Chairman of Hillingdon HealthWatch. Recruitment Pack

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1 Chairman of Hillingdon HealthWatch Recruitment Pack

2 HealthWatch Chairman needed Advertisement A new body to oversee health and social care services is being set up to help residents and communities influence and challenge how these are provided. The HealthWatch organisation will take over responsibilities from the existing Hillingdon Local Involvement Network and additional services from the NHS around advice and guidance. The Council will be responsible for setting the organisation up and is looking for someone to chair the Hillingdon HealthWatch Board. The role will include leading and developing HealthWatch as an independent organisation, setting the strategic plan and direction and introducing strong governance to enable Hillingdon HealthWatch to represent the views of Hillingdon s residents. HealthWatch would have its own staff and budget. The role will require drive, energy and enthusiasm and the Chairman of Hillingdon HealthWatch will have a seat on the Hillingdon Health and Wellbeing board. Councils are expected to set up HealthWatch organisations in their areas by April The aim of Hillingdon HealthWatch will be to give residents and communities a stronger voice to influence and challenge how health and social care services are provided within their locality. It will be the local consumer champion for patients, service users and the public across health and social care. The position is voluntary and unpaid but reasonable expenses may be considered. You can download further information and the job description on the Council website. Applications will require a CV plus letter (no more than two pages) setting out how you meet the job specification. Closing date for applications: Friday 20th July 2012 Contacts: More information on HealthWatch can be found on: Dept Health: search HealthWatch Care Quality Commission: search Healthwatch Hillingdon LINk:

3 Dear Candidate Thank you for expressing your interest in joining HealthWatch in Hillingdon as Chairman of the Board. I hope that the information in this pack will give you a feel for the organisation we are seeking to establish and a sense of what an exciting opportunity this is. The NHS reforms proposed in the White Paper Equity and excellence: Liberating the NHS set out the government s vision for the future of the NHS and its proposals for HealthWatch. It said that the NHS would be genuinely centred on patients and carers and give citizens a greater say in how the NHS is run. One of the main ways the government intends to do this is by creating a new consumer champion HealthWatch. HealthWatch will strengthen the collective voice of local people across both health and social care, influencing Joint Strategic Needs Assessments and joint health and wellbeing strategies on which local commissioning decisions will be based through its seat on the Hillingdon statutory health and wellbeing board. Establishing successful HealthWatch organisations, rooted in communities and responsive to their needs, will mean working differently in many cases. It will also mean working much more collaboratively so that local HealthWatch organisations can operate as part of existing local community networks drawing on information, advice and local knowledge that already exists. We are looking for a dynamic person of the highest calibre to become Chairman of the Board, and who shares our passion for establishing HealthWatch in Hillingdon as the consumer champion for NHS, public health and social care services across Hillingdon. You will need huge amounts of drive and energy and the ability to play a leading role in setting up HealthWatch in Hillingdon. You will need to demonstrate that you have the knowledge, skills and experience to deliver exceptional results through effective leadership at Board level and great team work. The role of Chairman will involve maintaining strong working relationships with Hillingdon Council, as whilst the organisation is expected to operate independently, it will still need to demonstrate that it is successfully delivering in line with any funding arrangements established. HealthWatch Hillingdon will have a far reaching remit in being able to influence, signpost and advise in respect to NHS, public health and social care in conjunction with a wide range of partners and stakeholders. If you want to play an integral leading part in shaping the future of a vital organisation within Hillingdon, with the ambition, and leadership to establish itself as trusted, and publicly accountable HealthWatch, then we d be delighted to hear from you. Yours faithfully Cllr Douglas Mills Cabinet Member for Improvement and Partnerships, and Community Safety On behalf of Hillingdon Council

4 Hillingdon s Approach The appointment of the role of HealthWatch Board is considered a critical step forward for HealthWatch in Hillingdon in helping to lead and shape the development of the organisation as a whole. HealthWatch Hillingdon will also have a place on the new Health and Wellbeing Board providing the organisation with significant opportunity to influence at the highest level. Key priorities for 2012/13 Consultation on form for Health Watch Recruitment of the Chairman of the Board Establishment of governance arrangements (incl. creation of organisation form and structure). Recruitment and development of the HealthWatch Board Development of effective working arrangements with key partners and stakeholders Establishment of a legal form for HealthWatch Hillingdon Management of transition arrangements in conjunction with LINk Implementation of proactive communications and engagement activities

5 Job description Chairman of Hillingdon HealthWatch Board The Role To lead and work with the Board in setting the strategic plan and direction of HealthWatch Hillingdon, in line with the Department of Health and HealthWatch England requirements and agreed objectives, through good governance and effective strategic planning. Responsibilities and tasks Oversee governance of the organisation, working with the Board to ensure: The Board consists of suitably skilled, experienced and diverse members who understand their roles and responsibilities with appropriate arrangements for appraisal, training and development Key issues are discussed by the Board in a timely manner with appropriate information and the Board receives professional advice when needed Robust financial processes and strong governance. Board develops vision, strategies and clear objectives to deliver organisational purpose Board committees that support accountability are properly constituted Visible leadership in developing a positive culture for the organisation and ensures that this reflected and modelled in their own, and in the Board s, behaviour and decision making. Oversee the Performance of the Board, ensuring: The Board s business is conducted efficiently and effectively through a framework of delegation and systems of internal control that also enables the work of HealthWatch to be carried on effectively between meetings of the Board; and Implementation of frameworks for effective financial control and management of risk Chair Board meetings, participating in other committees/groups required ensuring: o All members are given the opportunity to express their views and that appropriate standards of behaviour are maintained in line with an agreed code of conduct; and o Decisions are taken as delegated through the appropriate procedures

6 Focusing on Performance and working with the Board to: Oversee the performance and continuous improvement to drive excellence Lead the Board in scrutinising and reviewing performance and patient, service users, carer and wider community satisfaction with reference to the performance of comparable organisations Oversee the publishing of an Annual Report and Accounts each year, highlighting priorities and progress and key issues Maintaining good relationships with staff Build and maintain effective working relationships with the Local HealthWatch staff team and senior staff within other organisations to ensure that the Board as a whole acts in partnership Provide appropriate management, advice, support and challenge to the Chief Operating Officer Ensure that the Board annually appraises the performance of the Chief Operating Officer and his/her salary Representing HealthWatch Hillingdon Build and maintain good relations with key stakeholders, including members of the public, patients service users, carers, Hillingdon Council, HealthWatch England, the Department of Health, Care Quality Commission, NHS funded providers and Clinical Commissioning Groups. Act as an Ambassador and representative for the organisation, upholding the reputation of HealthWatch Hillingdon and its values Network and promote the achievements, purposes and benefits of HealthWatch Hillingdon Ensure HealthWatch Hillingdon is represented on the Hillingdon Health and Wellbeing Board and plays a proactive role in influencing the policy, planning, commissioning and delivery of health and social care Have a strong commitment to forming strategic partnerships and effective working relationships with other organisations

7 Person specification Skills and Abilities Core competencies Strong communication and interpersonal skills, able to liaise effectively with a wide a range of stakeholders and audiences Strategic thinking, able to analyse complex information, demonstrate clear analytical intellect and guide rational decision making Able to lead the organisation through periods of change Support the values, ethos and objectives of HealthWatch Hillingdon Knowledge and experience Good understanding of health, social care and wellbeing policy issues/challenges facing NHS and Local Authorities Able to demonstrate good awareness and understanding of the current environment in Hillingdon and how local health, and social care and wellbeing services are delivered Experience of, or good understanding of, working with customer focused organisations and a commitment to high standards of customer care Experience of leading an organisation as a member of a management board, committee or senior management team Skills and abilities Strong strategic planning skills, able to develop vision and encourage others to contribute Able to challenge and hold the Board and staff team to account; with a wider vision to raise standards across HealthWatch Hillingdon Skilled at bringing people together to generate a strong team spirit, able to work collaboratively, building consensus and encouraging decision making Personal behaviour and style Passionate about promoting better outcomes in health and social care for all Actively leads by example the professional conduct expected of the Chairman role Proactively demonstrates strong commitment to equality and diversity Listens to others and provides decisive leadership when it is required Supportive management style that motivates people to deliver their best Open to learning and development, for self, staff and the Board Time and commitment to effectively discharge the responsibilities of the post IT literate Preferably lives and or works within Hillingdon Borough.

8 The HealthWatch Board Key responsibilities The Board will have ultimate responsibility for the governance of HealthWatch Hillingdon. The Board s central role is to direct and control the work of the organisation, and determine the strategic direction and policies: to establish and oversee control and risk management arrangement; to ensure that HealthWatch Hillingdon achieves its aims and objectives. Operational Management that is the implementation of Board policies will be delegated to the Chief Operating Officer and the staff team on a day to day basis. The key responsibilities and accountabilities of the Board are: Leadership and direction Define the vision and values of HealthWatch Hillingdon and ensure that these are realised and upheld. Define the direction of the organisation s business, services and activities Ensure clear accountabilities and communication within the organisation and monitor the activities of HealthWatch Hillingdon. Maintain a clear public, patient, service users, carer and wider community focus Create a positive environment which fosters constructive challenge to assumptions about the organisation Review Board composition, performance and succession planning regularly Appoint (and if necessary, remove any existing Board members) Strategic development Review the key strategic aims and determine the strategic objectives and outcomes required Approve an annual operational plan, budgets and expenditure and finance arrangement that support the achievement of the strategic operational plans Establish a framework for approving and regularly reviewing policies and plans to achieve the objectives of the organisation Ensure that all assets are managed efficiently and effectively, and that capacity is properly utilised so as to maintain long term viability and sustainability of HealthWatch Hillingdon and its assets

9 Risk Management Oversee a framework for identification, management and review risks, including agreeing risks Contribute to the review and evaluation of strategic risks and receive regular reports on these emergent risks Ensure that a supportive culture of managing opportunities, threats and uncertainties is embedded throughout the organisation Determine policies and decisions on all matters that might create a significant financial or other risk to HealthWatch Hillingdon, or which raise material matters of principle Internal controls framework Establish and oversee a framework of delegation and systems of internal controls Draw up a schedule of significant matters specifically reserved for the Board s decision Obtain systematic information that provides assurance on the effectiveness of internal controls Performance monitoring Regularly review and monitor performance and quality in relation to plans, budgets, controls and decisions Obtain and consider performance and quality information in relation to public, patient service users and carers feedback and benchmark against comparable organisations and activities Probity and integrity The Board must adhere to the seven principles of public life (the Nolan principles). This includes implementing a transparent and explicit approach to the declaration and handling of conflicts of interest. Good practice here includes the maintenance and publication of a register of interest for all Board members. Board meetings agenda include an opportunity to declare any conflict at the beginning. Approve each years accounts prior to publication Obtain assurance that HealthWatch Hillingdon s affairs are conducted lawfully and in accordance with generally accepted and specific standards of reporting, performance and probity. Ensure that HealthWatch Hillingdon complies with all relevant regulatory and statutory requirements

10 Transparency and openness Review regularly HealthWatch Hillingdon s openness arrangements, taking account of good practice developments Publish annual report and accounts each year, highlighting priorities, progress and key issues Establish policy for communicating with, and involving, public, patients service users, carers, partners and other stakeholders about its work and performance. Representing HealthWatch Hillingdon Promote the organisation at key events and other meetings, and establish constructive, high quality relationships, with current and potential partners and stakeholders, both internal and external as required. Monitor, safeguard and enhance the reputation of HealthWatch Hillingdon Executive and management arrangements Appoint (and if necessary dismiss) the Chief Operating Officer and approve is/her salary, benefits and terms of employment. Ensure there are appropriate policies and systems in place to recruit, develop, retain and remunerate staff Ensure that meetings of the Board (and any committee) are open to the public to attend, promoted in advance and held in appropriate venue. Matters of a confidential nature are noted as such and will be considered as closed meetings of the Board A minimum of four meetings of the Board will be held each year. Set and review the Board s regulatory documents, including voting rights and quorum

11 Recruitment Process We are recruiting for the Chairman via an open recruitment process. Following receipt of applications, interviews will be held and short listed candidates will be notified as soon as possible after the interviews of the outcome. Our intention is to undergo a process of two stages of interviews, the first with a panel consisting of members from the voluntary sector, and representatives from service user s forums. The second panel will include the interim Chairman of LINk the Cabinet Portfolio Holders and Local Authority Representatives. Hillingdon Council will conduct post interview checks and will take up references before an appointment is formally made. How will the recruitment process work? To apply for this role, please send your CV plus a letter which should be no more than two pages setting out how you meet the requirements of the job specification to hrrecruitment@hillingdon.gov.uk On the basis of the written evidence received, those candidates closely matching the person specification will be invited for an interview with a panel of key stakeholders. A shortlist of candidates will then be drawn up and invited to attend a final interview. If you would like to have an informal discussion about the role, then please contact Kevin Byrne, Head of Policy, Performance and Partnerships on or kbyrne2@hillingdon.gov.uk