Non Executive DirectorNHS

Job summary

Care Dorset is on a journey of growth, and we need a commercially minded Non-Executive Director who can guide us on that path. For us growth means a strategic shift towards entrepreneurial thinking and activity - and all that entails. Experience of health or social care is beneficial, but not essential.This is a role requiring an annual commitment of 20 days. Consequently, we welcome applications from across the region and more widely.This is a salaried role, contracted for three years with the potential for renewal.

Care Dorset was established in October 2022 as a local authorityowned provider delivering services to adults across a broad range of care models and settings. These include reablement, day opportunities, supported living, extra care, and residential care. Wholly owned by Dorset Council, we operate as a trading company with a clear ambition to innovate and transform services, improving outcomes for the people we support while building a sustainable and commercially successful organisation. The Care Dorset Group comprises Care Dorset Holding Ltd and Care Dorset Ltd. Current provision includes: Five residential care homes offering 231 CQC-registered beds 20 reablement beds across two sites Day services at 12 locations 28 supported living beds across three settings 1 extra care service comprising of 55 flats. In addition, our community reablement service delivers over 1,800 hours of support each week. Care Dorset employs more than 800 colleagues.

Main duties of the job

As a Non-Executive Director, you will provide strategic oversight, independent judgement and constructive challenge, helping ensure strong governance, sustainable growth and high performance. You will support strategy development, encourage innovation and help ensure Care Dorset remains effective and aligned to its values.

We are seeking an individual with strong commercial and strategic experience who can operate confidently at Board level and contribute to effective decision-making. You will bring experience of developing partnerships, identifying opportunities and supporting financial sustainability, alongside an understanding of governance and risk.

Job description

We are looking for an individual who brings strong commercial and strategic expertise, with the confidence to operate effectively at Board level. You will be able to provide constructive challenge while supporting high-quality decision-making and organisational performance. You will have a clear growth mindset, with experience identifying new opportunities, developing partnerships, and strengthening financial sustainability in complex environments. Alongside this, you will understand governance, risk, and performance oversight. Key attributes include: Board-level (or near) experience in a complex organisation. Strong background in commercial strategy, business development, or growth. Experience of financial oversight, investment decisions, and risk management. Ability to challenge and support executive teams constructively. Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills. High integrity, sound judgement, and a collaborative approach. Above all, youll be motivated to use your skills to make a meaningful impact, contributing to a purpose-driven organisation serving local communities

Key responsibilities include :

Strategic Leadership

• Contribute to organisational strategy and priorities.
• Support and challenge Chief Officers on delivery.

Governance & Oversight

• Promote strong governance, ethical practice, financial control and risk management.
• Monitor performance against objectives and KPIs.

Independent Challenge

• Provide objective challenge to executive decisions and performance.
• Bring external insight and expertise to Board discussions.

Risk Management

• Review key risks and ensure effective controls.

Board Effectiveness

• Support a high-performing Board culture.
• Participate in Board and committee meetings.
• Support continuous improvement and Board reviews.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as an ambassador for Care Dorset.
• Promote transparency, accountability and responsible decision-making.

The commitment Term of office 3 years with the possibility to extend for a further 3 years followed by a final year (maximum of 7 years) Time commitment Non-Executive Directors are asked to commit approximately 20 days per annum. This will include attendance at four board meetings per year, a learning day per year, and a strategic planning day. Additionally, the expectation is to visit services and other relevant meetings. Development and induction Training and an induction will be provided and any areas of development will be supported. The Chair undertakes a quarterly review as part of this process. Remuneration The role is remunerated at £8,000 per annum and reasonable expenses will be paid. Location Our meetings are generally held in person at one of our locations in Dorset, typically our bed-based intermediate care setting in Blandford, known as Castleman Plus. Microsoft Teams is sometimes used for extraordinary meetings or when external factors affect our ability to meet (such as weather). Learning and strategic planning days are typically held offsite but in Dorset.

About us

Care Dorsets ethos is rooted in values-led leadership, a commitment to dignity, and a clear focus on supporting adults to lead fuller, more independent lives. It extends beyond service delivery to embedding a consistent culture where values are evident in behaviours, decision-making and relationships at every level of the organisation. Our approach is shaped by five core values: being people-focused, genuine, acting with integrity, encouraging development, and working collaboratively. These principles guide how we engage with colleagues, the people we support, and our partners, and underpin both the quality of care we provide and the way we work together as an organisation. We recognise that high-quality care is fundamentally relational. Our colleagues are supported to lead with professionalism, compassion and accountability, ensuring that care is both effective and person-centred. Leadership is visible and engaged, connecting governance, quality and operational practice to ensure that standards are not only met but experienced in day to-day delivery. Through this ethos, Care Dorset fosters a culture of belonging, continuous improvement and shared purpose ensuring care is not only safe and compliant, but consistently compassionate and impactful.