St Margaret's Hospice Somerset is a dynamic and transformational charity serving the community of Somerset and has been influencing the hospice, health and social care system locally for over 40 years. With a population of 500,000 and approximately 4,800 people accessing its care and services, St Margaret’s is one of the larger hospices in the UK, CQC rated Outstanding, with a turnover of £14m each year. Its mission is to make available compassionate, specialist and end-of-life palliative care by partnering with a joined-up, patient-centred health system. St Margaret’s does this through its exceptional staff and volunteers, driving technological and system innovation, diversifying its income portfolio including a strong fundraising and retail arm and being visionary in future care provision.

St Margaret’s Hospice is a complex organisation, with an in-patient unit at its Taunton base, community and day services running out of both Taunton and Yeovil and across Somerset more widely. St Margaret’s takes a holistic approach to specialist and end-of-life palliative care, supporting patients, families and carers at every stage of patient diagnosis and journey, and does this through a highly professional, talented and compassionate staff and volunteer community. St Margaret’s is known for its bravery, courage, collaboration and vision.

St Margaret’s is an organisation looking to drive system change, to understand and remove barriers to accessing care, and find innovative solutions for sustainable long-term financial security. It is seeking opportunities to attract and develop the workforce for the future, and to shape public health conversations and strategies. It is an organisation which wants to give back to the community it serves, empowered by the engagement of its invaluable volunteer community, and wants to ensure it can continue to care for generations to come.

Please click here to read about the significant impact that the charity has made to people's lives.

As part of the St Margaret's Hospice Somerset growth plan over the next few years, it is now looking to expand its Board of Trustees. The new Trustee will use their specific skillset and relevant experience to help the Board make strategic decisions and expand its reach to continue serving the community of Somerset and influencing the hospice, health and social care system.

The incoming Trustee will have a strong alignment with the vision, mission and values of St Margaret's Hospice Somerset and pro-actively help to work towards its success and growth. In addition to the formal Board meetings, they will be willing to undertake informal engagement with the charity, including providing advice on an ad hoc basis to the management team. The Trustee will be expected to use their specific knowledge and experience to help the Board reach sound decisions; assist the senior leadership team with advice as required; and keep informed about, and support as appropriate, the activities of the organisation.

The charity is looking to appoint a Trustee with senior leadership skills in order to support its strategic plans, especially with regard to fundraising and income generation. The ideal candidate will have enthusiasm and energy, and will be able to advise on building influential relationships with philanthropic decision-makers, chiefly at trusts and foundations. They will be able to act as a sounding board for the Director of Fundraising on introducing potential funders to the executive team, and advocate compellingly on behalf of the charity.

This role is unremunerated and domestic and reasonable travel expenses may be reimbursed. As a Trustee, the appointment is for a four-year term, which can be renewed at the discretion of the Board for a further four years. Time commitment will include quarterly Board and at least three committee meetings a year, an additional strategy meeting as needed and general communication availability. The role can generally be performed flexibly unless an exceptional matter occurs.

St Margaret’s Hospice is based in Somerset. The charity is open to candidates who are not based in Somerset but an association with the county, and / or reasonable distance to be able to spend time in the charity would be desirable. However, if this is not possible, the role can be entirely remote as well. 

St Margaret's Hospice Somerset is committed to widening the diversity of the Board, and would welcome applications from those who can resonate with its vision and values. It is particularly keen to be representative of the communities it supports and to bring experience more broadly from those who want to improve patient-centred care and overcome barriers facing rural communities. Those from under-represented groups are encouraged to apply. All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process and in line with the Equality Act 2010.