Job summary
- Main area
- Board of Trustees
- Grade
- Volunteer: Volunteer
- Contract
- Voluntary
- Hours
- Voluntary Trustee Position
- Job ref
- Trac ID 7563894
- Employer
- Havens Hospices
- Employer type
- Voluntary Sector
- Site
- Fair Havens & Little Havens Hospices
- Town
- Southend on Sea
- Salary
- Volunteer
- Closing
- 30/11/2025 08:00
Employer heading
Trustee - Community
Volunteer: Volunteer
Job overview
Join Our Board of Trustees and make Every Day Count at Havens Hospices
Are you passionate about making a difference in your community? Do you want to play a vital role in supporting local people living with complex or incurable conditions, and those who care for them?
Havens Hospices is looking for new Trustees to join our Board; compassionate, community-minded individuals who share our vision of “Making every day count.”
Why Become a Trustee?
As a Trustee of Havens Hospices, you will help guide the strategic direction and governance of our charity, ensuring we remain effective, inclusive, and sustainable in everything we do.
You don’t need to be a healthcare expert or have prior board experience, just a genuine commitment to our mission and values. Whether you bring community insight, business skills, lived experience, or professional expertise, your voice matters.
What We’re Looking For
We welcome applications from people with a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives, especially those who reflect the diverse communities we serve.
We’re looking for individuals who:
- Believe in the mission, vision and values of Havens Hospices
- Are curious, compassionate, and committed
- Bring insight from their community or lived experience
- Are willing to learn, contribute and grow in the role
- Can give time to quarterly board meetings, committee work and occasional events
Main duties of the job
What You’ll Do
As a Trustee, you will:
- Help shape the charity’s strategy and long-term vision
- Ensure legal, ethical, and financial responsibilities are met
- Act in the best interests of the charity and its beneficiaries
- Support and hold the Leadership Team accountable
- Use your skills and experience to guide decisions and drive improvements
- You will also have the opportunity to serve on one of our three Committees, Care, Finance, or Governance, depending on your interests and expertise.
What You’ll Gain
- A meaningful opportunity to make a lasting impact
- A deeper connection to your local community
- Personal and professional development through training and board experience
- The chance to collaborate with a passionate and experienced team
This is a voluntary role. Expenses for travel to meetings can be reimbursed. Trustees are appointed for an initial four-year term, with the option to serve a second term.
Time Commitment
- Quarterly Board Meetings (usually 3 hours, in person or online)
- Committee Meetings (as relevant)
- Induction and ongoing training
- Occasional service visits, fundraising events, and strategic planning days
Working for our organisation
At Havens Hospices, we care for children, young people and adults with complex or incurable conditions. Our specialist Care Teams can support them and their family living throughout illness, death and bereavement in the comfort of their own home and through our hospice services, Fair Havens and Little Havens.
Working at Havens Hospices allows you to give the gift of time to patients and families, creating memories. Although you may not be giving direct care to our patients, your contribution will have an immediate effect on our care services.
In return for your expertise and passion, you will receive a competitive salary package, and most of all, by making the most of every day you work at Havens Hospices you’ll be helping us continue ‘Making every day count’ for those who need us most.
At Havens Hospices we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our employees and patients and expect all colleagues to share this commitment.
We value diversity and welcome applications from all sections of the community.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Ensure the Hospice complies with:-
- the Hospice’s governing document
- Charity law requirements and other laws that apply to the charity
Act in the Hospice’s best interests:-
- is clear about the charity’s aims and ensures that these are being delivered effectively and sustainably
- make balanced and informed decisions, thinking about the long term as well as the short term
- avoid putting themselves in a position where their duty to the charity conflicts with their own interests or loyalty to any other person or body
- not receive any benefit from the charity unless it is properly authorised and is clearly in the charity’s interest
Manage the Hospice’s resources responsibly acting with a duty of prudence:-
- make sure the Hospice’s assets are only used to support or carry out its purposes
- avoid exposing the charity’s assets, beneficiaries or reputation to undue risk
- not over-commit the charity
- take special care when investing or borrowing and receive appropriate investment advice from investment professionals
- comply with any restrictions on spending funds or selling land
Act with reasonable care and skill:-
- make use of their skills and experience and take advice when necessary
- should give enough time, thought and energy to their role, for example by preparing for, attending and actively participating in all trustees’ meetings
- ensure the decision-making processes are informed, rigorous and timely and that risk assessment and appropriate management systems are set up and monitored.
Ensure the Hospice complies with statutory accounting and reporting requirements
- be able to demonstrate that the charity is complying with the law, well run and effective
- ensure appropriate accountability to members
- ensure accountability within the charity, particularly where you delegate responsibility for particular tasks or decisions to staff or volunteers
Person specification
Skills & Experience
Essential criteria
- A genuine interest in and commitment to the mission, vision, and values of Havens Hospices
- A connection to the communities we serve and an understanding of the needs, challenges, and strengths within them
- A commitment to attend meetings, contribute to discussions, and uphold the responsibilities of the role
Desirable criteria
- Experience of volunteering, community involvement, or supporting charitable activities
- Understanding of local networks or groups that could support the work of the Hospice
Insights & Lived Experience
Essential criteria
- Lived experience, local involvement, or connections that can help ensure the Board reflects and understands the communities it serves
- Awareness of local issues that may affect patients, families, volunteers, or staff
- Desire to build understanding and share perspectives from a community viewpoint
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Dawn Hathaway
- Job title
- Head of Organisational Development & People
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01702 220350
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