The Hospice of St Francis is a charity which helps 2,000 local people and their families, in Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire, to live their precious lives well, through improving symptoms, achieving personal goals and helping them to feel safe.

Defined by each person’s need, the organisation's free care for people managing, or recovering from, serious illness has many forms – care at the Hospice, at Home, or in Health and Wellbeing Centre which offers courses, workshops, clinics and therapies.

Based in beautiful surroundings just outside Berkhamsted, the charity is also there for family, friends and carers. The Hospice of St Francis offers advice for those worried about a loved one which could mean recommending group activities, supporting children through a close relative’s illness or providing practical support and advice when someone special is no longer here.

Graded outstanding in its last Care Quality Commission inspection (June 2016), The Hospice of St Francis supports a person or family unit for however long they are needed. It is one of the 25% of hospices rated as Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission. Since 2021, organisations regulated by the CQC are required to submit information about quality, safety and effectiveness. The CQC remain satisfied that the Hospice of St Francis complies with the standard awarded in 2016. This means that 2023 is the 8th year in which the organisation has retained its Outstanding rating. 

One family member of a patient recently commented, “We were overwhelmed by the generosity of love that we received from the moment Mum was admitted and after she passed away.”

Working together as a Board, the Trustees' duties are to:

• Contribute to developing and agreeing a strategy to ensure that The Hospice of St Francis achieves its stated objects (purposes), as defined in the memorandum and articles of association
• Ensure best use of charitable assets, including the proper investment of charity funds
• Ensure processes are in place to oversee implementation of the agreed strategy
• Safeguard the good name and values of The Hospice of St Francis
• Ensure that appropriate policies and procedures are in place as needed for the effective and efficient administration of the Hospice
• Ensure the financial stability of the organisation
• Work with the Executive team, providing advice and developmental support as required
• Use own skills, knowledge or experience to help the Board make well informed decisions

The Hospice of St Francis seeks to appoint two new Trustees to the Board. Successful candidates will bring a demonstrable passion for the work and mission of The Hospice of St Francis. The Board is highly collegiate, and the new Trustees should seek to contribute to that environment and collaborative style.

Candidates will be able to speak to one of the following backgrounds in their own experience:

• Accounting & Audit: The successful candidate will bring an accounting qualification, and significant senior-level experience in applying the relevant financial concepts. This will ideally have been gained as a Financial Director, CFO, or Audit Partner. Some previous exposure to the UK charity sector is also welcome but not essential, particularly growing diverse revenue streams. 
• Business & Commercial expertise: Candidates could bring a broad range of experience to this profile, with an emphasis on commercial leadership experience at a significant organisation at main-board level, as an Executive or Non-Executive Director, gained in the commercial, public or not-for-profit sectors. Individuals will be highly strategic and growth-oriented. Those with previous executive experience would be particularly competitive. 

Candidates selected should have the potential to be considered for one of the leadership roles on the Board in due course.

Across both roles, the Board is open to applications from candidates without previous non-executive experience, as long as they understand the difference between executive and non-executive engagement, as well as have an appreciation of governance and risk.

The full Board of Trustees can be viewed here. 

This role is unremunerated but reasonable, pre-agreed, travel expenses will be reimbursed. Trustees are also expected to be available for ad hoc consultation and input on a range of issues between meetings, usually via email, or online meetings where discussion is needed. The appointment is for an initial three year term which can be renewed for a further three years. 

Time Commitment

The total time commitment is approximately 11-15 days per year (Four Board meetings + five Committee meetings + two strategy days + four potential sub-committee meetings + ad hoc preparatory work). Meetings will be either held virtually or in person, and strategy meetings can be held on weekends.