NHS Board Chair & Senior Governance Roles

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is seeking expressions of interest for five important Board and governance appointments across the Trust and its subsidiary organisations. These appointments represent an exciting opportunity to contribute to the leadership, governance and future development of one of the country’s leading NHS Foundation Trusts. As a nationally recognised top ten NHS Trust, Northumbria Healthcare has an outstanding reputation for clinical excellence, innovation, partnership working and the delivery of high-quality care for the communities it serves.

We are seeking to appoint to the following roles:

• Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management Ltd (NHFML) Non-Executive Director
• Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFMT) Commercial Non-Executive Director
• Northumbria Primary Care (NPC) Chair
• Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHNFT) Clinical Non-Executive Director
• Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management Ltd (NHFML) Chair

Together, these roles provide an opportunity to strengthen Board capability across the wider Northumbria Healthcare Group, supporting effective governance, strategic decision-making and the continued delivery of safe, high-quality, sustainable services.

About us: Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital, community and adult social care services across Northumberland and North Tyneside, as well as a range of specialist services across the wider region. The Trust has a strong reputation for innovation, integrated care and partnership working, and continues to play a significant role in improving health outcomes across the communities it serves.

Main duties of the roles: Non-Executive Directors and Chairs play a vital role in providing independent judgement, constructive challenge and strategic support. Working alongside executive leaders, fellow Board members and key stakeholders, successful candidates will help ensure that each organisation is well-led, financially sustainable, accountable and focused on the needs of patients, colleagues and communities. The roles will involve:

• Contributing to the development and oversight of strategy.
• Providing independent scrutiny, constructive challenge and support to executive teams.
• Ensuring high standards of governance, risk management and accountability.
• Supporting effective decision-making in a complex and highly regulated NHS environment.
• Promoting the values of the NHS and the wider Northumbria Healthcare Group.
• Building trusted relationships with Board colleagues, partners and stakeholders.
• Helping ensure services remain safe, sustainable, inclusive and responsive to the needs of local communities.

For the Trust Main Board roles, candidates will contribute directly to the governance of Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. The Clinical Non-Executive Director role will require senior clinical credibility and experience, with the ability to bring an informed perspective on quality, safety, clinical governance and patient care. For the Northumbria Healthcare Facilities Management Ltd roles, candidates will support the governance of a key subsidiary organisation delivering essential services to the Trust and wider NHS. Experience in estates, facilities management, infrastructure, property, commercial services or operational delivery would be particularly desirable across one or both appointments. For the Northumbria Primary Care Ltd Chair role, candidates will bring the leadership, judgement and governance experience required to support the ongoing development of a primary care organisation operating within the wider NHS system.

Person specification: We are interested in hearing from people who can bring strong judgement, independence of thought, strategic perspective and a genuine commitment to public service values. Candidates may bring experience from the NHS, wider public sector, commercial, voluntary or community sectors. Previous Board or Committee experience would be helpful, but for some roles we are also interested in individuals with the potential to make a first or early Non-Executive contribution, where they bring relevant senior leadership experience and the right personal qualities. Across the five appointments, we are particularly interested in people who can demonstrate one or more of the following:

• Senior leadership, Board or governance experience in a large or complex organisation.
• Strong strategic judgement and the ability to contribute to long-term organisational development.
• The ability to provide constructive challenge in a collegiate and values-led way.
• A clear understanding of good governance, risk, performance and accountability.
• A commitment to NHS values, equality, diversity and inclusion.
• The ability to build effective relationships with senior leaders, partners and stakeholders.
• Sound judgement, integrity and the confidence to operate in a complex public service environment.
• Clinical leadership or clinical governance experience, for the Clinical Non-Executive Director role.
• Estates, facilities management, infrastructure, property or related operational experience, particularly for the NHFML Chair and/or NED roles.
• Primary care, healthcare leadership, business growth or system partnership experience, particularly for the NPC Chair role.

How to express interest: Expressions of interest should be emailed to Scot McHarg, appointed recruitment consultant at NRG Executive. If you wish to be considered, by the closing date of Wednesday 12th August please provide:

• A CV including your address and preferred contact details.
• A short supporting statement outlining your skills, experience, values and motivation for applying.
• An indication of which role or roles you are most interested in, or whether you would welcome a discussion about where your experience may be most relevant.
• Details of any dates when you will not be available for interview.

Diversity and inclusion: Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is committed to increasing the diversity of its Boards and to ensuring that appointments are made through a fair, open and inclusive process. We welcome interest from candidates whose background, experience and identity will broaden and enhance the range of perspectives represented in Board discussions. Applications will be assessed on merit, against the requirements of each role, from the widest possible pool of candidates.

Eligibility and checks: Candidates will need to demonstrate that they can meet the time commitment required for the relevant appointment and comply with any eligibility requirements associated with the role. Please note that to be eligible to apply for this role candidates must reside in the North East and North Cumbria region (i.e. the geographical area covered by the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System). Given the significant public profile and responsibility associated with Board appointments, appropriate background checks will be undertaken to ensure those appointed meet Fit and Proper Person requirements. A Disclosure and Barring Service check may also be required.