Job summary
Person Specification
We are seeking to recruit a non-executive member for the Board of ELM Alliance Ltd, who will serve as a Lay Member with a background in NHS senior management. This is an exceptional opportunity to leverage your expertise and leadership experience to positively impact the lives of people in the community and beyond.
Main duties of the job
A genuine commitment to patients and the promotion of high-quality healthcare services.
A strong background in NHS management with at least seven years of experience in a senior position within the healthcare sector.
A track record of senior leadership in healthcare management, with expertise in strategic planning, governance, and operational excellence.
The ability to serve as an ambassador for ELM Alliance Ltd, contributing to its vision and strategic goals.
About us
ELM Alliance Ltd is a GP Federation, wholly owned by its member GP Practices. Established in 2016, the organisation delivers primary care and community services under contracts with the NHS CCG, Local Primary Care Networks, and Local Authorities. Additionally, ELM Alliance supports and enables its member practices.
ELM Alliance was rated GOOD by the Care Quality Commission in its latest review in 2019.
Our Ambitions Include:
Delivering safe and effective services for patients and members
Reducing healthcare inequalities, enabling patients to live longer and healthier lives.
Supporting our members to meet their targets and contractual obligations.
Improving population health and wellbeing through place-based service delivery
Enhancing sustainability and service offerings through compassionate, well-led approaches
Job description
Job responsibilities
Main Purpose of the Role
Person Specification
We are seeking to recruit a non-executive member for the Board of ELM Alliance Ltd, who will serve as a Lay Member with a background in NHS senior management. This is an exceptional opportunity to leverage your expertise and leadership experience to positively impact the lives of people in the community and beyond.
Essential Criteria
A genuine commitment to patients and the promotion of high-quality healthcare services.
A strong background in NHS management with at least seven years of experience in a senior position within the healthcare sector.
A track record of senior leadership in healthcare management, with expertise in strategic planning, governance, and operational excellence.
The ability to serve as an ambassador for ELM Alliance Ltd, contributing to its vision and strategic goals.
Role and Responsibilities
The Board plays a pivotal role in shaping the strategy, vision, and purpose of ELM Alliance Ltd. It holds the organisation accountable for delivering its strategy, ensuring value for money for members, and managing risks effectively. Led by the Chair, Dr. Peter Heywood, the Board comprises both executive and non-executive members, collectively responsible for the organisations performance.
Roles and Responsibilities of the Non-Executive Board Members
Non-executive members work alongside executive Board members as equals, sharing responsibility for the Boards decisions and contributing to the organisations success in leading local healthcare improvements. They bring their skills and experience to:
Formulate Plans and Strategy
Contribute independent perspectives, external insights, and expertise to strategic planning.
Ensure Accountability
Hold the executive team accountable for strategic delivery through constructive scrutiny and challenge.
Participate in committees supporting accountability, such as the Remuneration Committee and Governance and Risk Group.
Shape Culture and Capability
Promote a healthy organisational culture, reflected in both personal behaviour and leadership style.
Ensure that Board members are 'fit and proper' for their roles, advocating for transparency and openness.
Processes, Structures, and Intelligence
Ensure the integrity of reporting mechanisms and the quality of organisational intelligence by engaging directly with patients and staff.
Provide analysis and challenge organisational and operational performance.
Engagement
Act in the best interests of patients and the public, being available to staff to address concerns.
Demonstrate a commitment to collaboration with key partners.
Specific Responsibilities for the Non-Executive Finance Role
Provide local insight and strategic input into patient service delivery.
Serve as a member of the Remuneration Committee.
Direct the Business Manager in process review and improvement.
Offer assurance and oversight of the financial structure and identify opportunities for enhancement.
This role requires a commitment to the highest standards of probity, integrity, and governance. As a non-executive Board member, you will contribute independent judgment and advice on strategy, performance, and resource management, helping to shape the future of healthcare in the community.
The seven principles of public life
ELM Alliance is 100% limited by share with all shareholders being the local GP Practice. We are therefore subject to the Principles of Public Life, these will apply to the successful candidate:
Selflessness - holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest
Integrity - holders of public office must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their work. They should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends. They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships
Objectivity - holders of public office must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias
Accountability - holders of public office are accountable to the public for their decisions and actions and must submit themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this
Openness - holders of public office should act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner. Information should not be withheld from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for so doing
Honesty - holders of public office should be truthful
Leadership - holders of public office should exhibit these principles in their own behaviour. They should actively promote and robustly support the principles and be willing to challenge poor behaviour whenever it occurs
In line with arrangements in place for boards, we will make a number of specific background checks to ensure that those we appoint are fit and proper people to hold these important roles.
Fit and Proper Persons Requirement
The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 Regulation 5 and Schedule 4 play a major part in ensuring the accountability of directors of NHS bodies and outline the requirements for robust recruitment and employment processes for board level appointments. As part of the assurance against the fit and proper person requirements for board members, you are required to address questions relating to topics including misconduct or mismanagement, bankruptcy and convictions
Pre Checks
All roles at Elm Alliance undertake a pre check of identification. references and DBS enhanced check. A declaration of Interest will be required.
As part of the interview process, a Non-Disclosure Agreement is signed and interviewees are given access to both the relevant finance and governance documents, including a historical walk through with the Chair and Chief Executive.
Terms
On average, the role will require approximately 5-8 hours per month. This includes, as a minimum, attendance at the Board meetings of Elm Alliance (once every 2 months), and other meetings as described by the role.
Your appointment will be for an initial period of up to three years, after which you may be considered for further terms of office, subject to the governance of the articles of association and a good performance in your role. An initial 6 months review period will be held for both parties.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
1. An understanding of health and social care and an appreciation of the broad social, political and economic trends influencing them.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of primary care, GP practices and the issues they face and what is important to them and their patients
3. Track record in securing or supporting improvements for patients or the wider public
4. Have a strong commitment to services in South Tees or be able to demonstrate how they are otherwise able to bring that perspective to the Board.
Desirable
5. Experience of representing an organisations interests externally
6. Preference will be given to those living or working in South Tees or the immediate surrounding area.
7. Prior board level experience
Other Requirements
Essential
8. Embrace good governance
9. Able to hold others to account and probe and challenge constructively
10. The confidence to question information and explanations supplied by others, who may be experts in their field
11. Understand the difference between governance and management
12. Able to give an independent view on possible internal conflicts of interest
13. Able to uphold the standards of conduct set out in The Seven Principles of Public Life
14. Patient and community focus
15. A commitment to the needs of the local community and the opportunity for community services to contribute to meeting these needs
16. Influencing and communication
17. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
18. Ability to influence and persuade others articulating a balanced strategic clinical view
19. Able to listen to others and actively share information
20. Ability to recognise key influencers and possess the skills to engage and influence them
21. Intellectual flexibility
22. The ability to think clearly and creatively for the long term, continually identify opportunities for improvement.
23. Ability to take an objective view, seeing issues from all perspectives
24. Able to balance competing priorities and make difficult decisions
25. Capability to understand and analyse complex issues- drawing on a range of data
Desirable
26. Embrace good governance
27. Previous experience of working in a collective decision making group such as a board or committee
28. Evidence of building successful relationships with other organisations and interests
29. Influencing and communication
30. Be able to think beyond own professional viewpoint
Qualifications
Essential
31. A genuine commitment to patients and the promotion of high-quality healthcare services.
32. A strong background in NHS management with at least seven years of experience in a senior position within the healthcare sector.
33. A track record of senior leadership in healthcare management, with expertise in strategic planning, governance, and operational excellence.
34. The ability to serve as an ambassador for ELM Alliance Ltd, contributing to its vision and strategic goals.
35. A formal and recognised qualification in relation to your field(s) of expertise
36. Evidence of continuing professional development
Desirable
37. A background in NHS senior management, 7 years' experience working in either primary care management, commissioning management or provider management