Job summary
Chair of the Trust
Part-Time: 2-3 days per week
Base: New Mill, Saltaire
Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust is led by a Board, comprising both Executive and Non-Executive Directors. The Board is collectively responsible for the exercise of powers and for the performance of the organisation to ensure we provide effective, safe high quality and sustainable healthcare services for the people we serve via our 'Better Lives, Together' strategy.
Closing date: 21st October 2025
Interviews likely to take place either w/c 10th November or w/c 17th November 2025
Main duties of the job
The Trust Chair is responsible for the leadership of the Board and is pivotal in the creation of the conditions necessary for good governance and overall Board and individual Director effectiveness, both inside and outside of the boardroom. The Trust Chair's role is non-executive and is not involved in the day to day running of the organisation, but ensures that the organisation has the vision, strategy and resource in place to deliver the objectives of the Trust.
The Trust Chair is also responsible for leadership of the Council of Governors ensuring that Governors understand their role and have the resources, information and knowledge necessary to discharge their duties.
The Chair is a key representative within the local community and amongst partners at System and Place. The Chairs ensures that high standards of probity and governance prevail within the Trust.
About us
Everything we do is underpinned by our core values:
We Care- We act with respect and empathy, and always value difference
We Listen - We understand people's views and respond to their individual needs
We Deliver - We develop and provide excellent services and support our partners
We will consider a variety of flexible working arrangements to enable staff to balance their work and home lives and support staff by offering a fantastic range of benefits including :
Increase mileage rates for > 3500
A wide range of health and wellbeing support packages
A range of internal and external development and learning opportunities
Plus many more.
We are also proud to pledge our support to the Armed Forces and hold a Bronze Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.
BDCFT is dedicated to environmental and social sustainability by delivering on the commitments within our Green Plan. All staff are actively encouraged and supported to participate in training and to identify and implement sustainable quality improvement across all service areas and activities.
The Trust reserves the right to close this position early if a significant number of applications are received.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please read the attached Job description and person specification for more details about this role.
Right to Work in the UK
Applicants should be aware that for any individual who requires a visa to work in the UK, the Trust provides sponsorship for registered healthcare practitioner roles only. This is an essential requirement of the role, and the Trust is unable to offer you a role if you are unable to meet Trust requirements for sponsorship and Home Office requirements for a visa.Prior to your appointment you will be asked to provide confirmation of your right to work and reside in the UK. During your continued employment with the Trust, you have a personal responsibility to notify your manager as soon as possible should there be any changes to your right to work status.Regrettably, if the role is not eligible for sponsorship under the Trusts eligibility criteria, the Trust are unable to extend your employment beyond the expiration of your current visa. The Trust is not responsible or liable for ensuring that your employment continues after this period.As a condition of continuous employment, it essential you maintain the legal right to work in the United Kingdom throughout the duration of your employment with Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust (BDCFT). Any change in your right-to-work status, including but not limited to visa expiration, revocation, or denial of renewal, may impact your eligibility for employment with the Trust. It is your responsibility to promptly inform your Line Manager of any changes in your right-to-work status immediately and to provide necessary documentation for verification purposes. Failure to obtain or renew your visa in a timely manner is a breach of employment conditions and will result in termination of your employment. We appreciate your attention to this matter and your commitment to fulfilling this requirement promptly.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please read the attached Job description and person specification for more details about this role.
Right to Work in the UK
Applicants should be aware that for any individual who requires a visa to work in the UK, the Trust provides sponsorship for registered healthcare practitioner roles only. This is an essential requirement of the role, and the Trust is unable to offer you a role if you are unable to meet Trust requirements for sponsorship and Home Office requirements for a visa.Prior to your appointment you will be asked to provide confirmation of your right to work and reside in the UK. During your continued employment with the Trust, you have a personal responsibility to notify your manager as soon as possible should there be any changes to your right to work status.Regrettably, if the role is not eligible for sponsorship under the Trusts eligibility criteria, the Trust are unable to extend your employment beyond the expiration of your current visa. The Trust is not responsible or liable for ensuring that your employment continues after this period.As a condition of continuous employment, it essential you maintain the legal right to work in the United Kingdom throughout the duration of your employment with Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust (BDCFT). Any change in your right-to-work status, including but not limited to visa expiration, revocation, or denial of renewal, may impact your eligibility for employment with the Trust. It is your responsibility to promptly inform your Line Manager of any changes in your right-to-work status immediately and to provide necessary documentation for verification purposes. Failure to obtain or renew your visa in a timely manner is a breach of employment conditions and will result in termination of your employment. We appreciate your attention to this matter and your commitment to fulfilling this requirement promptly.
Person Specification
QUALIFICATIONS & TRAINING
Essential
- formal and recognised qualification in relation to your field(s) of expertise
EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE
Essential
- Experience at Board level in an equivalent scale and complex customer or public facing regulated organisation.
- Sound knowledge and experience in practice of corporate governance, risk management, internal control and assurance.
- Experience of leading system change at a senior level to bring together disparate stakeholder views
Desirable
- Accustomed to a high level of accountability; i.e. service delivery, forward planning, financial management, human resource management, performance management.
- Significant experience of leading major strategic developments; particularly for example, leading across system boundaries, partnership development, organisational transformation, technological innovation
HEALTH & CARE
Essential
- Knowledge of health and care sector regulatory and compliance frameworks.
SKILLS & ABILITIES
Essential
- Able lead and influence and negotiate nationally, regionally and at significant local level.
- Able to orchestrate innovative, transformational change and lead quality improvement to improve quality, safety and experience for service users and staff.
PERSONAL QUALITIES
Essential
- Commitment to NHS values and principles and those of the Trust.
- A strong commitment to working in partnership with patients, carers and the community.
- Strong commitment to promoting diversity, inclusion and equality of opportunity, within the Trust and the communities we serve
- The ability to hold self and others to account using a style which is probing and provides constructive challenge.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Essential
- Ability to make a commitment to engage for a sufficient amount of time, which will vary according to demands. Average 2-3 days per week.
Person Specification
QUALIFICATIONS & TRAINING
Essential
- formal and recognised qualification in relation to your field(s) of expertise
EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE
Essential
- Experience at Board level in an equivalent scale and complex customer or public facing regulated organisation.
- Sound knowledge and experience in practice of corporate governance, risk management, internal control and assurance.
- Experience of leading system change at a senior level to bring together disparate stakeholder views
Desirable
- Accustomed to a high level of accountability; i.e. service delivery, forward planning, financial management, human resource management, performance management.
- Significant experience of leading major strategic developments; particularly for example, leading across system boundaries, partnership development, organisational transformation, technological innovation
HEALTH & CARE
Essential
- Knowledge of health and care sector regulatory and compliance frameworks.
SKILLS & ABILITIES
Essential
- Able lead and influence and negotiate nationally, regionally and at significant local level.
- Able to orchestrate innovative, transformational change and lead quality improvement to improve quality, safety and experience for service users and staff.
PERSONAL QUALITIES
Essential
- Commitment to NHS values and principles and those of the Trust.
- A strong commitment to working in partnership with patients, carers and the community.
- Strong commitment to promoting diversity, inclusion and equality of opportunity, within the Trust and the communities we serve
- The ability to hold self and others to account using a style which is probing and provides constructive challenge.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Essential
- Ability to make a commitment to engage for a sufficient amount of time, which will vary according to demands. Average 2-3 days per week.
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.
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.
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).
