Six Board meetings a year (approx. duration of each meeting 2.5 hours)
Participation in a sub-committee with 4-6 meetings annually (each approximately 2 hours).
Sub-committee membership is based on your skills knowledge and experience
Term:
Minimum commitment of three years.
St Luke's Hospice Plymouth is seeking
three new
Trustees
who are passionate about supporting their community and helping to shape the future of specialist palliative care in our region.
These are
voluntary
, unpaid roles where you will work collaboratively with the Chair of Trustees, Board, Chief Executive, and the Senior Management Team to help deliver our strategic goals. Together, we aim to provide compassionate, high-quality palliative care for people with life-limiting illnesses, and vital support to their families and carers.
We are particularly interested in hearing from people from the following backgrounds:
Digital expertise:
We welcome applicants with experience in digital strategy and transformation. You will provide strategic oversight and guidance for our digital transformation and offer constructive challenge to our leadership team.
Clinical experience:
We are also seeking two Trusteeswith clinical backgrounds. Applicants should be registered professionals (or have been recently registered) from health or social care backgrounds, which may include - but is not limited to - nursing, medicine, social work, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, dentistry, pharmacy, paramedicine, or other allied health professions.
At St Luke's we are committed to building a more diverse and inclusive Board that reflects the community we serve. We welcome applications from all sectors of the community.
Charity Trustees
The Charities Act 2011 defines charity trustees as the people responsible under the charity's governing document for controlling the administration and management of the Charity. The trustees must be at least 18 years old and are the directors of the charity and company and are known as the Board of Trustees.
If you have the motivation and experience to help us make a difference to people's lives, please send a CV and brief overview outlining your interests and experience to volunteer@stlukes-hospice.org.uk
The closing date for these posts is 12/07/25
For an informal discussion about the roles, contact Carolyn Ford, at cford@stlukes-hospice.org.uk or call 01752 401172.
Please visit www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk to find out more of the services we provide.
ROLE DESCRIPTION
Role Title
:
Trustee (Clinical)
Title
: Trustee
Location
: St Luke's Hospice, Plymouth
Reporting to:
Chair of the Board of Trustees
Trustee Role:
Salary:
Unpaid. Expenses incurred whilst travelling to meetings
Hours
: 6 Board meetings a year (approx. duration of each meeting 2 hours),
attendance to a sub board committee 4-6 meetings per year (approx. duration of each meeting 2 hours). (You will be invited to become a member of sub board based on skills knowledge and experience)
Term for full trustees:
Minimum of 3 years.
Charity Trustees
The Charities Act 2011 defines charity trustees as the people responsible under the charity's governing document for controlling the administration and management of the Charity. The trustees must be at least 16 years old and are the directors of the charity and company and are known as the Board of Trustees.
Serving as a
Clinical Trustee in a hospice
involves governance responsibilities with a strong focus on clinical care, quality, patient safety, and regulatory compliance. Trustees do not typically engage in operational management but ensure that the hospice delivers safe, effective, and compassionate care
General
The Trustees are the members of the Board and are responsible for the governance of the hospice. They must ensure that the hospice;-
a. operates in a manner that enables it to fulfil the objectives set out in the governing document (ie memorandum and articles of association) including the fair expenditure of its income;
b. complies with charitable and company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations;
c. keeps to its Mission Statement and Aims and Strategic Objectives; and
d. upholds its reputation.
Trustees must at all times act in person and together in the best interests of the hospice. Trustees must not delegate the control of the hospice to others and must not pursue personal or sectional interests at the expense of organisational interest. Trustees must declare any conflict of interest.
Main Responsibilities
1. Ensuring that the hospice has a clear vision, mission and strategic direction and is focussed on achieving these.
2. Being responsible for the performance of the hospice and its public image.
3. Ensuring that the organisation operates within the law and regulatory requirements, particularly with regard to the Charities and Companies Acts.
4. Acting as guardian of the hospice's assets, both tangible and intangible and taking due care over their security, maintenance, collection, deployment and proper application.
5. Attending and contributing to Board Meetings, Standing Committees, other committees and working parties as relevant. Attending the AGM and any EGMs and other hospice events such as fundraising events.
6. Maintaining a governance perspective of high standard by ensuring that the Board:
reviews and establishes the hospice's vision, mission, strategic direction, goals and policies.
ensures that the business and operational plans and CEO's objectives and targets support the mission and strategic plan.
takes appropriate professional advice when necessary.
understands and acts upon financial and other monitoring information presented to them, questioning such information when appropriate to progress the planned performance of the hospice.
defines appropriate written delegations of authority.
delegates the implementation of their decisions to the CEO and senior staff.
monitors objectives, targets and key performance indicators (KPIs) on a regular basis and holds the CEO or senior staff team accountable for outcomes; and
reflects on their individual trustee performance.
7. Representing the Board's agreed position publicly on behalf of the hospice.
8. Keeping up to date in broad terms with developments in palliative care and other external matters affecting the hospice and the service it provides.
9. Making an effort to understand the views of stakeholders, meet staff and understand the operation of the hospice.
In addition to the above duties, each trustee should use any specific skills, knowledge or experience they have to help the Board of Trustees reach sound decisions. This may involve scrutinising board papers, leading discussions, focussing on key issues, providing advice and guidance on new initiatives, other issues in which the trustee has special expertise.
4. Core Qualities (CLINICAL)
Knowledge and Skills:
Experience in Health and Social care
Professional background in nursing, medicine, allied health, or similar fields (especially palliative care, oncology or community health)
Understanding of end-of-life care principles, including pain management, symptom control and holistic support (physical, emotional and spiritual)
Knowledge of clinical governance systems - risk management, incident reporting, audit and quality improvement
Personal Qualities:
Empathy with the work and purpose of the Hospice Movement
Strong interpersonal skills, capable of building and developing relationships at all levels and disciplines
Willing to express own opinion
Able to work as part of a team
Be able to analyse information and, when necessary, challenge constructively
Able to maintain confidentiality on sensitive and confidential information
5. Conditions of Appointment:
Unpaid position out of pocket expenses reimbursed only.
ROLE DESCRIPTION
Role Title
:
Trustee (Digital)
Title
: Trustee
Location
: St Luke's Hospice, Plymouth
Reporting to:
Chair of the Board of Trustees
Trustee Role:
Salary:
Unpaid. Expenses incurred whilst travelling to meetings
Hours
: 6 Board meetings a year (approx. duration of each meeting 2 hours),
attendance to a sub board committee 4-6 meetings per year (approx. duration of each meeting 2 hours). (You will be invited to become a member of sub board based on skills knowledge and experience)
Term for full trustees:
Minimum of 3 years.
Charity Trustees
The Charities Act 2011 defines charity trustees as the people responsible under the charity's governing document for controlling the administration and management of the Charity. The trustees must be at least 16 years old and are the directors of the charity and company and are known as the Board of Trustees.
A trustee with a digital background can play a critical role in guiding a hospice through digital transformation while ensuring alignment with its values, mission and patient focussed care. Their role is strategic and advisory - helping the board make informed, future-ready decisions about technology and data.
General
The Trustees are the members of the Board and are responsible for the governance of the hospice. They must ensure that the hospice;
a. operates in a manner that enables it to fulfil the objectives set out in the governing document (ie memorandum and articles of association) including the fair expenditure of its income;
b. complies with charitable and company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations;
c. keeps to its Mission Statement and Aims and Strategic Objectives; and
d. upholds its reputation.
Trustees must at all times act in person and together in the best interests of the hospice. Trustees must not delegate the control of the hospice to others and must not pursue personal or sectional interests at the expense of organisational interest. Trustees must declare any conflict of interest.
Main Responsibilities
1. Ensuring that the hospice has a clear vision, mission and strategic direction and is focussed on achieving these.
2. Being responsible for the performance of the hospice and its public image.
3. Ensuring that the organisation operates within the law and regulatory requirements, particularly with regard to the Charities and Companies Acts.
4. Acting as guardian of the hospice's assets, both tangible and intangible and taking due care over their security, maintenance, collection, deployment and proper application.
5. Attending and contributing to Board Meetings, Standing Committees, other committees and working parties as relevant. Attending the AGM and any EGMs and other hospice events such as fundraising events.
6. Maintaining a governance perspective of high standard by ensuring that the Board:
reviews and establishes the hospice's vision, mission, strategic direction, goals and policies.
ensures that the business and operational plans and CEO's objectives and targets support the mission and strategic plan.
takes appropriate professional advice when necessary.
understands and acts upon financial and other monitoring information presented to them, questioning such information when appropriate to progress the planned performance of the hospice.
defines appropriate written delegations of authority.
delegates the implementation of their decisions to the CEO and senior staff.
monitors objectives, targets and key performance indicators (KPIs) on a regular basis and holds the CEO or senior staff team accountable for outcomes; and
reflects on their individual trustee performance.
7. Representing the Board's agreed position publicly on behalf of the hospice.
8. Keeping up to date in broad terms with developments in palliative care and other external matters affecting the hospice and the service it provides.
9. Making an effort to understand the views of stakeholders, meet staff and
understand the operation of the hospice.
In addition to the above duties, each trustee should use any specific skills, knowledge or experience they have to help the Board of Trustees reach sound decisions. This may involve scrutinising board papers, leading discussions, focussing on key issues, providing advice and guidance on new initiatives, other issues in which the trustee has special expertise.
4. Core Qualities (DIGITAL)
Knowledge and Skills:
Understanding of digital transformation in health, social care or charity settings - how tech can improve patient experience, staff efficiency, governance and accessibility.
Ability to advise on digital strategy development, aligning technology with organisational goals and the unique context of hospice care
Knowledge of emerging trends: cloud computing, AI, digital inclusion, mobile health, telemedicine and data analytics.
Personal Qualities:
Empathy with the work and purpose of the Hospice Movement
Strong interpersonal skills, capable of building and developing relationships at all levels and disciplines
Willing to express own opinion
Able to work as part of a team
Be able to analyse information and, when necessary, challenge constructively
Able to maintain confidentiality on sensitive and confidential information
5. Conditions of Appointment:
Unpaid position out of pocket expenses reimbursed only.
6. Recruitment Process:
Informal discussion about the role of Trustee welcomed by Chief Executive.
Candidates who meet the skills, knowledge and experience we are looking for will be invited to meet George for an initial discussion. Following this discussion potential Trustees will be invited to meet other trustees before attending a Board meeting as an Observer, before any final decision is made.