Non-Executive Director recruitment

Introductory letter from Trust Chair, Kevin Lockyer

Dear Candidate

Thank you for your interest in becoming a Non-Executive Director.

Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is responsible for delivering a wide range of mental health dementia, learning disability and autism services throughout Lincolnshire, and my Board colleagues and I are proud of the services our staff provide.

You will, of course, be aware of the challenges the NHS continues to face, and Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is no exception to these pressures. However, with a continuation of the focused hard work on doing the very best we can for our patients and making the very best use of our resources, I am confident the Board will continue to lead a successful Trust.

We are seeking a Non-Executive Director to join our Board, to bring support and constructive challenge, and to help lead the strategic direction of the Trust. This information pack outlines more about what we need from these appointments, drawing on a recent assessment of the skills, ability and behaviour we need from our Board team.

Being a Non-Executive Director with the Trust is demanding, but very rewarding. You have the chance to join a competent and effective Board that, through development of a new Trust Strategy, prides itself on keeping patients at the heart of its decisions.

The Trust is committed to being an equal opportunities employer. Recognising under-represented protected characteristics in the boardroom, the Trust particularly welcomes applications from women, people with disabilities, people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds, from lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and from transgender people. Personal lived experience of a mental health condition, or experience of caring for a family member or friend with mental health, learning disability or autism needs would be welcomed.

I hope you will consider applying, and thank you for taking time to consider applying to join the Board of Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

Yours faithfully

Kevin Lockyer

Trust Chair

Introduction and roles and responsibilities

Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is seeking to recruit a Non-Executive Director. The post is being advertised and the appointments will be considered by the Trust’s Council of Governors, following a formal selection process.

Role and responsibilities

Role summary

Non-Executive Directors work alongside other Non-Executive and Executive Directors as an equal member of the Board. They share responsibility with the other Directors for the decisions made by the Board and for the success of the organisation in leading the local improvement of healthcare services for patients and service users.

They will bring independent judgement, external perspectives and advice on issues of strategy, vision, performance, resources and standards of conduct and constructively challenge, influence and help the executive board develop proposals on such strategies to enable the organisation to fulfil its leadership responsibilities to patients, for healthcare of the local community.

The Non-Executive Director will ensure that the Board acts in the best interests of service users, carers, members and the wider public.

The Non-Executive Director will work collaboratively with the Chair in supporting the Council of Governors.

The Non-Executive Director commits to working to, and encouraging within the Trust, the highest standards of probity, integrity and governance and contribute to ensuring that the Trust’s internal governance arrangements conform with best practice and statutory requirements.

Key functions and responsibilities

As members of the Board of the Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, all Directors are required to:

• Provide leadership within a framework of prudent and effective controls which enable risk to be assessed and managed.
• Bring a range of skills and expertise which may not otherwise be available to the Trust.
• Set strategic aims, ensure that the necessary financial and human resources are in place to meet objectives, and review and hold to account executive management for their performance.
• Set values and standards and ensure that the Trust’s obligations to its service users, stakeholders and the public are understood and met.
• Ensure that the Trust promotes equality and recognises diversity in its dealings with patients, staff and other stakeholders.
• Focus on ensuring effective compliance of clinical, corporate, legal and financial elements of the organisation.
• Make declarations to the Regulators in regard to performance and governance.

In addition to these requirements for all Directors the role of the Non-Executive Director has the following key elements:

• To constructively challenge and support the development of proposals on strategy.
• Scrutinise the performance of the Trust and its ability to meet objectives and key performance indicators.
• Satisfy themselves as to the integrity of financial and service information and that the financial controls and systems for risk management are robust and effective.
• Determine appropriate levels of remuneration of Executive Directors and for participation in the appointment of the Chief Executive and other Executive Directors ensuring the appropriate process is followed in their recruitment and retention.
• To attend Council of Governors’ meetings and support the Chair in ensuring effective dialogue between the Board and the Council of Governors.
• To receive reports and have oversight of staff employment panels and incident investigations as required.

Non-Executive Directors must:

• Uphold the Vision, Values and Behaviours of the Trust.
• Act as an ambassador for the Trust.
• Act in accordance with all relevant legislation, with particular regard to the National Health Service Act 2006 and the Health and Social Care Act 2012.
• Act in accordance with the Trust’s Constitution and the Code of Conduct and Responsibilities of the Directors.
• Act in accordance with the Seven Principles of Public Life (see Appendix 1).

Person specification

Non-Executive Directors should seek to establish and maintain confidence in the Foundation Trust. They should be independent in judgement and have an enquiring mind. To be effective, Non-Executive Directors will need to have an understanding of the wider NHS and the external environment in which it operates and become well-informed about the Trust and develop a good knowledge of issues relevant to the Trust. Non-Executive Directors should continually seek to develop and refresh their knowledge and skills to ensure that their contribution to the Board remains informed and relevant.

The Trust is seeking to appoint a Non-Executive Director who can demonstrate, through application and recruitment processes, that they hold a wide range of the following expertise.

It is anticipated that applicants for the position will have had substantial senior or board level experience within a complex organisation. This could have been from a broad range of sectors.

The Trust is specifically looking for an individual who can bring one or more of the following:

1. The Trust would want to appoint an applicant whose style and approach to the role can be evidenced to be consistent with the Trust’s vision and values.
2. The Trust would want the appointee to have experience of working at a senior level in complex environments with a clear understanding of assurance, accountability, governance and change management. This could be from the private, third or public sectors.
3. The Trust will be looking for applicants who can adopt an outward facing approach; with experience of the organisational development challenges presented by working within a complex local health and social care system and potentially across a wider area.
4. The Trust would want to appoint someone with a clinical background.

The Trust would want all applicants to demonstrate a commitment to equality and diversity. Recognising under-represented protected characteristics in the boardroom, the Trust particularly welcomes applications from women, people with disabilities, people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds, from lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and from transgender people.

Eligibility

Non-Executive Directors must be members of the Foundation Trust.

Details of how to become a member can be found on our website by using this link

A person may only be appointed as a Non-Executive Director if they are:

• a member of the Public Constituency (see Appendix 2), or
• a member of the Service Users’ and Carers’ Constituency; and
• not otherwise disqualified by virtue of disqualification criteria (see Appendix 3).

Full details of eligibility criteria and exclusions can be found in the Trust’s Constitution which you can find by using this link

Remuneration and time commitment

The Non-Executive Directors receive £13,000 per annum for an average of 5 days per month. These commitments comprise a mixture of set commitments (such as regular meetings of the Board, Committees and the Council of Governors) and more flexible arrangements for ad hoc events, reading and preparation.  A degree of flexibility will be required and some time commitment will be during the working day, evenings and weekends.

The roles of the Audit Committee Chair and Deputy Chair each attract an additional element of remuneration of £2,000 per annum. (It is not envisaged that either of these roles will be filled from this appointment, however, they may become available at a future point in time).

Remuneration is taxable and subject to National Insurance Contributions.  It is not pensionable.

Non-Executive Directors are also eligible to claim allowances for travel and subsistence costs necessarily incurred on Trust business.

Appointment and Tenure of Office

This appointment will be effective from early October 2023, for up to three years, and will be subject to annual performance reviews and approval by the Council of Governors.

You should also note that these posts are public appointments of statutory office rather than jobs and are therefore not subject to the provisions of employment law.  To ensure that public service values are maintained at the heart of the National Health Service, Non-Executive Directors are required to subscribe to the Code of Conduct, Standing Orders and Standing Financial Instructions for the Foundation Trust.  As such you must demonstrate high standards of corporate and personal conduct.

You will be required to declare any conflict of interest that arises in the course of Board business and also declare any relevant business interests, positions of authority or other connections with commercial, public or voluntary bodies. 

Fit and Proper Persons Test

The Trust will undertake a Fit and Proper Persons Test in accordance with the Care Quality Commission’s requirements.  This will include bankruptcy and director disqualification checks.  It will also include self-declaration in regard to any previous misconduct, or other relevant matters.

Non-Executive Directors will have access to children or vulnerable adults through their work for the Trust.  To safeguard patients by identifying unsuitable candidates, all appointments will be dependent upon the satisfactory completion of checks carried out with the Disclosure and Barring Service (see Appendix 3).  Checks will be carried out by the Trust after appointment and before the individual takes up their full duties.

Application process

To apply please send a letter of application, setting out how you meet the person specification, and a curriculum vitae (CV) to the Director of Corporate Governance, not later than noon on 1 September 2023.

Your application can be e-mailed to:  jenna.davies17@nhs.net

or, posted to:  

Jenna Davies

Director of Corporate Governance

Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Trust Headquarters

St George’s

Long Leys Road

Lincoln

LN1 1FS.

• We will acknowledge receipt of your application shortly after the closing date.
• Your application will first be checked for completeness and eligibility.
• Your letter and CV will be assessed to see the extent to which you have the qualities and expertise specified for the post before it is passed to the Nominations and Remunerations Committee at the Trust for consideration.  You should be aware that quite often the Committee only receives the strongest group of applications and usually one or two of the Committee members receive the full set of applications in order that they can satisfy themselves regarding the assessment.
• Long listed candidates may be invited to undertake a pre-screening interview, prior to being shortlisted.
• Candidates will be informed on or before 11 September 2023 if they have been shortlisted for interview.
• At the time of the formal interviews, as a source of external validation and as part of their due diligence checks on candidates, the Committee will require either two references or an appraisal for all shortlisted candidates.  References will be sought in advance of the interviews so please ensure your referees are advised of this.
• Shortlisted candidates will be required to attend an assessment centre with members of the Nominations and Remunerations Committee, Directors, Governors and other stakeholders, and potential interview, during week commencing 18 September 2023. Confirmed details will be advised to shortlisted candidates.

The Nominations and Remunerations Committee will need to recommend its preferred candidate at an extra ordinary meeting of the Trust’s Council of Governors, which will be held as soon as is practical following conclusion of the recruitment process.  The successful candidates will be contacted by the Trust as soon as possible after this.  All candidates will be advised of the outcome of the selection process by the Trust.

About Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

An overview of the Trust and its services

Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is the main provider of NHS mental health and adult social care services in Lincolnshire.  Principle services include: Adult mental health (inpatient, rehabilitation and community); Learning Disabilities; Child and Family mental health; Older Adult mental health; and psychological therapies across all ages.  In 2022/23 the Trust’s annual turnover was £159 million.

Vision & Values

We continue to strengthen our vision and values and embed then throughout the organisation to ensure that every member of staff is committed to making a difference.
 

You can read more about our vision and values by using this link

The Trust is a high performing NHS Foundation Trust and is rated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as overall ‘Good’ and “Outstanding” for being well led.   The Trust has operated in financial surplus every year since becoming a foundation trust and for the seven years before that as an NHS Trust.

NHS England, the Regulator of foundation trusts, has assessed the Trust and has placed it in segment one of the NHS Oversight Framework, ie the highest possible rating.   Applicants are encouraged to review the Trust’s and the Care Quality Commission’s websites for information on current performance.

The Trust has around 9,000 members, including service users and carers, staff and public members. The aim is to maintain the service user and carer and public membership year on year, allowing us to concentrate on developing a truly engaged and representative membership.  The Trust actively encourages its members to become involved with the business of the Trust by use of websites, social media and its Annual Public Meeting.  The Trust engages with its membership to support consultation on the future developments of its services.

Foundation Trust status

On 1 October 2007 Lincolnshire Partnership became the first mental health trust in the East Midlands to achieve Foundation Trust (FT) status.  It remains the only Foundation Trust based in Lincolnshire.

NHS foundation trusts are autonomous organisations who report directly to Parliament through their annual reports.  They decide how to improve their services and can retain any surpluses they generate, or borrow money to support these investments. They establish strong connections with their local communities; local people can become members and governors. 

These freedoms mean NHS foundation trusts can better shape their healthcare services around local needs and priorities. NHS foundation trusts remain providers of healthcare according to core NHS principles: free care, based on need and not ability to pay. 

Additional information on the role of foundation trusts can be found on the NHS England website by using this link

The future

The Trust is currently working with other NHS providers, local authorities and the third sector across Lincolnshire and beyond to meet the challenges of service provision following the Covid-19 pandemic.  Service provision is being transformed in line with the NHS Plan and the lessons learned whilst managing the pandemic.

The Trust will seek to achieve continuous improvement in services and will address particular demographic needs such as increasing dementia rates.

Applicants are encouraged to review the range of information available on the Trust’s website which will provide a detailed insight into the work of the Board of Directors and the Council of Governors in giving consideration to our future plans. 
 

Additional sources of information

Further information about Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, including a copy of the Trust’s latest annual report and accounts, is available elsewhere on our website.

The Department of Health has information including latest policy initiatives: www.dh.gov.uk     

The Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) has more information about NHS financial management www.hfma.org.uk 

NHS England’s (the independent Regulator of foundation trusts) website contains information on the governance of foundation trusts and other useful references: www.england.nhs.uk 

Appendix 1 - The seven principles of public life

Selflessness

Holders of public office should take decisions solely in terms of the public interest. They should not do so in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends.

Integrity

Holders of public office should not place themselves under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organisations that might influence them in the performance of their official duties.

Objectivity

In carrying out public business, including making public appointments, awarding contracts, or recommending individuals for rewards and benefits, holders of public office should make choices on merit.

Accountability

Holders of public office are accountable for their decisions and actions to the public and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their office.

Openness

Holders of public office should be as open as possible about all the decisions and actions that they take. They should give reasons for their decisions and restrict information only when the wider public interest clearly demands.

Honesty

Holders of public office have a duty to declare any private interests relating to their public duties and to take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in a way that protects the public interest.

Leadership

Holders of public office should promote and support these principles by leadership and example.

Appendix 2 - The Public Constituency

Appendix 3 - Criteria for disqualification

The following paragraphs identify the circumstances where an individual would not be eligible for appointment as a member of the Board of Directors.  These are taken directly from the Trust’s Constitution:

• a person who has been adjudged bankrupt or whose estate has been sequestrated and (in either case) has not been discharged;
• a person who has made a composition or arrangement with, or granted a trust deed for his creditors and has not been discharged in respect of it;
• a person who within the preceding five years has been convicted in the United Kingdom of any offence if a sentence of imprisonment (whether suspended or not) for a period of not less than three months (without the option of a fine) was imposed on him;
• a person whose tenure of office as a chairman or as a member or director of a Health Service Body has been terminated on the grounds that his appointment is not in the interests of public service, for non attendance at meetings, or for non-disclosure of a pecuniary interest;
• a person who has had his name removed from a list maintained under regulations pursuant to sections 91, 106, 123 or 146 of the 2006 Act, or the equivalent lists maintained by Local Health Boards in Wales under the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006, and he has not subsequently had his name included in such a list;
• a person who has within the preceding two years been dismissed, otherwise than by reason of redundancy, by the coming to the end of a fixed term contract, or through ill health, from any paid employment with a Health Service Body;
• a person who is a subject of a disqualification order made under the Company Directors’ Disqualification Act 1986;
• a person who has failed without reasonable cause to fulfil any training requirement established by the Board of Directors;
• a person who has failed to sign and deliver to the Secretary a statement in the form required by the Board of Directors confirming acceptance of the Directors’ Code of Conduct;
• a person who is an immediate family member of a Director or of a Governor;
• a person who is the subject of a Sex Offenders Order and/or his name is included in the Sex Offenders Register;
• a person who by reference to information revealed by a Disclosure & Barring Service check is considered by the Trust to be inappropriate on the grounds that his appointment might adversely affect public confidence in the Trust or otherwise bring the Trust into disrepute;
• a person who is incapable by reason of mental disorder, illness or injury of managing and/or administering his property and/or his affairs;
• a person who is subject to a direction made under Section 142 (Prohibition from Teaching) of the Education Act 2002; or
• The Independent Regulator has exercised its powers to remove him as a Director of the Trust or has suspended him from office or has disqualified him from holding office as a Director of the Trust for a specified period or the Independent Regulator has exercised any of these powers in relation to him on any other occasion whether in relation to the Trust or some other NHS Foundation Trust.