Joint Chair
Welcome
Thank you for your interest in the role of joint Chair for Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (DCH) and Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust (DHC).
We are both hugely excited to be creating a joint leadership model that we believe will improve the delivery of care to our local communities. This new role, alongside the recently appointed joint CEO role, will help simplify decision-making, increase integration and improve the quality of care and outcomes for the people we serve.
The new joint Chair will work closely with the joint CEO to lead our two organisations in developing a clear common purpose and innovative solutions for our current challenges with a focus on:
- Preventing ill-health
- Tackling health inequalities
- Integrating physical and mental health more effectively
- Joining up workforce planning and development
We have a long and strong history of partnership working, which was further strengthened during the pandemic. While we are not looking to merge, we believe that this joint appointment is the natural next step, in line with the aspirations of Dorset’s integrated care system, Our Dorset.
This exciting and challenging role offers the opportunity to build on solid foundations and continue to make a real difference to the lives of our communities and our staff. The new leadership model will help accelerate improvements to patient care and outcomes, going beyond site and service boundaries.
Opportunities include:
- Streamlining processes for people with dementia
- Improving access to mental health retreats for people in mental health crisis
- Reducing admissions of frail patients to acute hospitals by improving access to a range of community services
- Giving access to diagnostics closer to home and improving acute pain services
It’s a big job which needs an experienced, visible leader who’ll bring energy, drive and a fresh perspective to the design of our strategic ambitions and priorities working with the boards, councils of governors and executive leadership teams across our two organisations. Your strong track record in leading and delivering a strategic vision and aims and ability to listen, inspire and influence will be central to the way you approach this.
Beyond our two organisations, you’ll also play a leading role in Our Dorset, our well-established and respected integrated care system. Partnership working is in our DNA in Dorset so you’ll be adept at collaboration and comfortable with complexity.
It will be important for you to build relationships and earn the trust and respect of a wide range of stakeholders including our staff, our partners and, most importantly, the people of Dorset.
Put simply, we’re looking for an outstanding Chair who is compassionate, inclusive, creative and committed to improving the health and wellbeing of our people and communities.
This pack provides insight into the role and our two organisations. Please contact our recruitment partners Rhiannon Smith or Jenny Adrian at Hunter Healthcare on 07939 250362 or by email:
Yours sincerely,
The Councils of Governors
Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust