Job Description

National Voices do things differently. We are a small team that punches above its weight in influencing policy for and with people who rely on health and care services, and on behalf of our 180 member organisations.

National Voices will be welcoming five trustees onto our committed and friendly board this year. The Board appoints independent trustees, who can and should come from a wide range of backgrounds and walks of life, and our membership elects member trustees, to ensure that all our work is grounded in the insight, practice and ambitions of the organisations who make up our membership and work directly with people and communities.

Our existing board of trustees has experience of working in the voluntary and community sector, in policy organisations and regulators, and in the health system. Their backgrounds reflect a degree of diversity – not all of it visible – in terms of ethnicity, migration, education, sexual orientation and experience of ill health and disability. But we have agreed that we need to strengthen our diversity, skills and experience in these key areas:

• People from Black or other racialised or minoritised communities  
• People working in a clinical role for the NHS (any staff group)  
• People with a finance background (not necessarily accountancy, but an ability to handle budgets and accounts acquired in any sector – private, public, voluntary)  
• People with substantial experience of living with ill health or disability – everyone has some experience of using health and care services, but some people need those services to work much better in order to have a good quality of life than others.

We are committed to this round of recruitment leading to a more diverse board, reflective of the communities we serve and knowledgeable about the lives lived by people from all walks of life. We are keen to hear from people who might not have previously considered joining a board, and will support people to acquire new skills. We do not need people to meet all of the requirements of the person specification. 

We are looking someone who is honest, with integrity and a commitment to National Voices and its objectives. You must have an understanding and acceptance of the legal responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship (training on these aspects will be provided if necessary), and a willingness to devote time and effort to your duties as a trustee. It’s important that you understand how how inequalities and discrimination shape health and service use, and have a commitment to reduce inequalities and disadvantage through everything National Voices does. The ability to probe facts, challenge assumptions and identify the advantages and disadvantages of proposals is imperative, as is the ability to work collaboratively and the ability to communicate effectively with other trustees and with staff.

If this sounds like you, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our website and see our candidate pack for further details on how to apply.

We are holding an event on 16 September at midday where prospective candidates can learn more about the role and put questions to Chair Helen Buckingham and CEO Charlotte Augst.  See our website for details.