Introduction
The Board Development Programme Delegate is an opportunity for aspirant individuals from a diverse range of backgrounds, both inside and outside of the Trust, to understand what it takes to become an Executive or Non-Executive Director within a large and complex organisation in both the public or private sector.
A voluntary role, the programme lasts for five months, during which time you will be assigned an appropriate mentor, as well as have access to coaching and other supportive resources. Delegates are expected to participate in a number of public and committee meetings and other ‘hands-on’ sessions.
Upon completion, we hope you will have gained the insight, knowledge and confidence to take that next step within your career as a leader.
On this page:
A foreword from our Chair
Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals Trust recognises that our patients and colleagues benefit from having a Board of Directors and senior leadership that mirrors the communities we serve. We therefore aim to be an inclusive employer throughout all levels of the organisation and across all professional and occupational groups.
This successful and trailblazing programme, now within its third cohort, creates an opportunity for aspiring leaders both within and outside of the Trust to gain practical hands-on experience, knowledge and insight into what it takes to be an Executive and Non-Executive director in a large and complex organisation. The learning will support a delegate who is seeking either voluntary or substantive senior roles in the public sector, private and voluntary sectors.
The delegate role is voluntary, and successful candidates will be assigned a an appropriate mentor and given access to other support.
The relationship will be reciprocal, with your experiences and insights helping to broaden the understanding of our senior leaders regarding the challenges certain communities face and how we can provide more opportunities for seldom-heard groups.
Upon completion of the programme, we hope delegates feel able to take meaningful steps towards a senior, Board-level position.
In offering this unique opportunity, we aim to develop a pipeline of local talent, generating excellent future leaders for the benefit of the communities we serve in Doncaster and Bassetlaw.
This approach is designed to reach out to and develop people who are under-represented at the most senior level and on our Board, therefore covering all the protected characteristics, including age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.
As one of the largest employers in the region, we believe this programme will be an enriching journey for the Trust and the delegates.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Suzy Brain England OBE C Dir, Chair of the Board.
Candidacy
First and foremost, we are looking to develop people who are under-represented at the most senior level and on our Board, therefore covering all the protected characteristics, including: Age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.
Additionally, applicants should be in a position, in terms of experience and skills, to be aspiring to be in Director-type roles within approximately two years of the completion of the programme, with the support of this focused development.
We welcome individuals who currently work with the Trust, as well as those from other sectors.
The position is voluntary and therefore will not receive remuneration, with a few hours expected of the candidate each month. Appropriate expenses such as travel will be covered.
If you wish to discuss the opportunity further, contact details can be viewed further down.
In order to be able to apply:
- You must be in a position in terms of skills and experience to be aspiring to be in a Director-type post within two years following completion of the programme, with the support of this focused development.
- Able to demonstrate role modelling of our Trust ‘We Care’ values.
- Able to demonstrate consistent behaviours in line with the ethos of the NHS People Promise.
- Knowledge and experience gained from different industries or sectors.
- Experience of working in senior leadership roles (this could be in a work setting or another setting).
- Integrity and respect for confidentiality.
- Able to demonstrate a commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion.
- Personal insight and self-motivated.
- Commitment to ongoing personal development and learning.
- An interest in health and care and a desire to achieve the best sustainable outcomes for our patients and our communities.
- Able to bring diversity of thought to the Board and contribute effectively to discussions.
Timetable
The programme will run as follows (subject to change):
- Early-March – Shortlisting and interviews.
- Mid-March – Successful delegates confirmed.
- Introduction meeting – Mid-April
- Programme day 1 – Mid-April
- Programme day 2 – Late-April
- Programme day 3 – Early-May
- Programme day 4 – Mid-May
- Programme day 5 – Late-May
- Programme day 6 – June
- Programme day 7 – June
- Programme day 8 – June
- Programme day 9 – July
- Programme day 10 – August
- Programme day 11 – August
- Programme day 12 – September
- Programme day 13 – September
Principles
Delegates will have access to Board in terms of having their voice heard alongside members, participating within the public meeting and relevant committee meetings, as well as access to our emerging Board development programme. For operational reasons, you will not attend confidential meetings of the Board or any specific items identified as confidential in committee meetings.
The programme is designed to provide practical hands-on experience, knowledge, development, and insight to support individuals to be in a strong position to apply for future Board-level roles.
As a Trust, we will commit to identifying a suitable mentor to support individuals throughout this time.
We will provide access to coaching with routes such as the NHS Leadership Academy considered.
Successful delegates will have one-to-one meetings with the Chair as further support. This will include being asked for their reflections of Board and other meetings, to provide two-way learning.
We can provide support and guidance in preparing a CV and supporting statements to apply for Executive and Non-Executive Director roles to help you achieve success following the completion of the programme.
As the focus of the scheme is on learning about working at Board level, the priority is to attend governance and assurance meetings and to undertake appropriate learning and development. Therefore, only a limited amount of time will be spent on visiting areas in our hospitals as part of the orientation (and this aspect will be less relevant for existing colleagues in any event).
Application process
If you are interested in applying, please send an expression of interest, including a brief CV and a covering letter stating why you wish to participate, what you feel you would gain and what you believe you would contribute during this time, to g.portier@nhs.net with the subject heading ‘Board Development Delegate Programme’.
A panel of Board members consisting of the Chair, the Chief Executive and the Chief People Officer will review all expressions of interest and determine which applicants can be taken forward, which can be considered in a future cohort and which are not considered suitable at this time.
A representative from our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion team will also be involved in the process to review expressions of interest.
The deadline for applications is 11.59pm on 1 March. The informal interview date will be mid-March.
About our Trust
Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (DBTH) is one of Yorkshire’s leading acute trusts, serving a population of more than 440,000 across South Yorkshire, North Nottinghamshire and the surrounding areas.
Hosting three main hospital sites and a number of additional services, the Trust is one of only five Teaching Hospitals in Yorkshire and trains 25% of all medical students in the region in addition to 30% of all other healthcare professional students. Employing over 6,500 people, every member of staff contributes to patient care, and has a personal stake in our future successes and achievements.
As we operate a number of sites, you will gain a sense of a large and expansive organisation; however it is very important that our Trust has a great sense of community and identity, with an accessible leadership team and a great sense that each and every member of the team can make the difference.
We are proud that many of those in senior positions within the Trust began their careers here, and we have a large number of long serving team members, with one member of staff recently retiring after 60 years of service, having spent their entire career at the Trust.
It is our goal to give those who join Team DBTH the tools and opportunities in order to grow their career, so whether you spend just one year or fifty with us, it is our pledge to help you Develop, Belong and Thrive, Here.
Our sites
Doncaster Royal Infirmary
Bassetlaw Hospital
Montagu Hospital
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