Non-Executive Director

NHS; Carlisle; On-site; GBP 15,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

Cumbria Health is seeking a passionate Non-Executive Director to provide governance oversight and strategic direction, contributing to high-quality healthcare delivery across the region. This integral role will require commitment to NHS values and engagement with the community to tackle unique local challenges.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership or board-level experience required.
• Commitment to NHS values essential.
• Experience in finance, digital transformation, clinical services, HR, or community engagement preferred.

Responsibilities

• Participate actively in Board meetings.
• Provide strategic oversight and ensure accountability.
• Engage with key stakeholders and champion community needs.

Skills

Communication

Decision-making

Strategic Thinking

Networking

Education

Degree level or higher management/leadership qualification or equivalent

Job description

We are seeking a passionate and strategic Non-Executive Director (NED) to join our Board. As a NED, you will contribute to the effective governance of Cumbria Health by offering independent oversight, support, and constructive challenge to the Executive team. You will help shape strategy, monitor performance, and ensure that our organisation continues to deliver high-quality care that meets the needs of the populations we serve.

This is an opportunity to make a tangible impact on healthcare in Cumbria while promoting innovation, equity, and long-term sustainability.

The right candidate for this role will notonly have the experience, skills and aptitudes to add real value to our Boardof Directors, they will also hold personal values closely aligned to those ofthe organisation. They will also be rooted in the communities we serve, with demonstrable understanding of and connection to the unique challenges our Cumbrian population, rurality and health economy presents.

CumbriaHealth placesthe patient, their family and their community at the heart of everything we do.We are a values-driven Social Enterprise organisation, and place great emphasis on inclusivity and the wellbeingand development of our staff, while striving to provide a consistently high-quality service.

In application for this role, please submit your CV and a covering letter demonstrating your suitability and motivation for applying for this role. Applications will close at midnight on Tuesday 8th July 2025.

Main duties of the job

As a Non-Executive Director at Cumbria Health you will:

• Actively participate in Board and relevant Committee meetings, bringing insight, scrutiny, and support;
• Provide independent, strategic oversight and ensure accountability across all areas of the organisation;
• Constructively challenge and support the Executive team to ensure delivery of high-quality, safe, and sustainable services;
• Contribute to setting and monitoring the organisations long-term vision, priorities, and performance;
• Uphold strong governance, financial stewardship, and effective risk management;
• Promote a culture of integrity, transparency, inclusion, and continuous improvement;
• Engage with key stakeholders and champion the needs and voices of the communities we serve.

About us

We are an award-winning Social Enterpriseorganisation; the first out-of-hours organisation in the country to be rated asoutstanding by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). We provide primary healthcare services, both in and out of hours, across Cumbria.

Our service isdesigned to improve health and wellbeing. We support people to keep physicallyand mentally well, to get better when they are ill, and when they cannot fullyrecover, we provide compassionate end-of-life care.

Job responsibilities

Non-Executive Directors provides independent oversight, constructive challenge, and strategic guidance to ensure Cumbria Health delivers high-quality, safe, and sustainable healthcare services. They bring external perspectives, professional expertise, and integrity to the work of the Board and its Committees.

Non-Executive Directors have a responsibility to:

• Support the Chair, Chief Executive and Executive Directors in promoting Cumbria Health Values;
• Support a positive culture throughout the organisation and adopt behaviours in the boardroom and elsewhere that exemplify the Cumbria Health culture;
• Constructively challenge the proposed decisions of the Board of Directors and ensure that appropriate challenge is made in all circumstances;
• Help develop proposals on priorities;
• Help develop proposals on risk mitigation;
• Help develop proposals on values and standards;
• Contribute to the development of strategy.

Non-Executive Directors have a duty to:

• Scrutinise the performance of the Executive team in meeting agreed goals and objectives;
• Satisfy themselves as to the integrity of financial, clinical and other information;
• Satisfy themselves that financial and clinical quality controls and systems of risk management and governance are sound and that they are used;
• Commission and use external advice as necessary;
• Ensure that they receive adequate information in the form that they specify and to monitor the reporting of performance.

Non-Executive Directors are responsible (acting in the appropriate Committees and as otherwise directed) for:

• Determining appropriate levels of remuneration of Executive Directors (Remuneration Committee members);
• Participating in the appraisal of Executive Directors, their fellow Non-Executive Directors and the Chair;
• Participating in the appointment of the Chief Executive;
• Participating in the appointment of other Directors, where nominated;
• Where necessary removing Executive Directors;
• Participating in succession planning for key executive posts.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• No specific qualifications are required for this position.
• Degree level or higher management/leadership qualification or equivalent.
• Commitment to incorporating Equal Opportunities and diversity and inclusion principles in all aspects of work.

Skills and Aptitudes

• Excellent communication, interpersonal and networking skills.
• Excellent organisational and decision-making skills.
• Ability to think strategically.
• Able to observe and respect confidentiality.
• Ability to provide constructive challenge and support.
• Ability to represent Cumbria Health to outside bodies.

Experience

• We welcome applications from individuals with senior leadership or board-level experience and a strong commitment to NHS values.
• Expertise in areas such as finance, digital transformation, clinical services, HR, or community engagement would be an asset.
• We are especially keen to hear from candidates with lived or professional experience relevant to Cumbrias population.

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.

Employer name

Cumbria Health

Address

Cumbria Health

4 Wavell Drive, Rosehill Industrial Estate

4 Wavell Drive, Rosehill Industrial Estate