Job summary We are seeking two Non-Executive Directors to complement our existing Board Members, using their skills and experiences to help us to achieve our ambitions and strategy. Of the two Non-Executive Directors we are seeking, one must have significant skills and experience in relation to digital technology. We recognise the importance of digital as a key enabler to transformation, productivity and clinical outcomes. This has been identified as one of the three areas of focus for the Great North Healthcare Alliance's Joint Committee and we are passionate about ensuring that we make a valuable contribute to this work to benefit our patients, colleagues and partners. The digital Non-Executive Director will chair our Digital Committee. In the context of limited resources and significant financial challenges within the Trust and across the wider NHS, there is a need for all organisations to focus on being as efficient and effective as possible, delivering value for money whilst striving to continue to enhance the quality of services. From our second Non-Executive Director position, we are therefore looking for a qualified accountant who can chair our Group Audit Committee and help us to ensure that our control environment is strong. To ensure that the patient perspective is appropriately represented, we are encouraging candidates who can demonstrate direct involvement with a wide range of diverse communities. Main duties of the job As a Non-Executive Director, you will work alongside the Chair, other Non-Executive Directors and Executive Directors of the Trust as a full member of the Board. You will be individually and collectively accountable with the other Directors for the success of the organisation and will have the responsibility to constructively challenge the decisions of the Board and help develop proposals on priorities, risk mitigation, values, standards and strategies. To ensure that the patient perspective is appropriately represented, we are encouraging candidates who can demonstrate direct involvement with a wide range of diverse communities. Empathy for the experience of our service users and carers will be crucial along with an ability to engage with our dedicated staff, Governors, and members. Non-Executive Director appointments are made by the Trust's Council of Governors taking into account local needs and the requirements of the Code of Governance for NHS Provider Trusts. Non-Executive Directors are chosen for their breadth of experience, appropriate calibre and personal qualities. A Non-Executive Director of the Trust, or any other NHS Foundation Trust, may not be or become a Governor of the Foundation Trust. Note that Non-Executive Directors must be a member of one of the public constituencies of Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust. Further information on our constituencies is included in the candidate information pack. About us At Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust we provide a wide range of acute, community and older peoples' mental health services to our local community and beyond. We also provide a range of specialist services including bowel screening for a population of around 7 million people and specialist gynaecological cancer treatments from the Scottish Borders through to Cumbria and Whitby. We employ over 5,100 people and have over 400 hospital beds across the Gateshead area. We have an annual turnover of around £400 million and our wholly-owned subsidiary, QE Facilities, provides a wide range of high-quality services to the Trust and other NHS organisations. Our philosophy is that to achieve the best patient care and outcomes we must be clinically-led and management supported - this is an integral part of our approach to everything we do. We have three main strategic ambitions: to be a Northern Centre of Excellence for Women's Health; to be a leading provider of diagnostic services; and to be an outstanding district general hospital. We believe that by achieving these ambitions we will be able to make a valuable contribution to the healthcare of the people of Gateshead, but also to the wider North East and North Cumbria. We are proud to be rated as 'good' overall by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) at our last full inspection. Our maternity services were inspected in 2023 and we were delighted to be rated as 'good' with a number of areas of outstanding practice highlighted. Date posted 08 April 2025 Pay scheme Other Salary £13,715 a year per annum Contract Fixed term Duration 3 years Working pattern Part-time Reference number 297-6621119-A Job locations Queen Elizabeth Hospital Sheriff Hill Gateshead NE9 6SX Job description Job responsibilities We are looking for one Non-Executive Director to be the Chair of the Group Audit Committee (whose remit covers both the Trust and QE Facilities, the subsidiary company). As Chair of the Group Audit Committee you will play a vital role in the coordination of focus of the internal audit, external audit and counter fraud resources to provide robust assurance to the Board on systems of internal control. As a qualified accountant you will bring independent financial acumen to the work of the Group Audit Committee across its governance, risk management, assurance and internal control functions. The Group Audit Committee plays a leading role in the review of year-end regulatory submissions for both the Trust, QE Facilities and the Charitable Fund, making recommendations to the respect Boards on whether documents including the annual accounts and annual report present a fair and accurate view. As Chair of the Group Audit Committee you will develop a strong relationship with the Group Director of Finance and QE Facilities Director of Finance. An accountancy qualification from a recognised accountancy body is an essential requirement of this role. We are also seeking one Non-Executive Director who will chair the Digital Committee, using your digital skills and experience to contribute constructively, seeking assurance and providing a critical friend approach to help us to using digital technology to the best of our ability / resource to achieve the best outcomes for our patients, colleagues and the wider community. Job description Job responsibilities We are looking for one Non-Executive Director to be the Chair of the Group Audit Committee (whose remit covers both the Trust and QE Facilities, the subsidiary company). As Chair of the Group Audit Committee you will play a vital role in the coordination of focus of the internal audit, external audit and counter fraud resources to provide robust assurance to the Board on systems of internal control. As a qualified accountant you will bring independent financial acumen to the work of the Group Audit Committee across its governance, risk management, assurance and internal control functions. The Group Audit Committee plays a leading role in the review of year-end regulatory submissions for both the Trust, QE Facilities and the Charitable Fund, making recommendations to the respect Boards on whether documents including the annual accounts and annual report present a fair and accurate view. As Chair of the Group Audit Committee you will develop a strong relationship with the Group Director of Finance and QE Facilities Director of Finance. An accountancy qualification from a recognised accountancy body is an essential requirement of this role. We are also seeking one Non-Executive Director who will chair the Digital Committee, using your digital skills and experience to contribute constructively, seeking assurance and providing a critical friend approach to help us to using digital technology to the best of our ability / resource to achieve the best outcomes for our patients, colleagues and the wider community. Person Specification Qualifications & skills Essential o For the Group Audit Committee Chair role - qualified accountant with ongoing registration from a recognised accountancy body is essential. o For the Digital Committee Chair role - significant skills and expertise in the field of digital technology is essential. oA deeply-rooted commitment to the delivery of safe, high-quality, compassionate and joined-up care, and to its continuous improvement oAbility to fulfil fit and proper person requirements of the role oSound knowledge of corporate governance oClear understanding, and acceptance, of the legal duties, liabilities, and responsibilities of Non-Executive Directors oPolitically astute, with the ability to grasp relevant issues and understand relationships between interested parties oAbility to understand complex strategic issues, analyse and resolve difficult problems Values Essential A commitment to NHS values and principles of NHS Foundation Trusts Ability to work with and influence senior leaders in the NHS across all professional/management disciplines Experience Essential o Proven leadership skills oAbility to work with and influence senior leaders across all professional/management disciplines oHigh level of understanding and interest in healthcare issues oClear understanding, and acceptance, of the legal duties, liabilities, and responsibilities of Non-Executive Directors oSufficient time and commitment to fulfil the role Desirable oThe temperament, ability and experience to work at a Board level (previous Board-level experience is desirable, but not essential) as full support will be offered oPrevious experience of chairing committees is desirable, but not essential as full support will be given oAwareness / willingness to develop an awareness of mass public health issues which may affect the Trust Person Specification Qualifications & skills Essential o For the Group Audit Committee Chair role - qualified accountant with ongoing registration from a recognised accountancy body is essential. o For the Digital Committee Chair role - significant skills and expertise in the field of digital technology is essential. oA deeply-rooted commitment to the delivery of safe, high-quality, compassionate and joined-up care, and to its continuous improvement oAbility to fulfil fit and proper person requirements of the role oSound knowledge of corporate governance oClear understanding, and acceptance, of the legal duties, liabilities, and responsibilities of Non-Executive Directors oPolitically astute, with the ability to grasp relevant issues and understand relationships between interested parties oAbility to understand complex strategic issues, analyse and resolve difficult problems Values Essential A commitment to NHS values and principles of NHS Foundation Trusts Ability to work with and influence senior leaders in the NHS across all professional/management disciplines Experience Essential o Proven leadership skills oAbility to work with and influence senior leaders across all professional/management disciplines oHigh level of understanding and interest in healthcare issues oClear understanding, and acceptance, of the legal duties, liabilities, and responsibilities of Non-Executive Directors oSufficient time and commitment to fulfil the role Desirable oThe temperament, ability and experience to work at a Board level (previous Board-level experience is desirable, but not essential) as full support will be offered oPrevious experience of chairing committees is desirable, but not essential as full support will be given oAwareness / willingness to develop an awareness of mass public health issues which may affect the Trust 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. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). Additional information 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. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). Employer details Employer name Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust Address Queen Elizabeth Hospital Sheriff Hill Gateshead NE9 6SX Employer's website https://www.qegateshead.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)