Non-Executive Director

County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust serves around 600,000 people living in County Durham and the surrounding areas. The Trust provides a comprehensive range of acute and community based services across two acute hospitals, community hospitals and numerous community bases. Recently we publicly reported failures in our Breast Surgery service resulting in physical and psychological harm to patients. An independent review, undertaken to identify missed opportunities and learn lessons, has exposed wider weaknesses in Board-level and floor-to-Board governance, in risk management and organisational culture. Consequently we are now working closely with NHS England and our health and care system, the North East and Cumbria ICB, to build the capacity and capability of our board, in order to address the challenges which the Trust faces. With the extent of the task ahead now clearly defined, we are able to focus on tackling and rectifying the underlying challenges, so as to deliver care of the highest standards possible across our multiple hospital and community sites, as well as in patients' homes. We are one of the largest integrated care providers in England and we continue to play a pivotal role as a local partner and a system player, as well as being an anchor institution in our localities. To help restore effective Board governance and confidence in the Trust's services we are now seeking four proven, capable, and motivated Non-Executive Directors to work with our highly experienced newly-appointed Chair, Alison Marshall. We are looking for candidates who are clinically qualified, or financially qualified, or those with experience of cultural change and organisational transformation. The Trust is keen to ensure diversity both views and representation within the Board and will actively welcome applications from candidates from a wide range of backgrounds. For more details of these roles, visit www.gatenbysanderson.com/job/GSe128130 and for a confidential conversation with GatenbySanderson, please email will.mcalpine@gatenbysanderson.com regarding the finance and culture roles, and eleanor.lawrence@gatenbysanderson.com regarding the clinical role. Robin Staveley (via robin.staveley@gatenbysanderson.com) and Emily Smith (via Emily.smith@gatenbysanderson.com) are also available to discuss all roles. Please note you must live within the North East, North Cumbria, Hambleton or Richmondshire to be eligible for these roles. Closing date for applications 9am Wednesday 10th December 2025. Stakeholder session and interviews Either Thursday 18th December or Friday 19th December. Documents Fit and Proper Person Declaration - New.docx Recruitment Timetable Closing date: 9am Wednesday 10th December 2025 Stakeholder session and interview: Thursday 18th December or Friday 19th December How to Apply Please submit an up to date copy of your CV, along with a Supporting Statement that addresses the criteria set out in the person specification, using examples to demonstrate how you meet the essential requirements. A completed fit and proper person form - the template can be downloaded from the same place as the job description. Detail any employment or education gaps. You should provide the names, positions, organisations, and contact details for your referees, which must be your line managers and include your current and most recent employer. The referees should cover at least two roles as the minimum. Please note, should you be appointed, you will be required to provide references covering your last 6 years of employment as per the new NHS Fit and Proper Person regulations. Where there have been gaps in employment, this six year period will be extended accordingly. Referees will only be contacted for those proceeding to the final stage - we will always gain your permission before we contact referees. Let us know any difficulty you may have with the indicative timetable. Check that your contact details are correct before you submit. Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an automated email to confirm that you have applied. If you do not receive this email, please make contact with GatenbySanderson. #J-18808-Ljbffr