Chief Executive Officer

Key Tasks and Responsibilities

Work with the Board, to formulate, set and deliver strategic direction and visible leadership in the setting and achieving of the organisation’s strategic goals, policy, objectives and embedding of values. To ensure the effective, efficient and safe operation of the Hospice, meeting all clinical, statutory, financial, regulatory and legal requirements while delivering high quality care and services to patients and families. To develop and sustain income streams and appropriate financial reserves which provide ongoing financial security of the Hospice. Maintain supportive relationships with external fund-providing organisations, business organisations, supporters and the community. Create an effective environment and culture to enable best practice, governance, relationships and professional development of its staff and volunteers to flourish. Act as ambassador for St Luke’s, ensuring it retains its standing and reputation both locally and nationally through building, maintaining and developing effective external relationships with partner organisations, donors and supporters. To propose and implement Board approved changes to the scale and scope of Hospice services both within the Hospice and the community to meet changing community needs and patients’ requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Leading the organisation. Lead the Senior Management Team, to motivate, direct and support all teams and volunteers to deliver quality assured services in line with St Luke’s strategic plan, vision, policies, processes and governance arrangements. Maintain a team ethos and culture among the senior management, delivering effective and empowered leadership to ensure that all teams and volunteers are valued and supported. Delegate responsibilities to the members of the Senior Management Team, Heads of Service and Managers as appropriate. To develop the Hospice’s employees and volunteers, in pursuance of the operational and strategic objectives agreed by the Board of Trustees. To promote, lead and effectively manage change within the Hospice to sustain it as a learning, caring and responsive organisation. To work with the Board and its Working Groups in facilitating and maintaining effective, inclusive communication and shared common vision, values and objectives between the Board, staff and volunteers. To ensure that we develop and implement good people management practices through the recruitment, induction, development and engagement of our staff and volunteers.

Achieving our Strategic Goals

To work closely with the Board of Trustees to formulate a clear strategic direction for the Hospice taking account of any current legislative changes and underpinned by sound planning within the context of the Hospice’s vision, mission and values. Recommend to the Board strategies, policies and plans that will ensure the effective and efficient operation of St Luke’s which will also satisfy all requirements of stakeholders. To lead the Hospice Management Team in translating the agreed strategy into meaningful objectives for services with associated key performance indicators and to ensure such objectives are implemented as planned. To ensure that plans are known and understood throughout St Luke’s, delegated to relevant members of staff and that clear objectives for the achievement of plans are established. Work with partners, to ensure that the Hospice plays a leading role in the strategic development of Palliative and End of Life care both locally and nationally. Ensure future proofing of St Luke’s through the identification of local and national opportunities to redesign and build on current services that will generate greater income. Ensure that St Luke’s responds to national and local funding opportunities through the development of strategic and capital bids when relevant. To ensure that St Luke’s has the appropriate level of resources (human, material and financial) to make continual progress towards the achievement of its strategies and objectives.  

Service Delivery and Developments

To maintain and develop the Hospice’s high standard of clinical and support care and services, taking prompt action to remedy any underperformance and prevent recurrence. To ensure that the views of regulatory bodies, commissioners, patients, relatives, other carers, staff, volunteers and other palliative care providers beneficially influence the content and delivery of services. To review and analyse current and anticipated service delivery needs and seek to implement appropriate changes and efficiencies consistent with the Hospice’s high standards of care. Lead the development and implementation of St Luke’s planning processes in line with the organisation’s strategic direction and objectives.

Ensuring Good Governance, Commercial and Financial Management

To work effectively and cooperatively with the Chair and Board of Trustees and its various Working Groups to maintain effective communications and ensure informed and beneficial decision making in support of the Hospice and its work. Ensure St Luke’s operates within all legal, governance and compliance requirements. Ensuring all reporting returns required under legislation, regulation and service contracts are submitted within the required time scales. Working with the board to ensure that the Objects laid out in St Luke’s Memorandum and Articles of Association are met and that the Board of Trustees is informed timely and appropriately in line with its governance policies to enable the Board to take informed strategic decisions and discharge their duties effectively. To ensure that board meetings are efficiently organised in a timely manner and that all necessary board papers are in line with agreed standards to allow appropriate informed decisions to take place. To provide routine reporting to the board and agree any major changes to policy, procedures or plans with the board. Arrange the planning and production of the Hospice Statutory Annual Report to be submitted for approval at the Annual General Meeting. To ensure all corporate, clinical operational policies and procedures are developed, monitored and adhered to by members of staff and volunteers with recommendations for changes to the Working Groups and board where appropriate. To ensure that the Hospice’s financial and other resources are managed prudently and efficiently. Establish robust risk management arrangements are in place, managed and reviewed effectively. Ensure that there is a system to produce good quality, accurate and timely quantitative and qualitative data for everyone to make well informed reasoned decisions. 

Building and Developing Effective Relationships

To communicate, influence and negotiate effectively with NHS Trusts, Integrated Care Boards, Place Boards, other statutory bodies, hospices, charities and relevant bodies. To maintain an effective communications and public relations strategy and a high profile for the Hospice and its work within the local communities and stakeholders. With the Chair, Trustees and Members of the Senior Management Team to act as an ambassador for the Hospice and represent it at local, regional and national forums. Maximise the joint working and opportunities with the End of Life Partnership.

Other Duties

Ensure full implementation of Information Governance principles and policies at all levels of the organisation. Any other duties commensurate with the level of the post as directed by the Trustees. Identify any personal training and development needs and agree any action with the Chair of Trustees.