Overview

Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust is seeking two new Non-Executive Directors to join our Board when the current post holders step down due to their terms of office coming to a natural end. The recruitment process aims for a successor to take up the two Non-Executive Director roles in December 2025 and April 2026. As there are two vacancies arising as Non-Executive Directors (NEDs), we are specifically looking for one applicant with a Legal or Mental Health background and one with Financial Management experience, to reflect the skills of the outgoing NEDs. Non-Executive Directors generally undertake 3-4 days / month fulfilling the role. Applicants will need to demonstrate how they can commit to the role & the time needed to deliver it.

Closing date: 21st October 2025
Interviews likely to take place either w/c 10th November or w/c 17th November 2025

Main duties of the job

Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust is led by a Board, comprising both Executive and Non-Executive Directors. The Board is collectively responsible for the exercise of powers and for the performance of the organisation to ensure we provide effective, safe high quality and sustainable healthcare services for the people we serve via our 'Better Lives, Together' strategy. The Non-Executive Directors provide oversight, governance and leadership to the Foundation Trust. Non-Executive Directors play a crucial role in bringing an independent perspective to the boardroom in addition to any specific knowledge and skills they may have. They are not involved in the day-to-day running of the Trust but instead provide objective, constructive and independent advice to Board. The role consists of several key functions, which together ensure that the Trust is a successful organisation as contracted by commissioning bodies, as required by statute and in accordance with the standards set by England and the Care Quality Commission. Non-Executive Directors are expected to participate fully as members of Committees of the Board of Directors to which they are appointed and to take the role of Committee Chairs when appointed. Non-Executive Directors will meet periodically with the Chair in the absence of Executive Directors to discuss issues of interest or concern in addition to meetings to consider appraisal and objective setting for the Executive Directors and the Chief Executive.

Working for our organisation

Everything we do is underpinned by our core values:

We Care - We act with respect and empathy, and always value difference
We Listen - We understand people\'s views and respond to their individual needs
We Deliver - We develop and provide excellent services and support our partners

We will consider a variety of flexible working arrangements to enable staff to balance their work and home lives and support staff by offering a fantastic range of benefits including :

• Increase mileage rates for > 3500
• A wide range of health and wellbeing support packages
• A range of internal and external development and learning opportunities
• Plus many more.

We are also proud to pledge our support to the Armed Forces and hold a Bronze Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme. BDCFT is dedicated to environmental and social sustainability by delivering on the commitments within our Green Plan. All staff are actively encouraged and supported to participate in training and to identify and implement sustainable quality improvement across all service areas and activities. The Trust reserves the right to close this position early if a significant number of applications are received.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please read the attached Job description and person specification for more details about this role.

Right to Work in the UK

Applicants should be aware that for any individual who requires a visa to work in the UK, the Trust provides sponsorship for registered healthcare practitioner roles only. This is an essential requirement of the role, and the Trust is unable to offer you a role if you are unable to meet Trust requirements for sponsorship and Home Office requirements for a visa. Prior to your appointment you will be asked to provide confirmation of your right to work and reside in the UK. During your continued employment with the Trust, you have a personal responsibility to notify your manager as soon as possible should there be any changes to your right to work status. Regrettably, if the role is not eligible for sponsorship under the Trust\'s eligibility criteria, the Trust are unable to extend your employment beyond the expiration of your current visa. The Trust is not responsible or liable for ensuring that your employment continues after this period. As a condition of continuous employment, it essential you maintain the legal right to work in the United Kingdom throughout the duration of your employment with Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust (BDCFT). Any change in your right-to-work status, including but not limited to visa expiration, revocation, or denial of renewal, may impact your eligibility for employment with the Trust. It is your responsibility to promptly inform your Line Manager of any changes in your right-to-work status immediately and to provide necessary documentation for verification purposes. Failure to obtain or renew your visa in a timely manner is a breach of employment conditions and will result in termination of your employment. We appreciate your attention to this matter and your commitment to fulfilling this requirement promptly.

Person specification

QUALIFICATIONS & TRAINING
Essential criteria

• Degree level qualification or equivalent experience

EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE
Essential criteria

• Experience and knowledge in Legal or Mental Health
• Experience and knowledge in Finance
• Experience at Board level in an equivalent scale and complex customer or public facing organisation.

Desirable criteria

• Health and care professional experience and knowledge in services, research, or combined settings/fields.

HEALTH & CARE
Essential criteria

• An understanding of the work of the National Health Service nationally, regionally, or locally.

SKILLS & ABILITIES
Essential criteria

• The ability to hold yourself and others to account using a style which is probing and provides constructive challenge

Desirable criteria

• Ability to work professionally at Board level in an industry or nationally regulated or governed environment under public scrutiny.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Essential criteria

• Ability to make a commitment to engage for a sufficient amount of time, which will vary according to demands. (at least 3 days per month)

PERSONAL QUALITIES
Essential criteria

• Commitment to NHS values and principles and those of the Trust.

Please note that the Trust reserves the right to close the vacancy before the closing date if a sufficient number of applications are received. It is in the candidates best interest to apply as soon as possible.

In view of Home Office Immigration Regulations all applicants must state their current immigration status, including expiry dates.

Bradford District Care Trust is an award-winning Trust that provides a range of innovative services that have been recognised as best practice nationally. As a provider of care for people of all ages who have mental and/or community health needs we are dedicated to providing a high-quality service, close to where people live and as much as possible tailored to an individual\'s needs.

The Trust\'s purpose is to create connected communities and help people to feel as healthy as they can be at every point in their lives and our vision is to connect people to the best quality care, when and where they need it and be a national role model as an employer and provide our staff with the best place to work.

Bradford has been awarded the coveted status of UK City of Culture 2025. The year is set to deliver more than 1000 new performances and events including 365 artist commissions, a series of major arts festivals as well as exciting national and international collaborations. Its themes will be rooted in the unique heritage and character of Bradford and will reveal the magic of the district that is held in its people, its ambition, and above all, its potential.

We would welcome applicants with lived experience of providing unpaid care and/or support to a family member or friend with a disability, health condition, frailty, mental health problem, addiction or other health and care needs.

We welcome people from all backgrounds and in particular Bradford District Care Trust is keen to reflect the population we serve, we are currently underrepresented in terms of black and minority ethnic staff. Applications are encouraged from these groups, but it must be stressed that selection will be solely on merit and in accordance with the Trust recruitment policy.

BDCFT is dedicated to environmental and social sustainability by delivering on the commitments within our Green Plan. All staff are actively encouraged and supported to participate in training and to identify and implement sustainable quality improvement across all service areas and activities.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have regular contact with vulnerable people and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Documents to download

• Non-Executive Director Job Description ( PDF , 448.4 KB )
• Candidate Pack ( PDF , 830.1 KB )
• Useful Links ( PDF , 174.2 KB )
• Wellbeing Flyer ( PDF , 4.0 MB )
• Staff Childcare and Carers Support ( PDF , 800.2 KB )
• Organisational Strategy ( PDF , 366.1 KB )
• ID Guidance ( PDF , 486.4 KB )
• How we use your information ( PDF , 30.0 KB )
• Candidate Guide ( PDF , 6.5 MB )