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An incredibly unique and exciting opportunity to become the Finance Trustee for the inaugural Board of Trustees of Southampton Hospitals Charity, which was recently converted into an independent Charity with a mission to raise and provide funds to support world-class healthcare for the local community of Southampton and beyond.

• Location: Southampton
• Closing date: Rolling applications

Southampton Hospitals Charity works to improve the care and services provided by University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (UHS). UHS provides services to the 1.9 million people living across Hampshire and specialist services to more than 3.7 million people in central southern England and the Channel Islands, covering neurosciences, respiratory medicine, cancer, cardiovascular, obstetrics and children’s services. The Trust runs services from six hospitals and in its last CQC inspection was rated as ‘Good’.

As UHS’ official charity, our mission is to raise funds to support world-class healthcare at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, and we work to ensure that donations have a real impact for patients, staff, and families. After more than 25 years as an unincorporated charitable trust with UHS as our corporate trustee, we recently became an independent charitable company to be better placed to grow our reach and deliver for our beneficiaries.

The average annual income of the Charity is between £3m to £4m, and our ambition is to grow this significantly in the years to come. We are in the process of developing a strategy for the new charity and are working with all our key stakeholders to set out a new vision for the Charity and its work.

Southampton Hospitals Charity has recently appointed a Chair and three trustees, and they are now seeking a Finance Trustee to join them.

The Board of Trustees is responsible for developing the Board and governance, setting, reviewing and maintaining the strategic direction of the Charity and working with the Chief Executive and senior leadership team to hold them accountable for ensuring the organisation is meeting its objectives and vision. Trustees are responsible for ensuring that the Charity operates within the legal requirements for charitable companies, fulfilling all statutory duties.

The Charity is now looking to add to the Board and is seeking a financially qualified individual who brings substantial financial experience to help SHC grow and develop.

The new trustee will have a background in working at a strategic finance level and will understand the needs of a growing and ambitious charitable organisation. They will challenge the Charity to be as financially efficient and effective as possible, being a constructive voice on the Board and supporting financially informed decision-making.

The Charity needs someone who has a financial qualification and has served at a senior level within an organisation such as a Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Someone with strong governance skills, a passion for Southampton Hospitals Charity and their work, and the ability to support the Charity with local networks.

Main responsibilities of the role:

• Take responsibility with the rest of the Board for governance of the organisation.
• Ensure that all of Southampton Hospitals Charity’s activities further the interests of our beneficiaries and are in line with our charitable objectives.
• Ensure effective and productive relationships exist between the Board and all partners and stakeholders.
• Attend board meetings and, in conjunction with other members, make decisions on strategy, policy, financing, and monitoring of Southampton Hospitals Charity.
• Ongoing support of, and liaison with, the Chief Executive.
• Participate in arrangements to appraise the performance of the Chief Executive and to determine the remuneration of the Chief Executive and other senior staff.
• Proactively engage with the activities of the Charity and its beneficiaries, the patients, and staff of University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust.
• Undertake formal trustee induction and refresher training when required.

Knowledge and experience

Southampton Hospitals Charity invites applications from candidates with strong professional experience and skills gained in leadership roles in the following areas:

• Senior financial leadership, ideally multi-sector.
• Understanding of board-level financial strategy.
• Experience in auditing and managing financial risk.

Skills, abilities, and personal qualities:

• Able to take a strategic approach in contributing towards the creation and direction of the Charity’s objectives and business plans.
• A strong and effective communicator who can promote the work of the Charity to internal and external audiences.
• Curious, with a readiness to probe, challenge and enquire.
• The ability to uphold good governance by observing the duties and legal and regulatory responsibilities expected of trustees.
• Willing to speak out on issues and to accept personal accountability.
• Clear and visible personal integrity and a deep commitment to the objectives of Southampton Hospitals Charity.

The initial term of office is for three years. Trustees shall be eligible for re-appointment by the Trustees for two further terms of three years.

Remuneration

This role is offered on a voluntary basis with reasonable expenses incurred during the role reimbursed by the Charity.

Time commitment and location

The role requires the equivalent of around 1 day per month. The Board of Trustees will meet quarterly, in person in Southampton. There will be a requirement to attend relevant board sub-committees as required.

For further information about the role, or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultants at Peridot Partners:

If you would like to know more about this role please contact Marie McQuade.