Non-Executive Director

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Job description

Background

One of the countrys largest and best-performing NHS Foundation Trusts, University College London Hospitals (UCLH) provides high-quality acute and specialist care to patients and those who care for them across London and beyond. As a high-profile academic research hospital, UCLH also delivers excellent education to clinicians supporting, fostering and producing world-class research across its many specialities.

The Trusts overall vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, support world-class education and research, and provide a positive work environment for all employees.

UCLH is part of the North Central London Integrated Care System and a member of the UCL Health Alliance, working collaboratively with other providers in the sector, particularly in the context of COVID-19.

In the ace of extraordinary operating pressures, UCLH has served its patients throughout the pandemic and kept its core values Safety, Kindness, Teamwork and Improving at the heart of all its work.

Indeed, in the year to March 2021, UCLH treated 1.5 million patients, recruited 7,673 patients for research studies, generated an annual turnover of 1.34bn and employed a total of 10,600 people.

It is worth noting that the above does not include the COVID-19 vaccination centres that UCLH, as NCL lead provider, operated as part of the vaccine roll-out. Bidborough House, the local mass vaccination centre, is still running.

Alongside continued innovation, digital transformation, financial sustainability, and operational excellence, one of the Trusts top strategic priorities going forward is the nurturing and development of UCLHs diverse staff.

The fostering of talent is particularly critical given the crucial role that UCLHs employees played in the achievement of extraordinary performance in the most difficult of circumstances.

Role Context

As mentioned above, the Trusts vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, support excellent education and world-class research, and provide a positive work environment for all employees. UCLHs Board is collectively responsible for overseeing the Trusts performance against those objectives and steering its strategic direction towards the achievement of these goals, ensuring that the Trust promotes high quality care and shows a genuine interest in patients, the local community, the staff and the NHS, whilst also continuing to innovate and live up to its reputation as a world-class teaching hospital.

Chaired by Baroness Julia Neuberger, the Board is responsible for guiding UCLHs strategy and values, supporting and challenging the executive team in their delivery of said strategy.

In carrying out their role, Non-Executive Directors must encourage the highest standards of corporate governance to ensure compliance with statutory obligations, scrutinise performance and satisfy themselves as to the integrity of clinical, financial and other information presented to them.

Each Non-Executive Director is an Ambassador for the Trust and plays a key leadership role, ensuring UCLHs obligations to its stakeholders are understood.

UCLH is now looking to appoint a new Non-Executive Director to the team to succeed Althea Efunshile, the Chair of Thames Metropolitan Housing, as her term is coming to an end in 2022 after six years with the organisation.

KeyAccountabilities

In partnership with the other NEDs, the successful candidate will be responsible for the following:

Supporting the Chair, the Chief Executive and other Executive Directors in the leadership of UCLH, including promoting the Trusts values as it strives to carry out its dual role as a centre for academic research and clinical education, whilst also delivering high-quality acute and specialist care to its patients
Contributing to the development of UCLHs strategy, ensuring the necessary resources are in place to meet its objectives
Ensuring strategies and actions approved by the Board are implemented effectively and efficiently by the executive management team
Promoting equality of opportunity and recognising the importance of diversity when working with patients, staff and stakeholders
Developing an understanding of the external environment in which the Trust operates (in particular the North Central London ICS and the UCL Provider Alliance) and being prepared to promote collaborative and partnership working to the benefit of the people of North Central London
Offering constructive challenge to the executive members of the Board, whilst respecting executive responsibility
Thoroughly scrutinising and regularly reviewing performance against agreed goals and objectives
Determining the level of remuneration for the Executive Directors and playing a key role in the appointment of the Chief Executive and other executives
Establishing and developing a constructive relationship with the Council of Governors, paying due regard to their opinions
Strengthening and maintaining engagement with the community, patients and stakeholders, and representing UCLH externally
Taking corporate and personal responsibility as a Board member and sharing responsibility for communicating the decisions of the Board
It is anticipated that the appointed NED will sit on two Board sub-committees, with a view to chairing an appropriate Board sub-committee in the fullness of time.

At present, the sub-committees are: Audit;
Finance and Investment;
Quality and Safety;
Research and Innovation;
and Workforce.

However, the Board is currently reviewing the structure with a view to making a permanent change, as outlined below:

Audit
Finance, Investment and Performance
Commercial and Private Healthcare Strategy
Quality and Safety
Workforce
Research & Innovation
Person Profile

UCLH is seeking to appoint an exceptional individual as NED for whom the welfare of UCLH and its patients and staff will be paramount.

This is an opportunity to join the Board of one the countrys most important hospitals at a time of change, challenge and possibility.

Working with a strong and cohesive Board where all are jointly responsible for decision-making, the ideal candidate will bring substantial strategic leadership experience, a powerful track record as an advocate for diversity and inclusion, and some understanding of both the public and private sectors.

UCLHs next Non-Executive Director will be an inclusive, collaborative leader with the ability to act as a strong, positive ambassador for the Trust and the partnerships it contributes to.

Whether new to Non- Executive positions or an experienced NED, the successful candidate will have a track record of values-based leadership that chimes with UCLHs values and a commitment to and connection with the London communities that UCLH particularly serves.

The Trust is very open to NEDs who are engaged in full-time senior executive positions;
however, it is important to note that Board members are expected to dedicate three days per month to their post.

As mentioned above, the post holder will be expected to chair a Board sub-committee and must therefore be able to demonstrate that they have the qualities, skills and experience to undertake this role to the highest standards.

Specifically, the ideal candidate would possess the following qualities, skills and experience:

A strong track record as a role model for equality, diversity and inclusion within organisations with diverse workforces
Commercial acumen and financially savvy, with a strong understanding of decision-making processes in both public and private sector contexts
A highly customer \/ patient-centric approach, drawing on past experience within service-led organisations of equivalent scale and complexity to UCLH
The emotional intelligence to work in a constructive way, communicating effectively and listening sensitively to the views of others, and gaining the trust, confidence and respect of a range of audiences
Clear evidence of leadership and resilience in the face of challenges and the ability to inspire confidence and enthusiasm
Strategic decision-making skills and a demonstrable understanding of how these would add value to UCLH
A sound knowledge of corporate governance (including risk and assurance) and evidence of organisational performance management
The ability to work effectively with partners in the local health economy and an understanding of the needs of the patients and local community that UCLH serves
Ideally, some commercial background, whether gained in the private or public sectors
Ideally, experience of communications, public relations or people management
The position specification is not exhaustive.

There will be other accountabilities not specified here that would be expected from a Non-Executive Director of UCLH.

UCLH is committed to appointing diverse, talented and high-performing individuals at all levels of the organisation and therefore welcomes applications from candidates irrespective of their background.

Appointments are made in keeping with the Trusts commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion, offering equal opportunities for all providing individuals meet the required criteria.

How to Apply

The MBS Group are acting as UCLHs advisors on this appointment.

To apply, please send a covering letter and CV to

co.

uk by midday on Friday 10th December 2021.

If you would like to discuss the opportunity in more detail, please do be in touch with us by emailing james.

co.

uk to arrange a call.
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