Job summary
- Main area
- Administration
- Grade
- Ad Hoc
- Contract
- Fixed term: 3 years (Non - Exec Director. 3 years contract, 4 days a month.)
- Hours
- Part time - 7.5 hours per week (1 day a month)
- Job ref
- 279-8116560-JUN-26
- Employer
- University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Worthing
- Town
- Worthing
- Salary
- £13,000 £13,000 for approximately 1 day a month
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 30/07/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Non Executive Director - Clinical
Ad Hoc
About our Trust
At UHSussex we’re proud to be at the heart of the NHS. As one of the UK’s largest acute trusts, we’re a leading example of the excellence, the ambition and the values that have embodied the NHS for over 70 years.
Our hard-working, talented and dedicated people work together towards a common goal – to deliver Excellent Care Everywhere for our patients, our people and our communities. Whatever your role here at UHSussex you will play a part in driving us forwards and in improving the lives of patients across Sussex.
At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us deliver Excellent Care Everywhere. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of staff networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 3) and a Veteran Aware Trust.
We value compassion, inclusion and respect as our core values. We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our wellbeing programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.
As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.
As part of our commitment to access for all, please see the different ways you can access the application form: https://apps.trac.jobs/accessibility?_ts=1
We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.
Job overview
To Apply: Please email CV and Covering Letter to [email protected]
Interviews to be held: September 2026
The Non-Executive Director (Clinical) is a key member of the Trust Board at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, providing strategic leadership, independent oversight, and objective challenge to support the delivery of high-quality, safe, and effective care.
As a voting member of the Board, the post holder shares corporate responsibility for ensuring the Trust operates efficiently, economically, and in line with statutory and regulatory requirements.
Bringing senior clinical expertise and an understanding of patient and community needs, the role focuses on shaping long-term strategy and strengthening governance, while offering an external, impartial perspective that is removed from the day-to-day operational management of the organisation.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will work collaboratively with fellow Board members to provide leadership and ensure the Trust’s strategic direction is ambitious, patient-centred, and aligned to organisational priorities.
Core responsibilities include:
- Maintaining Board-level focus on quality
- Patient safety, and experience
- Contributing to the development and delivery of strategy
- Monitoring organisational and Executive performance to ensure robust accountability and high standards of reporting.
The role involves supporting the development of a transparent, inclusive, and values-led Board culture, participating in Board committees (and chairing the Trust’s Quality Committee), and ensuring effective clinical governance, quality improvement, and risk management processes are in place.
The Clinical NED will also champion continuous improvement, equality, and inclusion, while upholding the Nolan Principles of Public Life and the Trust’s values.
Working for our organisation
At UHSussex (UHSx), diversity is our strength, & we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness & experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, & can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) & a Veteran Aware Trust.
We treat our patients & staff with the same compassion & empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above & beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our candidate information pack & wellbeing programme, for staff which is extensive & designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.
As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching & training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us & throughout your career we will help you to grow & develop. We hope that in choosing UHSx you are choosing a long & happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make & feel valued for all that you do.
We look forward to receiving your application & the start of your journey with UHSx.
Candidate Information Pack: https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/resources/candidate-information-pack/
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The Non-Executive Director will engage with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders, including the Trust Chair, Executive Directors, Governors, system partners, and community organisations, often addressing complex, sensitive, and confidential matters.
The role requires the ability to analyse complex information, provide constructive challenge, and contribute to balanced decision-making at Board level. The post holder will attend and actively contribute to Board and committee meetings, support governance assurance, and may participate in additional activities such as consultant appointment panels or strategic working groups.
A strong understanding of NHS systems, quality governance, and improvement methodologies is essential, alongside the ability to influence at senior level and promote patient and public involvement.
The role carries a commitment of approximately four days per month and is offered on a three-year term, with a focus on ongoing development, adherence to information governance standards, and maintaining the highest standards of integrity, confidentiality, and professional conduct.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Having held a registered medical professional designation
- Developed a good level of professional expertise and knowledge within the area of quality improvement
Experience
Essential criteria
- Past senior clinical experience sufficient to be able to be a productive member of Board and the patient and quality committee
- Able to establish credibility and command respect from clinicians, stakeholders, partners, and especially patients, healthcare professionals and service providers
- Understanding of the NHS quality and safety regimes and the requirements these place on the FT
- Demonstrable understanding of the local arrangements for listening and responding to the voices of patients, carers and patient organisations. You should also have an understanding of effective involvement and engagement techniques and its application in practice
- Have a desire to ensure the Trust is successfully involving patients, carers and the public in the work of a public sector organisation
Desirable criteria
- Understanding of how to build corporate accountability and social processes
Leadership
Essential criteria
- Capability to understand and analyse complex issues, drawing on the breadth of data that needs to inform Board deliberations and decision-making, and the wisdom to ensure that it is used ethically to balance competing priorities and make difficult decisions.
Desirable criteria
- A general understanding of health and an appreciation of the broad social, political and economic trends influencing it.
Governance and Assurance
Essential criteria
- Knowledge of quality governance, including risk management.
- A general understanding of good governance and of the difference between governance and management.
- The confidence to question information and explanations supplied by others, who may be experts in their field
Working with Others
Essential criteria
- Strong capabilities to act as an ambassador on behalf of the Trust;
Desirable criteria
- Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary environment.
- Ability to engage with and influence with a range of stakeholders including public, carers, voluntary organisations, Health professionals, the local authority and ICB lay members
Personal Attributes
Essential criteria
- The ability to influence and persuade others articulating a balanced, not personal, view and to engage in constructive debate without being adversarial or losing respect and goodwill to accept collective responsibility and maintain confidentiality on issues raised
- Be able to command respect and trust of colleagues;
- The ability to demonstrate how your skills and abilities can actively contribute to the work of the Trust Board and how this will enable you to participate effectively as a team member.
- Be able and willing to spend time preparing for meetings and have demonstrable experience of reading and analyzing complex papers and weighing evidence
- Demonstration of adherence to the Nolan Principles of conduct in public life (appendix 1)
- Live within the local community OR be able to demonstrate how you are otherwise able to bring that perspective to the Trust Board
- Be able to demonstrate that you share and champion the values of the Board
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Glen Palethorpe
- Job title
- Company Secretary
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01903 205111
- Additional information
For an informal chat about the role, please contact:
Glen Palethorpe
Company SecretaryEmail: [email protected]
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