Board Member

What will you be doing?

We need the Trustee to help steer Local Voice through a period of strategic transition and financial change ahead of national Healthwatch reform in 2027.

The Trustee will contribute to Board-level oversight of financial sustainability, risk management and long-term strategic direction. Depending on experience, they will sit on either the Finance, Personnel and Resources (FPR) Committee or support strategic development discussions at Board level.

Over the next two years, the Trustee will play a key role in:

Providing robust scrutiny of financial performance, reserves and forecasts
Supporting income diversification planning
Overseeing risk during sector reform
Constructively challenging and supporting the executive team
Contributing to clear, evidence-based strategic decisions

The Board is skills-based and collaborative, with a strong focus on disciplined governance and analytical decision-making. We are seeking a Trustee who can engage confidently in strategic debate and help ensure that major decisions taken during this period strengthen the organisation’s long-term resilience.

This role is particularly important because the decisions made now will shape Local Voice’s structure, funding model and influence beyond 2027. The Trustee’s contribution will directly support the organisation to remain credible, financially sustainable and impactful during a time of national change.

Time commitment is approximately one day per month, including six Board meetings annually and participation in one committee.

What are we looking for?

We are seeking a Trustee who can strengthen the Board’s strategic oversight during a period of organisational transition.

The most important qualities are sound judgement, analytical thinking and the confidence to provide constructive challenge while working collaboratively within a Board environment. We value Trustees who can look beyond short-term pressures and contribute to long-term sustainability planning.

We would particularly welcome experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Strategic finance, financial management or audit
• Oversight of reserves and financial risk
• Business development, commissioning or contract management
• Income diversification and sustainability planning
• Operating within regulated or public sector environments

Experience of working with health, social care or commissioning systems would be valuable, but is not essential. We are open to first-time trustees who bring relevant senior professional expertise and are ready to apply it at Board level.

The ideal Trustee will:

• Be comfortable scrutinising financial and strategic information
• Be able to interpret risk and assess long-term implications
• Offer balanced, proportionate challenge
• Communicate clearly and respectfully
• Demonstrate awareness of equality and health inequality considerations
• Understand the importance of governance boundaries and collective responsibility

We are also keen to hear from individuals with lived experience of health and care services, particularly where this is combined with professional expertise relevant to Board oversight.

Above all, we are looking for someone who is motivated by strengthening organisational resilience and ensuring that community insight continues to influence health and care systems during a time of national change.

What difference will you make?

This role will help secure Local Voice’s long-term sustainability at a critical point in its development. With national Healthwatch reform approaching in 2027, the organisation must strengthen financial resilience and adapt its funding model while protecting its mission.

By contributing strategic oversight, financial scrutiny and informed challenge at Board level, the Trustee will help ensure that income diversification plans are robust, risks are managed effectively and reserves remain protected. Their involvement will support disciplined decision-making during a period of uncertainty.

The impact of this role goes beyond governance. Strong Board leadership will enable Local Voice to remain credible with commissioners and partners, maintain independence, and continue influencing how health and care services are designed and improved.

Ultimately, this Trustee will help ensure that community insight continues to shape real-world decisions in health and care, protecting the organisation’s ability to reduce inequalities and strengthen the voice of local people during a time of national change.

Anything else...

Six Board meetings annually plus one committee. Preparation time required. Additional involvement may be needed during key strategic decisions or sector reform milestones.