and managed.

Provide independent judgement and advice on issues of strategy, vision, performance, resources and standards of conduct and constructively challenge, influence and help the Board to develop proposals on such strategies.

Monitor the performance and conduct of management in meeting agreed goals and objectives and statutory responsibilities, including the preparation of annual reports and accounts and other statutory duties etc. Be assured that the systems of internal control, including clinical governance, are properly established and maintained.

To support and constructively challenge the Chair, Chief Executive and other Directors to ensure that the Board conforms to the highest standards of corporate governance and makes appropriate decisions.

As a member of Board committees, appoint, remove, support, encourage and where appropriate 'mentor' senior executives.

Contribute to the determination of appropriate levels of remuneration for executive directors.

To participate in committees of the Board and other key NED roles/duties, in accordance with service needs as determined by the Chair.

To attend the quarterly Council of Governors meetings and twice-yearly Roundtable planning meetings between the Board of Directors and Council of Governors.

To participate in Council of Governors' Sub-Committees, where appropriate to the role, and engage with Governors on an informal basis.

To uphold the values of the Trust, acting as a role model to ensure that the Trust promotes equality, diversity and inclusivity for all its patients, staff and other stakeholders, recognising the causes and impacts of healthcare inequalities in minority groups.

Bring independent judgement and experience, based on commercial, financial, legal or governance expertise from outside the Trust and apply this to the benefit of the Trust, its stakeholders and its wider community.

To pursue the opportunities and freedoms offered by Foundation Trust status.

To represent the Trust's views with national, regional or local bodies or individuals and to be an ambassador for the Trust.

In addition to the above, the appointee will be expected to adhere to the Nolan Principles, which are outlined below: -

The Nolan Principles - The Seven Principles of Public Life Selflessness

Holders of public office should take decisions solely in terms of the public interest. They should not do so in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends.

Integrity

Holders of public office should not place themselves under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organisations that might influence them in the performance of their official duties.

Objectivity

In carrying out public business, including making public appointments, awarding contracts, or recommending individuals for rewards and benefits, holders of public office should make choices on merit.

Accountability

Holders of public office are accountable for their decisions and actions to the public and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their office.

Openness

Holders of public office should be as open as possible about all the decisions and actions that they take. They should give reasons for their decisions and restrict information only when the wider public interest clearly demands.

Honesty

Holders of public office have a duty to declare any private interests relating to their public duties and to take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in a way that protects the public interest.

Leadership

Holders of public office should promote and support these principles by leadership and example.

Compliance with the Code of Governance for NHS Provider Trusts

Non-Executive Directors are subject to the Code of Governance for NHS Provider Trusts, unless otherwise approved by the Trust Chair/Council of Governors.

In addition, all other significant commitments must be declared prior to appointment, e.g. other Non-Executive directorships. The Non-Executive Director's other significant commitments should be disclosed to the Council of Governors before appointment and included in the annual report.

Compliance with the Code of Governance for NHS Provider Trusts

From November 2014, Non-Executive Directors are required to complete the 'fit and proper persons test' set out in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulation 5 of the 2014 Regulations (Regulation 5). A Trust must not appoint a person to a director level post unless:

• they are of good character;

• they have the necessary qualifications, competence, skills and experience;

• they are able by reason of their health, after reasonable adjustments are made, properly to perform their work;

• they have not been responsible for, been privy to, contributed to or facilitated any serious misconduct or mismanagement in the course of carrying on a regulated activity; and;

• none of the grounds of unfitness specified in Part 1 of Schedule 4 of the 2014 Regulations apply to them.

Compliance with the NHS Leadership Competency Framework for Board Members

NHS England (NHSE) published the NHS Leadership Competency Framework (LCF) for board members on 28 February 2024. The framework is applicable to all board members, executive and non-executive, and is intended to support NHS organisations to recruit, appraise and develop board members.

The LCF responds to the recommendation made by Sir Tom Kark in his 2019 review of the Fit and Proper Person Test (FPPT), which included a recommendation for 'the design of a set of specific core elements of competence, which all directors should be able to meet and against which they can be assessed'.

The LCF has been published alongside a revised chair appraisal framework, incorporating the new competencies, as part of NHSE's planned suite of management and leadership development frameworks, tools and resources. The LCF sets out aspirational competencies to support leadership and management development, recognising that not all leaders will meet all competencies at all times.

The LCF has been built around six competency domains which are presented as aspirational. It is recognised that those in director roles for the first time, in particular, are unlikely to be able to demonstrate all competencies and the LCF can be used to identify and work on areas for development. A full copy of the LCF may be found at NHS England " NHS leadership competency framework for board members

The six domainsare:

1) Driving high quality and sustainable outcomes;

2) Setting strategy and delivering long-term transformation;

3) Promoting equality and inclusion, and reducing health and workforce inequalities;

4) Providing robust governance and assurance;

5) Creating a compassionate, just and positive culture, and

6) Building a trusted relationship with partners and communities.

OTHER INFORMATION

Time commitment

This is currently 4 days per month. All members of the Board are required to attend the monthly meetings of the Board of the Directors and Non-Executive Directors are also strongly encouraged to attend the quarterly Council of Governors meetings.

Appointment, tenure and termination of office

The Non-Executive Directors are appointed as office-holders under the provisions of the Constitution. The appointment is made, and the terms and conditions of office are determined, by the Trust's Council of Governors.

The appointment does not create any contract of employment or contract for services and as an office-holder Non-Executive Directors are not an employee for the purposes of determining any common law or statutory rights.

Non-Executive Directors are appointed for an initial period of 3-years. Appointments may be renewed for a further 3-year term at the end of the first period of office, subject to satisfactory appraisal by the Chair and the approval of the Council of Governors.

Person specification

Essential
Essential criteria

• Degree or equivalent in accountancy

Knowledge
Essential criteria

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to question, constructively challenge, influence and be independent-minded to ensure decisions reflect consideration to overall public benefit
• The ability to analyse and understand complex information and situations before reaching an objective conclusion. The ability to think clearly and creatively.
• Ability to see the "wood for the trees"
• The ability to think and plan ahead, balancing needs and constraints.
• Able to work as a team to meet common goals and willingness to utilise skills and experience for the good of the organisation
• Willing to maintain and uphold accountability of self and others. A high level of probity, integrity, discretion and fairness and the ability to maintain confidentiality. Able to uphold the principles of effective corporate governance.
• Demonstrates a strong interest and understanding of the healthcare agenda, with a commitment to the NHS and public sector values.
• Demonstrates a strong interest in equality and diversity, and the inclusion agenda.
• Understands and communicates the role of a non-executive director as a part of the Trust's regulatory and compliance context

Desirable criteria

• Ability to anticipate and exploit change
• Knowledge of membership organisations
• Knowledge of stakeholder communities and strong commitment to, and understanding of, the needs of the local community
• Demonstrates an understanding of the principles of Foundation Trust status.
• Understanding of the health inequalities agenda
• Understanding of the digital agenda, digital innovation and digital exclusion.

Experience
Essential criteria

• Substantial senior or board level (or equivalent) experience gained in a large, complex organisation
• Experience of strategic large-scale change in complex organisations, with demonstrable experience of delivery of clinical, quality, performance and financial outcomes,
• Evidence of providing effective strategic direction supported by knowledge of governance and how boards should add value

Desirable criteria

• Commercial Experience within a large complex organisation
• Experience of working with finances in a large complex organisation
• Proven track record of delivery of successful Change Management including having project managed major projects
• Demonstration of the principles of Programme Management

Work Related Circumstances
Essential criteria

• Ability to meet relevant time commitment
• Resides within a Constituency Area of the Trust

Desirable criteria

• Demonstrates clear knowledge of the Warwickshire health economy
• Member of Foundation Trust

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Sometimes we get a lot of applications for our roles. On those occasions we might close the job early. If you don't want to miss out we recommend submitting your application as early as possible.

The Trust use an Applicant Management System called TRAC which helps us manage the recruitment process. All communications regarding your application will come via TRAC (even if you applied via NHS Jobs).

Please check your TRAC account regularly and ensure your email is set up to accept messages so they don't go into your junk/spam folder.

We aim to shortlist all vacancies within 2 days of the vacancy closing, we will get back to all candidates ASAP.

Please ensure all sections of the application form are completed fully. Please particularly ensure that you provide full details of all referees including business email address, telephone contact details and postal address.

South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust is an equal opportunities employer who is committed to Equality and Diversity and does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the grounds of any protected characteristic as defined by the Equality Act 2010.

All South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust sites are smoke free. We feel it's a great way to help our patients, visitors and staff stay healthy.

The Trust is part of a 'Foundation Group' through a strategic alliance with Wye Valley NHS Trust, George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust and Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust. This partnership is great for the sustainability of all four organisations and allows us to share learning and maximise opportunities to ensure the delivery of high quality health and care services for our local populations.

Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements

This post will require a submission for Disclosure to be made to check for any unspent criminal convictions.

Documents to download

• NED JD ( PDF , 264.4 KB )
• NED PS ( PDF , 168.6 KB )
• Chairman's Letter ( PDF , 48.7 KB )
• Occupational Health Functional Requirements Form ( PDF , 207.6 KB )

#J-18808-Ljbffr

---