Job summary
The Vacancy
Helen & Douglas House is the worlds first Childrens Hospice. Our hospice is based on our original site in East Oxford, and we provide palliative, end of life and hospice services to children with life-shortening conditions and their families across the Thames Valley through a combination of inhouse, community and outreach, and hospital in-reach service delivery.
We are governed by a Board of Trustees responsible for leadership, strategic oversight, and ensuring that the organisation delivers its mission. Helen & Douglas House is registered as a company limited by guarantee and as a charity. Trustees serve as company directors and charity trustees, upholding all legal and statutory obligations.
We operate within a regulated environment as charitable providers of healthcare services, and as such Trustees have clearly defined accountabilities within this context to ensure safe, high-quality care.
This is a voluntary position as a trustee.
Main duties of the job
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Governance
Shape and approve the charitys strategic direction, priorities, and annual plan in line with its Memorandum & Articles of Association.
Ensure compliance with charity and company law, the governing document, safeguarding regulations, and professional standards.
Support transparent and effective oversight through Board and Committee participation.
Financial Oversight
Confirm the charitys financial stability by reviewing budgets, accounts, and reserves, balancing current service needs with long-term sustainability.
Uphold fiduciary duty in managing assets, investments, risks, and financial controls.
Service Quality & Risk Management
Oversee service quality, regulatory compliance (e.g., CQC), and safeguarding standards.
Monitor performance via KPIs, quality accounts, and strategic risk registers.
Executive Leadership & Relationship
Appoint and support the Chief Executive, regularly reviewing performance.
Maintain a productive relationship with leadership, offering guidance rooted in your expertise.
Advocacy & Stakeholder Engagement
Serve as an ambassador - fostering the charitys reputation and engaging networks to broaden support, fundraising, and impact.
Represent Helen & Douglas House at public functions, events, and strategic partnerships.
Board Development & Succession
About us
Helen & Douglas House is a registered hospice charity based in Oxford, providing palliative, respite, end-of-life and bereavement care to life-limited children and their families.
We foster a climate where team members feel able to openly question, debate and appropriately challenge their own and the practice of others; as such, we welcome new ideas and strive to constantly improve our delivery of care to our patients.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Time Commitment & Term
Equivalent of 12 working days per year at a minimum, to read papers, to attend board meetings (quarterly typically 3 hours), to attend subcommittees (quarterly typically 2 hours) and additional strategy sessions as required.
All Trustees are required to attend at least 75% of board meetings annually and 75% of subcommittees.
Participation in at least one Board sub-committee or working group.
Engagement in 12 public-facing or community outreach events per year.
The standard Trustee term is three years, with possible reappointment for two further terms, as set by governing documents.
Eligibility & Safeguards
Trustees must be at least 16 years old, not disqualified by law (e.g., no unspent criminal convictions or bankruptcy), and not removed from prior trusteeship for misconduct.
Enhanced DBS check required; alignment with HMRCs Fit and Proper Person criteria.
Remuneration
This post is un-remunerated however essential travel and subsistence expenses are payable on completion of the organisations expenses form.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Time Commitment & Term
Equivalent of 12 working days per year at a minimum, to read papers, to attend board meetings (quarterly typically 3 hours), to attend subcommittees (quarterly typically 2 hours) and additional strategy sessions as required.
All Trustees are required to attend at least 75% of board meetings annually and 75% of subcommittees.
Participation in at least one Board sub-committee or working group.
Engagement in 12 public-facing or community outreach events per year.
The standard Trustee term is three years, with possible reappointment for two further terms, as set by governing documents.
Eligibility & Safeguards
Trustees must be at least 16 years old, not disqualified by law (e.g., no unspent criminal convictions or bankruptcy), and not removed from prior trusteeship for misconduct.
Enhanced DBS check required; alignment with HMRCs Fit and Proper Person criteria.
Remuneration
This post is un-remunerated however essential travel and subsistence expenses are payable on completion of the organisations expenses form.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Current valid registration with Nursing & Midwifery Council is desirable.
Experience
Essential
- Evidencable recent experience in a Senior Nursing role, preferably involving children, palliative care, community care or other clinical experience relevant to our beneficiaries.
- Demonstrable senior experience of operating compliantly within an environment regulated by the Care Quality Commission.
- Evidencable experience of developing a clinical service/s.
Additional Criteria
Essential
- Demonstrable understanding of appropriate and effective governance structures and processes within a clinical service provider organisation.
- Evidencable current continuing professional development and demonstrable knowledge of latest regulation and compliance requirements within the healthcare settings that the charity operates.
- Knowledge and understanding of Information Governance within a healthcare setting, particularly the management of patient data.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Current valid registration with Nursing & Midwifery Council is desirable.
Experience
Essential
- Evidencable recent experience in a Senior Nursing role, preferably involving children, palliative care, community care or other clinical experience relevant to our beneficiaries.
- Demonstrable senior experience of operating compliantly within an environment regulated by the Care Quality Commission.
- Evidencable experience of developing a clinical service/s.
Additional Criteria
Essential
- Demonstrable understanding of appropriate and effective governance structures and processes within a clinical service provider organisation.
- Evidencable current continuing professional development and demonstrable knowledge of latest regulation and compliance requirements within the healthcare settings that the charity operates.
- Knowledge and understanding of Information Governance within a healthcare setting, particularly the management of patient data.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
