Chair

Job summary

To carry out their role effectively, the chair must cultivate a strong, collaborative relationship with the chief executive. Many responsibilities in this role description will be discharged in partnership with the chief executive. It is important the chair and the chief executive are clear about their individual and shared roles, and their respective responsibilities towards the unitary board. Together, the chair and the chief executive set the tone for the whole organisation. They are ultimately responsible for ensuring that the population the trust serves and the wider system in which the organisation sits receive the best possible care in a sustainable way.

Main duties of the job

NHS boards play a key role in shaping the strategy, vision and purpose of an organisation. They hold the organisation to account for the delivery of strategy and ensure value for money. They are also responsible for assuring that risks to the organisation and the public are managed and mitigated effectively. Led by an independent chair and composed of a mixture of both executive and independent nonexecutive members, the board has a collective responsibility for the performance of the organisation. The Chair also ensures the Board is focused on improving outcomes in population health and healthcare, and fosters a culture of learning and continuous improvement, with a particular focus on quality, safety, access, patient experience.

The purpose of NHS boards is to govern effectively, and in so doing build patient, public and stakeholder confidence that their health and healthcare is in safe hands.

This fundamental accountability to the public and stakeholders is delivered by building confidence:

• in the quality and safety of health services
• that resources are invested in a way that delivers optimal health outcomes
• in the accessibility and responsiveness of health services
• that patients and the public can help to shape health services to meet their needs
• that public money is spent in a way that is fair, efficient, effective and economic.

Please see attached recruitment pack for more information

About us

You will join the Trust at an exciting time. We have just reaffirmed our vision "together with you to achieve happier, healthier lives". We have reset our values and in September 2025 we are looking to sign off 4 new strategic objectives at the Board, each of which will be underpinned by a small number of Board Level success measures.

The journey towards our new operating model will be underpinned by three multi-year programmes:

Best for the Black Country - developing our people and our culture - to be our best for the communities we serve.

Community-First - evolving our care model based on preventative and anti -racist principles - integrating care close to home, with access to high quality support in hospital if necessary

Digital Transformation - Harnessing digital tools and innovation to enhance clinical outcomes and deliver more efficient person-centred care.

In 2025 we will also sign off our three core delivery strategies: our organisational strategy; our clinical strategy; and our financial strategy.

Your help in leading the Board will be essential around strategic thinking; ensuring accountability; corporate policy and supervision.