Barts Health NHS Trust

Few NHS organisations offer the scale, diversity and opportunity of Barts Health. One of the largest NHS trusts in England, we care for more than two million people across north east London, delivering services through The Royal London, St Bartholomew's, Whipps Cross, Newham and Mile End hospitals. With more than 22,000 colleagues and an annual turnover of £2.7 billion, our reach extends from local community and acute services to internationally renowned specialist care, research and innovation.

We have made significant progress in recent years, improving access, cancer performance and patient safety, while achieving financial breakeven in 2025/26. But our ambitions go further. Through our five-year plan, Towards Excellence for All , and our clinical strategy, With you for every moment , we are focused on providing excellent and equitable care, reducing variation, strengthening clinical networks and working more closely with partners across north east London.

We are now looking for an exceptional Non-Executive Director to Chair our Quality Assurance Committee and act as Maternity Safety Champion . This is a particularly influential Board role, providing constructive challenge and assurance around clinical quality, patient safety, outcomes and experience, while ensuring that the voices of patients, families and staff remain central to our decision-making.

You will be clinically qualified , with substantial strategic experience within health or care and strong senior leadership and governance credentials, ideally gained at Board level. You will bring a sophisticated understanding of clinical and quality governance, with the ability to interrogate complex performance information, identify risk and provide constructive challenge while building trusted relationships with clinical and executive colleagues.

Just as importantly, you will share our commitment to continuous improvement, patient voice and tackling health inequalities. We are looking for someone who combines independence of thought and sound judgement with a genuinely collaborative approach, and who understands the opportunities and challenges of serving some of the most diverse communities in the country. Candidates must live in, or have previous experience of working within, north east London.

We actively welcome applications from people from all backgrounds and particularly those currently underrepresented on NHS boards.

Closing date: Monday 7th December 2026
Preliminary interviews: w/c 14th December 2026
Stakeholder activity and final interviews: Thursday 14th January 2027

For a confidential discussion please contact:

Laura Cubillo-Aparicio, Researcher

E: Laura.Cubillo-Aparicio@gatenbysanderson.com

T: +44 (0) 75867 06878

Julia St Clare, Principal Consultant

E: julia.stclare@gatenbysanderson.com

T: +44 (0) 7807 631 564

Melanie Shearer, Partner

E: melanie.shearer@gatenbysanderson.com

T: +44 (0) 7785 616 548

To view the job description and person specification, please scroll to the bottom of the page, tick to agree to the privacy policy, then click 'Continue to full details'.

Documents

Fit and Proper Person Declaration - New.docx

Recruitment Timetable

Closing date
Monday 7th December 2026

Preliminary interviews
w/c 14th December 2026

Final Panel Interview
Thursday 14th January 2027

How to Apply

• Please submit an up to date copy of your CV, along with a Supporting Statement that addresses the criteria set out in the person specification, using examples to demonstrate how you meet the essential requirements.
• A completed fit and proper person form - the template can be downloaded from the same place as the job description.
• Detail any employment or education gaps.
• You should provide the names, positions, organisations, and contact details for your referees, which must be your line managers and include your current and most recent employer. The referees should cover at least two roles as the minimum. Please note, should you be appointed, you will be required to provide references covering your last 6 years of employment as per the new NHS Fit and Proper Person regulations. Where there have been gaps in employment, this six year period will be extended accordingly. Referees will only be contacted for those proceeding to the final stage - we will always gain your permission before we contact referees.
• Let us know any difficulty you may have with the indicative timetable.
• Check that your contact details are correct before you submit.

Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an automated email to confirm that you have applied. If you do not receive this email, please make contact with GatenbySanderson.

Acceptable use of AI

Candidates may use AI tools to support proofreading, editing and presentation. However, all application materials should represent the candidate's own experience, perspectives and leadership thinking. We are seeking original and authentic responses, and applicants should ensure that any submission reflects their own analysis, judgement and vision for the role.