Board Chairperson

Help Shape the Future of Community Healthcare in Nottinghamshire. We are seeking an exceptional Chairperson to lead our Board and help shape the future direction of Primary Integrated Community Services (PICS). This is an opportunity to provide strategic leadership, champion excellent governance and support the delivery of high-quality, compassionate healthcare services for local communities.

This is an exciting time to join PICS. Health and care services continue to evolve at pace, creating opportunities to transform how care is delivered, strengthen partnerships and embrace new ways of working across organisational boundaries. As Chairperson, you will play a key role in helping PICS navigate this evolving landscape and maximise its contribution to improving health outcomes across Nottinghamshire.

As Chairperson, you will provide inclusive leadership to the Board, ensuring the organisation remains strategically focused, effectively governed and aligned to its values, purpose and long-term ambitions. You will work closely with the Chief Executive and fellow Directors to promote constructive challenge, strong decision-making and a culture of openness, accountability and continuous improvement.

Main duties of the job

• Lead and chair Board meetings and other governance forums.
• Ensure the Board operates effectively and in accordance with its statutory and regulatory responsibilities.
• Support and provide constructive challenge to the Chief Executive and Executive Team.
• Lead the annual appraisal process for the Chief Executive and Board members.
• Champion Board development, effectiveness and succession planning.
• Act as the Board Lead for Health and Wellbeing.
• Represent PICS externally and foster strong relationships with stakeholders, partners, commissioners, regulators and community representatives.
• Promote collaboration and partnership working across the health and care system.
• Act as an ambassador for PICS and its values.

About us

Primary Integrated Community Services (PICS) is a community-focused healthcare provider committed to delivering thoughtful patient care and continuous improvement. Our core value is simple: "We Care". We care about our patients, carers and families, our partners, and all the people we work alongside. This commitment underpins everything we do and shapes our organisational culture and approach to service delivery.

PICS plays an important role within the Nottinghamshire health and care system, working collaboratively with partners to improve outcomes for local communities. We are committed to delivering safe, effective, caring and responsive services, whilst continually adapting to the changing needs of patients and the wider healthcare landscape.

Job responsibilities

ROLE PURPOSE

The Chairperson provides inclusive and effective leadership to the Board of Primary Integrated Community Services Ltd (PICS), ensuring the organisation is well-governed, strategically focused and aligned with its mission, values and long-term objectives. Working in partnership with the Managing Director, Medical Director, Non-Executive Directors and Executive Leadership Team, the Chairperson fosters a culture of openness, accountability, constructive challenge and continuous improvement.

The Chairperson is responsible for leading the Board in discharging its duties effectively, ensuring robust governance arrangements, regulatory compliance and high standards of corporate conduct. The role plays a pivotal part in supporting the delivery of safe, effective, caring and compassionate services in line with Care Quality Commission (CQC) standards, while promoting the health, wellbeing and sustainability of the workforce, organisation and communities served.

The Chairperson also leads Board performance and development, oversees the appraisal of the Managing Director, Medical Director and Board members, and acts as an ambassador for PICS, strengthening relationships with members, partners, regulators and stakeholders.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Board Leadership and Effectiveness

• Lead the Board in setting and maintaining the organisation's strategic direction, vision and values.
• Foster a culture of constructive challenge, openness, accountability and continuous improvement.
• Ensure the Board operates effectively, efficiently and in accordance with its governing documents and agreed policies.
• Promote effective relationships between Executive and Non-Executive Directors while maintaining appropriate independence.
• Ensure all Directors contribute fully to Board discussions and decision-making.
• Lead annual reviews of Board effectiveness and oversee actions arising from those reviews.
• Ensure the Board has an appropriate skills mix, diversity and succession plan.
• Chair Board meetings, Annual General Meetings and any other meetings as required.
• Set meeting agendas in partnership with the Managing Director, Medical Director and Corporate & Contracts Lead.
• Ensure meetings are conducted effectively and that decisions are appropriately debated, challenged and recorded.
• Ensure Board decisions are implemented and monitored.
• Facilitate consensus while ensuring all viewpoints are considered.
• Provide strategic oversight and final approval of the organisation's Annual Quality Account, on behalf of the Board.

Relationship with Executives

• Provide support, guidance and constructive challenge to the Managing Director and Medical Director.
• Conduct the annual appraisal of the Managing Director and Medical Director, and oversee objectives and development plans.
• Support succession planning for executive leadership positions.
• Act as a trusted sounding board whilst respecting executive management responsibilities.

Governance and Assurance

• Ensure effective systems of governance, risk management and internal control are in place.
• Ensure Board committees are operating effectively and reporting appropriately.
• Monitor Board compliance with statutory, regulatory and contractual obligations.
• Promote compliance with CQC requirements, Fit and Proper Person standards and relevant NHS governance expectations.
• Ensure appropriate oversight of quality, patient safety, safeguarding and workforce matters.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as an ambassador for PICS with shareholders, partners, commissioners, regulators and community stakeholders.
• Support positive relationships across the health and care system.
• Promote the organisation's reputation, values and strategic objectives.
• Where appropriate, represent the Board in engagement with external partners and regulators.

Board Recruitment and Succession

• Chair the Nominations Committee (where applicable).
• Lead recruitment, induction and succession planning for Non-Executive Directors.
• Ensure Directors receive appropriate development and training.
• Promote Board diversity, inclusion and equality of opportunity.

Health and Wellbeing Board Lead

• Act as the Board champion for workforce health, wellbeing and psychological safety.
• Promote a culture that supports staff wellbeing, inclusion and engagement.
• Seek assurance that workforce wellbeing is embedded within organisational strategy and performance monitoring.
• Ensure consideration of workforce, patient and community wellbeing within Board decision-making.

Legal and Regulatory Duties

• Fulfil statutory duties as a director under the Companies Act 2006.
• Ensure timely registration and updates with Companies House.
• Comply with the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, including Regulation 5 (Fit and Proper Persons) and Regulation 17 (Good Governance).
• Participate in any required regulatory checks, including the Fit and Proper Persons Test.

CQC-Specific Responsibilities

• Promote a culture of safety, transparency, and continuous improvement in care delivery.
• Ensure the organisation meets the CQCs five key questions: Is it safe, effective, caring, responsive, and well-led.
• Support the Board in maintaining compliance with all CQC standards and inspections.

Ethical Conduct and Public Duty

• Abide by the Nolan Principles of Public Life:
• Selflessness - Act solely in the public interest.
• Integrity - Avoid obligations that conflict with official duties.
• Objectivity - Make decisions impartially and fairly.
• Accountability - Be accountable for decisions and actions.
• Openness - Be transparent about decisions and actions.
• Honesty - Declare private interests and avoid deception.
• Leadership - Promote and exemplify these principles.

Confidentiality and Conflicts

• Maintain strict confidentiality of sensitive information.
• Comply with the organisations conflict of interest and whistleblowing policies.
• Act as an ambassador for PICS during and outside of Board meetings.
• Declare any actual or potential conflicts of interest promptly.

TIME COMMITMENT

The Chairperson role is anticipated to require an average commitment of one day per month. This encompasses attendance at Board meetings, liaison with the Board Administrator regarding agendas and Board papers, engagement with shareholders and key stakeholders, representation of the organisation at relevant events, and the provision of leadership and support to the Board between meetings. The Chairperson will also be responsible for undertaking annual appraisals of Board members, including the Managing Director and Medical Director, and for promoting the organisation positively with external partners and stakeholders.

Person Specification

Experience

• Significant experience operating at board or senior leadership level, with the ability to contribute effectively to strategic discussion and decision-making.
• Previous experience chairing Boards, committees or senior governance groups.
• Demonstrable understanding of good corporate governance and Board effectiveness.
• Experience of conducting executive and Board performance reviews.
• Ability to lead strategic discussions and build consensus across diverse viewpoints.
• Experience influencing senior stakeholders across organisational boundaries.
• Strong understanding of organisational risk, quality and performance oversight.
• Strong understanding of governance, accountability and assurance, including the distinction between executive and non-executive responsibilities.
• Sufficient financial acumen to understand budgets, management accounts and financial risk.
• Previous experience as a Board Chairperson, Non-Executive Director, Trustee or Governor.
• Experience within healthcare, primary care, community services or regulated care settings.
• Experience working within a regulated environment, particularly health, care or public sector settings.
• Experience of organisational change, growth, transformation or merger/acquisition activity.
• Experience contributing to Board sub-committees (e.g. Audit & Risk, People/Quality/Governance).
• Coaching, mentoring or leadership development experience.

Knowledge and Expertise

• Understanding of the UK health and care landscape.
• Experience or expertise in one or more of the following areas: Workforce, people or organisational development; Quality, patient experience or safeguarding; Finance, audit or risk; Digital, data or service transformation; Community, member or stakeholder-led organisations.

Commitment

• Willingness to undertake all required background checks and vetting as part of the appointment and onboarding process, including DBS and any other regulatory or statutory checks relevant to the role.
• Commitment to the organisations purpose, strategic objectives and long-term sustainability, acting as an Ambassador for PICS both inside and outside of Board meetings.
• Demonstrable commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Ability to commit sufficient time and preparation to fulfil the role effectively.
• Commitment to ongoing Board development and reflective practice.

Values, Behaviours and Accountability

• Demonstrable commitment to high-quality, thoughtful patient care and continuous improvement.
• Ability to act as a visible role model for the organisations values and behaviours at Board level.
• Willingness and confidence to hold the Executive to account for quality, safety, patient experience and staff wellbeing.
• Commitment to ensuring that Board discussions and decisions consistently reflect the organisations values, behaviours and improvement priorities.
• Alignment with, and commitment to using, the Leading Change, Adding Value (LCAV) Framework as a reference point for oversight and assurance of nursing and care services.

Personal Attributes

• Independence of thought, integrity and sound ethical judgement.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build effective and trusting relationships while maintaining appropriate challenge.
• Ability to influence, question and support without operational involvement.
• Commitment to collective responsibility and Board effectiveness.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.