Job summary
The Non-Executive Director (Clinical) is a key member of the Trust Board at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, providing strategic leadership, independent oversight, and objective challenge to support the delivery of high-quality, safe, and effective care.

As a voting member of the Board, the post holder shares corporate responsibility for ensuring the Trust operates efficiently, economically, and in line with statutory and regulatory requirements.

Bringing senior clinical expertise and an understanding of patient and community needs, the role focuses on shaping long-term strategy and strengthening governance, while offering an external, impartial perspective that is removed from the day-to-day operational management of the organisation.

Main duties of the job
The post holder will work collaboratively with fellow Board members to provide leadership and ensure the Trust's strategic direction is ambitious, patient-centred, and aligned to organisational priorities.

Core responsibilities include:

• Maintaining Board-level focus on quality
• Patient safety, and experience
• Contributing to the development and delivery of strategy
• Monitoring organisational and Executive performance to ensure robust accountability and high standards of reporting.

The role involves supporting the development of a transparent, inclusive, and values-led Board culture, participating in Board committees (and chairing the Trust's Quality Committee), and ensuring effective clinical governance, quality improvement, and risk management processes are in place.

The Clinical NED will also champion continuous improvement, equality, and inclusion, while upholding the Nolan Principles of Public Life and the Trust's values.

About us
At UHSussex (UHSx), diversity is our strength, & we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness & experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, & can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) & a Veteran Aware Trust.

We treat our patients & staff with the same compassion & empathy we expect for ourselves. We're here for them when they need us, and we go above & beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our candidate information pack & wellbeing programme, for staff which is extensive & designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.

As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching & training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us & throughout your career we will help you to grow & develop. We hope that in choosing UHSx you are choosing a long & happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make & feel valued for all that you do.

We look forward to receiving your application & the start of your journey with UHSx.

Candidate Information Pack: https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/resources/candidate-information-pack/

Details
Date posted: 02 July 2026
Pay scheme: Other
Salary: £13,000 a year
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 3 years
Working pattern: Part-time
Reference number: 279-8116560-JUN-26
Job locations: Worthing

Job description
The Non-Executive Director will engage with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders, including the Trust Chair, Executive Directors, Governors, system partners, and community organisations, often addressing complex, sensitive, and confidential matters.

The role requires the ability to analyse complex information, provide constructive challenge, and contribute to balanced decision-making at Board level. The post holder will attend and actively contribute to Board and committee meetings, support governance assurance, and may participate in additional activities such as consultant appointment panels or strategic working groups.

A strong understanding of NHS systems, quality governance, and improvement methodologies is essential, alongside the ability to influence at senior level and promote patient and public involvement.

The role carries a commitment of approximately four days per month and is offered on a three-year term, with a focus on ongoing development, adherence to information governance standards, and maintaining the highest standards of integrity, confidentiality, and professional conduct.

Person Specification
Leadership
Essential

• Capability to understand and analyse complex issues, drawing on the breadth of data that needs to inform Board deliberations and decision-making, and the wisdom to ensure that it is used ethically to balance competing priorities and make difficult decisions.

Desirable

• A general understanding of health and an appreciation of the broad social, political and economic trends influencing it.

Governance and Assurance
Essential

• Knowledge of quality governance, including risk management.
• A general understanding of good governance and of the difference between governance and management.
• The confidence to question information and explanations supplied by others, who may be experts in their field

Working with Others
Essential

• Strong capabilities to act as an ambassador on behalf of the Trust;

Desirable

• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary environment.
• Ability to engage with and influence with a range of stakeholders including public, carers, voluntary organisations, Health professionals, the local authority and ICB lay members

Personal Attributes
Essential

• The ability to influence and persuade others articulating a balanced, not personal, view and to engage in constructive debate without being adversarial or losing respect and goodwill to accept collective responsibility and maintain confidentiality on issues raised
• Be able to command respect and trust of colleagues;
• The ability to demonstrate how your skills and abilities can actively contribute to the work of the Trust Board and how this will enable you to participate effectively as a team member.
• Be able and willing to spend time preparing for meetings and have demonstrable experience of reading and analyzing complex papers and weighing evidence
• Demonstration of adherence to the Nolan Principles of conduct in public life (appendix 1)
• Live within the local community OR be able to demonstrate how you are otherwise able to bring that perspective to the Trust Board
• Be able to demonstrate that you share and champion the values of the Board

Qualifications
Essential

• Having held a registered medical professional designation
• Developed a good level of professional expertise and knowledge within the area of quality improvement

Experience
Essential

• Past senior clinical experience sufficient to be able to be a productive member of Board and the patient and quality committee
• Able to establish credibility and command respect from clinicians, stakeholders, partners, and especially patients, healthcare professionals and service providers
• Understanding of the NHS quality and safety regimes and the requirements these place on the FT
• Demonstrable understanding of the local arrangements for listening and responding to the voices of patients, carers and patient organisations. You should also have an understanding of effective involvement and engagement techniques and its application in practice
• Have a desire to ensure the Trust is successfully involving patients, carers and the public in the work of a public sector organisation

Desirable

• Understanding of how to build corporate accountability and social processes

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.

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).