County Durham and Darlington NHS FT - Chair

Closing Date: 9am on Monday 29^th June 2026

About the organisation

The Trust Board plays a central role in shaping the strategy, vision, and purpose of the Trust. The Board is collectively responsible for the performance of the organisation, holding it to account for the delivery of strategy and ensuring value for money.   The Chair leads the Board in fostering a culture of learning, continuous improvement, and compassionate leadership, with a particular focus on quality, safety, access, and patient experience.   They will drive change in the Board while ensuring the right balance between strategic and operational oversight.

About the role

As Chair, you will also lead the Council of Governors, ensuring it works effectively with the Board to shape the Trust’s future strategy and act as a key link between the Trust, its staff, and the communities we serve. You will be responsible for building confidence in the quality and safety of our services, ensuring resources are used efficiently, and that public money is spent fairly and effectively

As an experienced Chair, you will have a duty to uphold the highest standards of integrity and probity and to foster good relations in the boardroom. The Trust Chair will demonstrate leadership to NHS England, the ICB and other stakeholders and effective governance and compliance, and the meeting of performance targets required by the Trust and other external partners such as commissioners of services, NHS England, the Care Quality Commission and other statutory bodies. As Chair, you will also provide leadership and guidance to the Chief Executive Officer and the Board and act as a key link between the directors and the Council of Governors.

The Chair will ensure that the Board acts in the best interests of our people, service users, patients, our communities and the wider public.

The successful candidate will need to be a highly experienced Chair who is able to demonstrate significant Board leadership experience of organisations in recovery and improvement. An understanding of, and experience in, NHS governance and regulation is also essential. In addition, they will have the credibility to lead a unitary Board and to work collaboratively both within and beyond the Trust.

Timetable

• Closing date for applications: 9am Monday 29^th June 2026

• Stakeholder panels & Interviews: w/c 20^th July

Committment and Remuneration

• £55,000 to £63,000 per annum depending on the candidate

• Expected time commitment of up to 3 days per week

To Apply

For further information or for a confidential discussion, and details of how to apply, please contact Emily Smith or Robin Staveley of GatenbySanderson via emily.smith@gatenbysanderson.com.

Link: https://www.gatenbysanderson.com/job/GSe133591/Chair/