Trustee – Health and Care

Hamelin is seeking a Trustee with significant senior leadership experience in health and/or care to provide strategic guidance and independent oversight to the Board. The Health and Care Trustee will bring expertise in quality, safety, safeguarding, governance and service improvement, helping to ensure the charity delivers safe, high-quality, person-centred services and remains compliant with relevant health and care regulation.

Purpose of Role

• To ensure that the charity and its representatives function within the legal and regulatory framework of the charity and health and care sectors and in line with the charity's governing document, continually striving for best practice in governance, quality, safety and safeguarding.
• To contribute actively to the Board of Trustees' role in giving strategic direction to the charity, developing overall policy, defining goals and evaluating performance, whilst ensuring the continued development of quality, safety, safeguarding, governance and service improvement across Hamelin's health and care services. Furthermore, to assist in:
  • Developing the long-term health and care vision for Hamelin.
  • Working with the Chief Delivery Officer and advising the Board on compliance with current or proposed legislation and its potential implications for Hamelin services and staff, including issues relating to the regulation of healthcare professionals.
  • Advising the Board on health and care regulation, Care Quality Commission (CQC) requirements, inspection frameworks and developments within Integrated Care Systems (ICSs).
  • Chair the Care Committee of the Board on behalf of the Trustees, providing assurance to the Board on clinical and care governance, clinical audit outcomes, quality, safety, safeguarding and continuous service improvement.
  • Developing a close relationship with the Chief Delivery Officer and the senior team.
  • Supporting the Chief Delivery Officer in their work.
• Provide advice on the latest trends, policy, regulation, inspection frameworks and research within the learning disability, autism and wider health and care sectors.
• To safeguard the good name and values of the charity.
• To ensure the financial stability of the charity.

Outline of Main Activities

• Support and provide strategic advice on the charity's purpose, vision, goals and activities, primarily within the health and care setting.
• Approve operational strategies and policies and monitor and evaluate their implementation.
• Oversee and advise on the charity's health and care strategy, ensuring quality, safety and person-centred care remain central to service delivery.
• Ensure the effective and efficient administration of the charity.
• Ensure that key organisational, clinical and care risks, including quality and safeguarding risks, are identified, monitored and controlled effectively.
• Monitor developments in health and care regulation, inspection frameworks and Integrated Care Systems, advising the Board on their potential impact.
• Provide support and challenge to the charity's CEO and Executive Team in the exercise of their delegated authority and affairs.
• Keep abreast of changes in the charity's operating environment, particularly within the health and care sector.
• Contribute to regular reviews of the charity's own governance.
• Prepare for, attend and actively participate in all Trustees' meetings and the Care Committee.
• Use independent judgement, acting legally and in good faith to promote and protect the charity's interests, to the exclusion of their own personal and/or any third-party interests.
• Contribute to the broader promotion of the charity's objects, aims and reputation by applying skills, expertise, knowledge and contacts.

Attributes/Skills Needed

Essential

• Significant senior leadership experience within the health and/or care sector.
• Experience gained at Director, Executive, Partner, Clinical Leader or equivalent senior leadership level
• Awareness and understanding of learning disabilities and/or autism.
• Strong knowledge and experience of quality, safety, safeguarding, governance and continuous service improvement within health and/or care services
• Knowledge and understanding of health and care regulation, Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection frameworks and Integrated Care Systems (ICSs).
• Ensure all decisions are made in the best interests of the charity
• Ability to think creatively and strategically, exercise good independent judgement and work effectively as a Board member
• A strong personal commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion
• Enthusiasm for the charity's mission, vision and values
• Effective communication skills and willingness to participate actively in discussion.
• Ability to work effectively as a member of a team and with a broad range of people
• Be committed to Nolan's Seven Principles of Public Life – selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership

Other Desirable Skills and Experience

• Community development
• Understanding of statutory organisations
• Understanding of legal matters, especially relating to charity and company law.
• Recruitment and personnel management, including a knowledge of employment law
• Fundraising – Hamelin is continuing to develop its fundraising strategy to diversify its funding base
• Public relations and/or marketing
• Computers and information technology
• Campaigning

Closing date 21 August 2026.