Vacancy -- Vice-Chair for the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust

Vacancy details

Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust
The Trust is a national service, with meetings held across Wales and virtually by Teams. As we return to face to face Board and Board development sessions, these are likely to be primarily in Cardiff however regular regional meetings will also be held to engage with staff, the public and our stakeholders.
£21,408 per annum plus travel and other reasonable expenses within
reasonable limits.
8
month

Function of body

We provide healthcare services for people across Wales, delivering high quality
and patient-led clinical care, wherever and whenever needed. With a staff
compliment numbering just under 4,000, our services include the blue light
emergency ambulance services, non-emergency patient transport service, and
the 111 service. During recent years, WAST has evolved to become one of the
most clinically advanced ambulance services in the world. While solid progress
has been made, society continues to change and the advent of the Covid-19
pandemic has accelerated the Trust’s commitment to now embarking on the
next stage of its journey as it seeks to capitalise on the lessons learned from the
pandemic.


Working with our stakeholders and partners, our ambition now is to
fundamentally change WAST’s role, acting not only as a key provider of urgent
and emergency care across Wales, but also acting as the gateway to care for
the people of Wales, harnessing the 111 service as a first port of call for those in
need of urgent clinical help, advice and treatment, both in and out of hours.


This shift will see a reduction in the number of patients taken to hospital and
an increase in care delivered at, or closer to home, by a range of specialist
practitioners with a variety of clinical skills. Overseeing the continued
development of the ambulance service and harnessing its potential to increase
its role in NHS Wales is one which presents both challenges and opportunities.
There remains much to be done to anchor and consolidate performance in the
organisation’s core 999 service in particular, working with partner health boards
to resolve structural challenges in the system, while not losing sight of the need
to radically alter the way services are provided in future if the service is to keep
pace with both growing demand and public expectation.


To help realise this ambition and accelerate the transformation of the
organisation, WAST is looking to attract candidates from a diverse range
of backgrounds to help us to tailor our offering to our population. WAST
is particularly keen to improve the gender balance on its Board and to
attract members from different ethnic backgrounds. Especially valued is
the contribution that members can make by drawing from their own lived
experiences.

Role description

The WAST Board plays a key role in shaping strategy, vision, purpose
and culture. Led by an independent Chair and comprised of a mixture of
both Executive and Non-Executive Members, the Board has a collective
responsibility for the performance of the Trust.


The Vice-chair will actively support the Chair in developing the performance
and effective governance of the Board, upholding the values of the NHS in
Wales, and promoting the confidence of the public and partners. The Vice-chair
will further strengthen the independent membership capability and act as a
sounding board for the Chair.


The Vice-chair will:


Strategy
Contribute to constructive debate regarding strategic development and
other material and significant issues facing the Trust;
Provide independent judgement and advice on issues of quality, strategy,
vision, performance, resources, and standards of conduct;
Constructively challenge, influence and support the Executive Directors in
developing proposals on such strategies;
Together with other Board members provide leadership within a
framework of prudent and effective controls to ensure the long term
sustainability of the Trust.


Planning
Scrutinise the Trust’s three year medium term plan, ensuring that it
establishes clear objectives to deliver the strategy; encompasses the
necessary quality, workforce, operational and financial resources for the
Trust to meet its objectives; and regularly reviews performance against
the plan.


Performance
Receive, review and apply appropriate scrutiny to quality, performance,
workforce and financial data and information to compare achievements
against targets and, where necessary, support the implementation of
remedial action;
Seek out challenging objectives for improving performance;
Ensure effective control arrangements are in place to secure the financial
viability of the Trust.


Governance
Deputise for the Chair and lead the Board in their absence and perform
additional functions as agreed with the Chair;
Scrutinise the Trust’s commitment to the highest standards of
governance, such that it acts in the interests of the population and
partners it serves and is seen to be accountable for the services provided
and the resources used;
Ensure that internal controls and systems of risk management are robust
and well governed;
Analyse and interpret information provided to the Board, seeking
clarification, further assurances, and triangulation of information wherever
possible;
Ensure the Trust complies with its Standing Orders, policies, and relevant
legislation and regulations.


Culture and Behaviour
Demonstrate the Seven Principles of Public Life (also known as the Nolan
Principles) of selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness,
honesty, and leadership;
Provide strong, effective, and visible leadership internally through Board
and Committees, and externally through connections with a wider range
of stakeholders;
Support a culture that encourages staff, patients, families and the public
to raise concerns that are then appropriately addressed;
Ensure the Trust embraces and promotes equality, diversity and inclusion
for all its population, patients, staff, and stakeholders;
Demonstrate and encourage the highest standards of probity, integrity
and governance, ensuring that the Trust’s governance arrangements
comply with best practice and statutory requirements;
Provide visible compassionate leadership in supporting and promoting a
healthy culture for the health body and reflect this, and the values of the
Trust, in their own behaviour;
Ensure the Trust shows an appreciation of bilingualism and culture, and
a commitment to promoting, embracing and mainstreaming the Welsh
language;
Bring past experience, knowledge and influence to the work of the Board
to promote innovation, curiosity, and to challenge norms.


Engagement
Be expected, with support, to understand the business of the Trust
through active involvement;
Build and maintain close relations between the Trust’s partners and
stakeholder groups to promote the effective operation of the Trust’s
activities;
Participate as a member of the All Wales Vice-chairs Network.


Board Activities
Participate fully in the work of the Board and Committees, including pre and
post-meeting engagement and annual evaluations to support good
governance;
Attend, and where relevant, chair Board Committees and other ad hoc
meetings of the Board;
Attend Board development sessions and other internal and external
training and development opportunities;
In conjunction with the other Board Members, discharge their duties in
relation to the Charitable Fund, of which the Board acts as the corporate
trustee;
Assume and promote the role of a champion in areas of focus which are
either set by the Welsh Government or assigned by the health body;
Undergo an annual personal performance appraisal, participating in
any additional training and development highlighted as a result of the
evaluation process to ensure personal objectives are delivered.

Welsh language skills

The Welsh Government acknowledges the importance of developing and growing bilingual capabilities in public appointments in Wales, and welcomes applications from candidates who demonstrate their capability to work in both English and Welsh.  The following list of language requirements represents an objective assessment by the recruiting body of the Welsh language skills required to undertake the duties of this particular post.
Desirable
Can read simple material on everyday topics with understanding
Can write simple work-related correspondence
Can understand routine work-related conversations
Can hold some work-related conversations

Person specification

Essential Criteria


Which the candidate must be able to demonstrate includes:


A track record of strategic, board level leadership in a public sector,
private or third sector organisation
Commitment to engaging with people who use our services, our staff
and stakeholders
An understanding of and commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion
Ability to work collaboratively and as part of a team to meet common
goals
Ability to apply strategic insight and lived experience for the benefit of
the people who use our services, our staff and stakeholders
Experience in providing independent challenge and scrutiny whilst
maintaining constructive relationships
Excellent communication and/or public speaking skills


Desirable Criteria


Which may include any of the following:


Experience in chairing at Board or Board Committee level
An understanding of risk management and systems of internal control
and assurance
Demonstrable leadership and strategic change management experience
including culture change
Well respected reputation for partnership and collaboration expertise in
the public sector, private or third sector organisation
Experience of working in regulated environments
Specific experience of strategy or general management
An understanding of the challenges facing WAST in delivering high
quality, safe services to patients that are clinically and financially
sustainable

Standards in public life
You will be expected to demonstrate high standards of corporate and personal
conduct. All successful candidates will be asked to subscribe to the Code of
Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies.

Interview dates

14 November 2022
21 November 2022

Closing date

07/10/2022, 16:00

Additional information

How to apply

To apply for this role, click on the ‘Apply’ button below. The first time you apply for a post, you will need to complete a registration form for the Welsh Government’s online application system.  You will only need to register once, and you will be able to keep yourself updated on the progress of your application, and any other applications you make, via your registered account.

Once you’ve registered, you’ll be able to access the application form.  To apply you will need to submit two supporting documents. The first, a document outlining how your knowledge, skills and experiences meet the criteria for the role as outlined in the information for candidates.  This document should be no more than 2 sides of A4.  Your application may be rejected if you exceed this limit.  The second document is a full, up to date CV.  The two documents should be uploaded to the ‘Reasons for applying’ section of the online application form.

In your application, you will also be asked to provide details of any activities which have helped you to develop skills that would be useful in a public appointment role, and list the organisations for which you undertook these activities.  We also need to know about any political activity that you’ve undertaken over the last 5 years. 

It is recommended that you register for an account and access the application form as soon as possible so that you see how the application form is structured, before starting to prepare your evidence.  You don’t have to complete the application form all in one go.  You can save your responses, and log in and out as required, until you’re ready to submit – just follow the guidance in the application form.

If you’d like to apply for this opportunity in Welsh, please use the ‘Newid Iaith / Change Language’ link at the top of this page, to take you to the Welsh version of this advert, from which you can apply in Welsh.

If you need any further assistance in applying for this role, please contact the Welsh Government’s Public Appointments Team on  PublicAppointments@gov.wales.

For further information about Public Appointments in Wales, please visit www.gov.wales/publicappointments

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This vacancy is closed to applications.