Non-executive opportunities in the NHS » Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, Chair

Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, Chair

19 September 2024

Public appointments

Chair

A new NHS Foundation Trust across Hampshire and IOW

HQ near Southampton

Salary/Remuneration – £55,500 – £63,300 per annum
Closing Date – Monday 21st October 2024

Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust was formed in 2011 and delivers a range of mental health, physical health and learning disability services to over 1.5 million people across Hampshire. Our 7,600 staff work from over 200 sites, delivering services in partnership with those we support as well as our wider health and care partners across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Integrated Care System.

The Trust has undergone significant transformation in recent years, ranging from a significant estate’s improvement programme through to all the ongoing research in the Trust, and the establishment of our new Gambling Treatment Service. Much of this work has been done in partnership with local communities and other organisations, and we continue to work closely with them to improve our services.

In January 2022, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board commissioned an independent review of community and mental health services across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, to find out how we can best meet the current and future demands of our local populations.

One of the review’s recommendations was that a new organisation should be formed, to bring together all NHS community, mental health and learning disability services provided in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight – including all the services provided by Solent NHS Trust, Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, the community, mental health and learning disability services provided by Isle of Wight NHS Trust, and the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services provided by Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust in Hampshire.

This has been an ambitious plan which has involved significant work from all organisations involved but will allow us the opportunity to better meet the needs of the populations we serve.

As we move into the final stages of this process, we are looking to appoint a new Chair for Southern Health NHS FT, with the plan for the successful candidate to become the Chair of the new Trust once it is created.

This is an exceptional opportunity to lead our Board at a time of significant transformation. We are looking for candidates who have experience of leading at Board level in large and complex organisations and who have, or are willing to develop, a deep understanding of the communities we serve and the wider health and social care sector. You will have a strong track record of building relationships with a range of stakeholders across organisations and communities and have a reputation for your ambassadorial and diplomatic approach, as well as the empathy and compassion to engage authentically with our staff, service users, carers and families.

Previous NHS experience is not a necessity, but you will have the experience to lead our Unitary Board with vision and purpose, hold the organisation to account for the delivery of our strategy, and in ensuring value for money and managing risk. Working alongside Executive Directors and Non-Executive Directors you will play a critical role in the leadership and governance, shaping culture, and promoting the success of the Trust for the benefit of our patients and the communities we serve.