Appointment of the Non-Executive Director and Associate Non-Executive Director (clinical)

Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

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Welcome

Dear Candidate

Thank you for your interest in joining the Board of Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (QVH).

QVH is a dynamic and high-performing organisation dedicated to delivering exceptional care to patients and their families who have experienced damage or disfigurement because of disease (including cancer), trauma, burns, major surgery, or a congenital condition. We also provide first-class community medical services for our local population at our East Grinstead site. We are proud of our rich heritage and our global reputation for pioneering innovative techniques and treatments for those affected.

We are currently seeking to appoint one Non-Executive Director and two Associate Non-Executive Directors. We are looking for individuals who possess the necessary skills and experience to help propel our strategic initiatives, as well as a commitment to uphold the Trust’s values in delivering optimal care and outcomes for our patients.

Our patients have consistently ranked QVH as one of the best hospitals in the country, earning the affection of our local community. Although we are the second smallest trust in the nation, our strength lies in our patient-centred approach, specialised services, dedicated staff, and our commitment to continuous improvement.

With the arrival of James Lowell as Chief Executive Officer in 2023, we have been actively listening to the voices of our staff, patients, and local communities to refine and shape the Trust’s strategic direction. As a result, elevating clinical leadership within the Trust remains a key priority, as does strengthening our collaborative role in the Sussex healthcare system to address health disparities. Additionally, we are focused on advancing our digital transformation and implementing an integrated assurance framework to help us achieve our strategic objectives for 2024/25.

We are committed to cultivating a culture of continuous quality improvement that thrives on the agility, innovation, and transformation of our staff. To effectively achieve this, we need a Board that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve, and I warmly encourage applications from individuals from underrepresented groups and this includes people from Black, Asian, and minority ethnic backgrounds.

I invite you to explore the information available on our website and discuss the role with our search partner, Anderson Quigley. If you are dedicated to positioning our Trust as a hybrid provider, enhancing our specialist services, and forging active partnerships in the local community then I look forward to receiving your application.

Thank you once again for your interest.

Jackie Smith
Chair

About us

Queen Victoria Hospital is a specialist NHS hospital providing life-changing reconstructive surgery, burns care and rehabilitation services for people who have been damaged or disfigured through accidents or disease.

Our world-leading clinical teams provide specialist surgery and non-surgical treatment for people across the south east and beyond. We specialise in conditions of the hands and eyes, head and neck cancer and skin cancer, reconstructive breast surgery, maxillofacial surgery and prosthetics.

In addition, the people of East Grinstead and the surrounding area benefit from our expert clinicians treating more common conditions in our areas of specialism. We also provide a minor injuries unit, therapies services and a sleep service.

We are a centre of excellence, with an international reputation for pioneering advanced techniques and treatments.

QVH at a glance

Specialist expertise: QVH is a leading specialist centre for reconstructive surgery and rehabilitation, helping people who have been damaged or disfigured through accidents or disease.

Internationally renowned: We have a proud heritage and are known throughout the world for pioneering new and innovative techniques and treatments.

Local services: We provide a minor injuries unit and other services for people living in and around East Grinstead.

Rated excellent: Patients rate us as one of the top hospitals in the country for quality of care.

1,000 staff: We employ around 1,000 skilled and committed staff, dedicated to helping QVH provide the very best care for our patients, and we are the largest employer in the local area.

7,500 members: As one of the country’s first NHS foundation trusts we are accountable to local people through our public members across Kent, Surrey, East and West Sussex and South London.

At QVH, a behaviours framework has been developed with staff representatives to support the embedding of our values.

Key Strategic Objectives (KSO)

The Trust’s key strategic objectives (KSO’s) have also recently been refreshed to align with the future strategic ambitions and are as follows:

What drives you?

In the following video, we hope it will be helpful for you to hear what our nursing staff and operating department practitioner say about working at QVH:

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for the role of NED or ANED, you must live within any of the following electoral wards:

  • Kent County Council
  • West Sussex County Council
  • East Sussex County Council
  • Surrey County Council
  • Medway Unitary Authority
  • Brighton and Hove City Council
  • London Borough of Croydon
  • London Borough of Kingston
  • London Borough of Merton
  • London Borough of Richmond
  • London Borough of Sutton
  • London Borough of Bexley
  • London Borough of Bromley
  • London Borough of Greenwich
  • London Borough of Lambeth
  • London Borough of Lewisham
  • London Borough of Southwark
  • London Borough of Wandsworth

The role

Non-Executive Director (Clinical) (AQ2877)

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Title:                           Non-Executive Director

Responsible to:         Trust Chair

Accountable to:        Council of Governors

Location:                    East Grinstead, West Sussex

Term:                          3 years (renewable subject to performance appraisal)

Commitment:            minimum 4-5 days per month

Remuneration:          £15k pa

                                  

Role summary

  • To work alongside the Chair, executive and non-executive directors of Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust as an equal member of the unitary Board of Directors.
  • To set the strategy and direction of the trust, monitoring the delivery of those plans and ensuring the maintenance of the appropriate arrangements for promoting standards of governance, behaviour and financial stewardship.
  • To engage with the stakeholders within and beyond the organisation, building a productive dialogue, building understanding and supporting continuous improvement.
  • To engage with the Council of Governors with regard to its duty to hold the non-executive directors, individually and collectively to account for the performance of the Board of Directors.

Principal duties of the Board of Directors

  • Patient experience: ensuring that all QVH patients can expect and receive the highest quality of compassionate care and clinical outcomes.
  • Strategy: formulating the strategic vision and direction for the organisation, defining the Trust’s strategic objectives and priorities.
  • Performance: Ensuring high levels of performance by holding the organisation to account for the delivery of the strategy; by being accountable for ensuring the organisation operates effectively and with openness, transparency and candour and by seeking assurance that systems of control are robust and reliable.
  • Governance: conducting business and making decisions in accordance with the highest standards of public service and with due regard to patients, staff and the communities served by the Trust.
  • Culture: Shaping a healthy culture for the board and the organisation, that supports staff and enables innovations and improvement.

 Principal responsibilities of a non-executive director

  • To ensure that the Board of Directors complies with its legal, regulatory and financial governance requirements and obligations.
  • To bring independent oversight and objective challenge to the work of the Board and the performance of the Trust, based on your professional experience and personal judgement.
  • To be a source of advice (particularly in your area of special expertise and interest) to the Chair, Chief Executive and executive directors and to contribute to the annual performance appraisal of the Chair.
  • To be an active participant in Board committees, chairing a committee where appropriate; the Chair agrees with each NED which committees they attend.
  • To be responsible for the appointment, remuneration and, if necessary, removal of the Chief Executive and executive directors and to contribute to the annual performance appraisal of the Chair.
  • To be accountable to the Council of Governors, individually and collectively, for the performance of the Board of Directors.

Person specification

Experience

  • Board level or senior experience in a significant-sized enterprise; perhaps a listed company, or a public sector body, mutual or charitable trust;
  • A background in clinical practice (current registrant or recently retired) within the community; either as a General Practitioner, Senior Nurse, or Allied Health Professional.

Skills

  • The ability to question, probe and challenge constructively across all areas of the business based on clear thinking and analysis.
  • Ability to analyse complex information and navigate effectively through a demanding and rapidly changing environment.
  • Excellent interpersonal, communication and team working skills.

 Knowledge

  • An understanding of and commitment to the NHS, with a solid grasp of the current challenges it faces.
  • First-hand knowledge of the scope and boundaries of the role of a Non-Executive Director, good corporate governance and the Nolan principles of public life.
  • Working knowledge of the main components of a complex organisation or business including: strategic planning, financial budgeting, quality assurance and performance and risk management.

Attributes

  • High level of personal and business integrity.
  • A supportive and constructive manner.
  • A personal commitment to ongoing learning and development.

Desirable characteristics

  • An understanding of the health needs of the local population in Kent, Surrey and Sussex and around East Grinstead.
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Associate Non-Executive Director (AQ2849)

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Title:                           Associate Non-Executive Director

Responsible to:         Trust Chair

Accountable to:        Trust Chair

Location:                    East Grinstead, West Sussex

Term:                          3 years (renewable subject to performance appraisal)

Commitment:            minimum 2-3 days per month

Remuneration:          £8k pa

Purpose of the role

The Associate Non-Executive (ANED) role is used in the NHS to support Board succession, diversity and achieving a balance of Board level skills.

The ANED role is a step up role aimed to attract potential NED candidates who do not yet have sufficient Board level experience but have the ability and potential to succeed. There is a developmental component to this opportunity and the Board will support the successful candidate to build their personal and professional capability.

ANEDs are not officers of the Trust or voting Board members and do not have the associated rights or liabilities. They do have full exposure to Board level discussions and make a contribution to Board work. You will have an opportunity to learn firsthand about the challenges and opportunities of being a NED in the NHS today.

Principal responsibilities of an Associate non-executive director

  • Prepare for, attend, and contribute to Board meetings, sub-committee meetings as agreed with the Chair, Council of Governors meetings and Board development activities
  • Attend the Annual Members meeting and formal and informal governor meetings
  • Participate in Trust visits and occasional external stakeholder meetings
  • Participate in annual review and appraisal of own performance with the Trust Chair
  • When asked to do so, help to develop strategies and act as critical friend in connection with issues relevant to your own skills, expertise and experience
  • Be a visible presence on site
  • Maintain confidentiality about all sensitive/ confidential information received
  • Act and behave in accordance with the Trust’s policies and procedures
  • Comply with the fit and proper persons regulations
  • To support the Board in complying with its legal, regulatory and financial governance requirements and obligations
  • To bring independent oversight and objective challenge to the work of the Board and the performance of the Trust, based on your professional experience and personal judgement
  • To be a source of advice (particularly in your area of special expertise and interest) to the Chair, Chief Executive and executive directors

Experience

  • Middle to senior management level experience in the private, public or voluntary sector
  • Robust understanding of the principles and practice of good governance

Skills

  • The ability to question, probe and challenge constructively across all areas of the business based on clear thinking and analysis.
  • Ability to analyse complex information and navigate effectively through a demanding and rapidly changing environment.
  • Good communication and listening skills displaying curiosity and an interest in learning and professional development

 Knowledge

  • An understanding of and commitment to the NHS, with a solid grasp of the current challenges it faces.
  • First-hand knowledge of the scope and boundaries of the role of a Non-Executive Director, good corporate governance and the Nolan principles of public life.
  • Working knowledge of the main components of a complex organisation or business including: strategic planning, financial budgeting, quality assurance and performance and risk management.

 Attributes

  • High level of personal and business integrity.
  • A supportive and constructive manner.
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Terms of appointment

Non-Executive Director

  • The time commitment needed to fulfil this role is a minimum of 4-5 days each month. It is the responsibility of each Non-Executive Director to ensure that they can make sufficient time available to discharge their responsibilities efficiently, and prior to taking the appointment the successful candidate should inform the Chair of any other time commitments.
  • £15,000 per annum
  • 3 year term (renewable subject to performance appraisal)

Associate Non-Executive Director

  • The time commitment needed to fulfil this role is a minimum of 2-3 days each month. It is the responsibility of each ANED to ensure that they can make sufficient time available to discharge their responsibilities efficiently, and before taking the appointment, the successful candidate should inform the Chair of any other time commitments.
  • £8,000 per annum
  • 3 year term (renewable subject to performance appraisal)

Further Dates:

Board meetings are held face-to-face at the Trust, usually been 10.00 – 14.00. Seminars are held at the Trust but with provision to attend via Teams. These meetings are held between 11.00 – 16.00.

16 January 2025 – Board

06 February – Seminar

06 March – Board

10 April – Seminar

08 May – Board

How to apply

Anderson Quigley is acting as an advisor to the Trust, an executive search process is being carried out by Anderson Quigley in addition to the public advertisement.

The closing date for applications is Friday 18 October 2024.

Applications should consist of:

  • A full CV.
  • A covering letter (ideally two pages) outlining how you meet the essential experience criteria of the person specification and your motivations in joining the Trust.
  • Please include details of two referees in either your CV or covering letter, though please note that we will not approach your referees without your prior consent and only should you be shortlisted.
  • Please also include details of how you will meet the time commitment required.
  • You must also complete and send a copy of the fit and proper persons declaration which can be accessed here.

Should you wish to discuss the role in strict confidence, please contact Helene Usherwood on +44 (0)7719 322 669 or helene.usherwood@andersonquigley.com or Carolyn Coates on +44(0)7825 871 944 or carolyn.coates@andersonquigley.com

Timetable

Closing date 18 October 2024
Preliminary interviews with AQ (via Teams) Early November
Formal Panel Interview (at QVH) 03 December 2024
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