Job summary

Overgate Hospice has been caring for the people of Calderdale for over 40 years. During this time, we have provided expert palliative and end-of-life care to more than 11,000 patients and their families facing life-limiting illness. We are proud of our reputation as a trusted and much-loved local charity, and we are now entering one of the most significant phases in our history.

Work is progressing on our ambitious plans for a brand-new Inpatient Unit, which will ensure we can continue to provide outstanding care for future generations. Alongside this, we face the ongoing challenge of securing sustainable funding in an increasingly uncertain economic climate. With these opportunities and challenges ahead, we are looking to strengthen our Board with two new Trustees who can help us to shape, support, and deliver our vision.

To help us do this, we are searching for two new volunteer Trustees. We are particularly interested in individuals who have skills and experience in:

Finance (ideally a practicing Chartered Accountant)

Strategic HR management, Law, Governance

The Commercial Sector - particularly with expertise in retail/online sales (or another relevant income generation area may be considered).

Please note: For all three of the work areas we are looking for current or very recent experience (within the last 6 months)

Main duties of the job

Becoming a Trustee at Overgate Hospice is an exciting opportunity to join a well-respected, forward-thinking charity at a time of change and development. You will be part of a dedicated Board helping to ensure we remain resilient, sustainable, and ready to meet the growing and changing needs of our community. Being an Overgate Trustee requires a commitment of time and there is a requirement to attend Board meetings in person.

To apply, please contact hr@overgatehospice.nhs.uk for an application form. Candidates will also be asked to provide a supporting statement maximum of 300 words.

Time Commitment

There are 6 face-to-face Board meetings and 2 Board Development sessions each year, and Trustees must also serve on at least one sub-committee

Closing Date

Sunday 16 November 2025

Interview Date

w/c Monday 8 December 2025

Get in Touch

If you would like to discuss the role with the Chair, or Vice Chair (or the Treasurer if you are from a Finance background) before applying, please call Leisa Slane on 01422 387168 to arrange a conversation.

About us

Overgate Hospice is an independent charity with a mission to ensure that patients and those close to them live with the best possible quality of life. This is enabled by provision of the highest standard of compassionate and evidence-based specialist palliative and end of life care for adults in Calderdale who have active, progressive life limiting illness.

However, the current constraints of our ageing facilities are making this more difficult than ever. Our ambitious redevelopment plans will modernise and expand our existing facilities to transform the environment in which we care for our patients, as well as meaning we can care for more people who need us. In April 2024, Overgate Hospice launched a capital appeal, the Big Build Appeal, to raise the funds needed to make these transformational plans become a reality.

Details

Date posted

31 October 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

Depending on experience

Contract

Voluntary

Duration

3 years

Working pattern

Flexible working

Reference number

B0115-25-0003

Job locations

30 Hullen Edge Road

Elland

West Yorkshire

HX5 0QY

Job description

Job responsibilities

Overgate Hospice

Overgate Hospice is an independent local charity providing specialist palliative and end-of-life care for adults with life-limiting conditions. Our home on Hullen Edge Road was generously donated by Mrs Sylvia Graucob MBE, whose vision and philanthropy helped establish the hospice as a cornerstone of compassionate care in Calderdale.

Today, Overgate Hospice continues to build on this strong foundation. We provide in-patient care within our 12-bed unit, day hospice services, and holistic support through our Patient and Family Support Team comprising social workers, complementary therapists, counsellors, a chaplain, occupational therapist, diversional therapist, and physiotherapist.

Beyond our clinical services, we operate a network of local charity shops and deliver a wide range of fundraising events and community activities throughout the year. We are currently in the middle of a major capital appeal to support the construction of a new, purpose-built inpatient unit and repurposed Day Hospice that will ensure we can continue to meet the needs of our community for years to come.

The Hospice employs around 207 dedicated staff and is supported by more than 700 volunteers who contribute their time, expertise, and compassion across all areas of our work. Together, we are united in our commitment to providing outstanding care, comfort, and dignity to local people and their families at the most challenging times of their lives.

Our Mission

To ensure that our patients and those close to them live with the best possible quality of life. We do this by providing the highest standard of compassionate and evidenced-based specialist palliative and end of life care for adults in Calderdale who have active, progressive, life limiting conditions.

Our philosophy of Care

Our care is centred on the patient. We respect individuality and their rights to privacy and dignity. We care for the whole person their physical, emotional, spiritual, social needs and goals. This includes support for their families and carers through the illness and into bereavement.

We value

The support of our community, without which we could not raise the funds necessary to provide care. We value every penny raised.

The contribution and diversity of our staff and volunteers

Partnership and collaboration with other health and social care professionals the patient has the best experience when we work together.

A culture of learning and continuous improvement, teamwork, professionalism, honesty, inclusiveness, and kindness.

Feedback that helps us to learn and improve.

Role Purpose

To act as an ambassador for Overgate within the Community, portraying a positive image and supporting the key messages.

To provide strategic leadership, maintaining a clear sense of the big picture and not getting lost in detail.

To ensure the Charity acts in an effective, responsible, and accountable manner and complies with all legal and regulatory requirements.

As a key member of the Overgate team to help stretch and support the Senior Leadership Team, providing healthy challenge as required.

To work collaboratively in helping to improve services in line with our mission, values, and philosophy of care.

Remuneration

The role of the Trustee is not accompanied by any financial remuneration although expenses for travel may be claimed.

Time commitment

Trustees must ensure

That they are fully prepared for Board and Sub-committee meetings.

Attend and contribute to a minimum of 70% of Board meetings, except in exceptional circumstances. There are currently six board meetings per year which commence in the early evening.

Contribute expertise to at least one sub-committee and attend a minimum of 70% of meetings, except in exceptional circumstances.

Assist the Board and senior staff in promoting Overgates goals and values and represent the Boards agreed position when speaking publicly on behalf of Overgate.

Term of Office

Trustees will usually serve a maximum of three terms of three years, but the Board has discretion to support the re-election of trustees who are contributing fully to continue to serve for a longer period.

Key responsibilities

Trustees are both directors and trustees of Overgate and as such must act within the provisions of the governing document and comply with Company and Charity law.

Trustees have and must accept ultimate responsibility for directing the affairs of the Charity, (both service delivery and fund raising) and ensuring that it is solvent, well-run, and delivering the charitable outcomes for the benefit of patients with life limiting illnesses and their families

Trustees should work collaboratively to share their skills and experience and to make an important contribution to our strategic direction and continuous improvement.

Compliance

Ensure that Overgate complies with charity law, and with the requirements of the Charity Commission as regulator; in particular ensure that the Charity prepares reports on what it has achieved and annual returns and accounts as required by law.

Ensure that Overgate does not breach any of the requirements or rules set out in its Articles of Association and that it remains true to the charitable purpose and objects set out there.

Comply with the requirements of other legislation and other regulators that govern the activities of the Charity this includes a range of laws, the Care Quality Commission, General Medical Council, Nursing and Midwifery Council and the Health and Care Professions Council.

Act with integrity and avoid any personal conflicts of interest or misuse of charity funds or assets.

Duty of prudence

Ensure that Overgate is and will remain solvent and maintain proper financial control.

Monitor the performance of Overgate against standards, to ensure provision of the highest quality of care, balanced with the effective, efficient, and economic use of resources and assets.

Use charitable funds and assets reasonably, and only in the furtherance of Overgates objectives.

Avoid undertaking activities that might place the Charitys endowment, funds, assets, or reputation at undue risk.

Take special care when investing the funds of the Charity or borrowing funds for the Charity to use.

Duty of care

Use reasonable care and skill during trustee activities, using personal skills and experience to ensure the Charity is well-run and efficient

Consider obtaining external advice on all matters where there may be a material risk to Overgate, or where trustees may be in breach of their duties.

Collective responsibility

Trustees have collective responsibility for the decisions taken by the Board, whether or not they are present at a meeting and/or if they disagree/concur with a decision made by the majority. Trustees are also responsible for contributing to discussion and debate before a Board decision is made. They have collective responsibility to support and carry out the decision.

Conflicts of interest/loyalty

Trustees must declare any conflicts of interest/loyalty in Board or Sub-committee business. Where possible, the matter should be raised with the Chair before the meeting. Depending on the issue, the Chair and/or Board members should determine whether the Trustee can contribute to discussion or leave the room during discussion and until a decision is made.

Confidentiality

Trustees should maintain confidentiality about matters discussed in Board and Sub-committee meetings

Code of conduct

Trustees are expected to honour the content and spirit of this code

Act within the governing document and the law being aware of the contents of Overgates governing document and the law as it applies to Overgate

Be accountable for their decisions and actions to the public, funders and service users and must submit themselves to what scrutiny is appropriate to their role

Act in the best interest of Overgate as a whole considering what is best for the organisation and its beneficiaries and avoiding bringing it into disrepute

Behave with integrity and not place themselves under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organisations that might seek to influence them in the performance of their role. As well as avoiding actual impropriety, avoid any appearance of improper behaviour. Avoid accepting gifts and hospitality that might reasonably be thought to influence their judgement

Manage conflicts of interest effectively registering, declaring, and resolving conflicts of interest. Not gaining materially or financially unless specifically authorised to do so

Respect confidentiality understanding what confidentiality means in practice for Overgate, its service users, Board and the individuals involved with it

Have a sound and up to date knowledge of Overgate and its environment understanding how it works and the environment within which it operates

Attend meetings and other appointments or give apologies considering other ways of engaging with the organisation if regularly being unable to attend trustee meetings

Prepare fully for meetings and all work for Overgate reading papers, querying anything they dont understand and thinking through issues in good time before meetings

Actively engage in discussion, debate and voting in meetings contribute positively, listening carefully, challenging sensitively, and avoiding conflict

Act jointly and accept a majority decision making decisions collectively, standing by them and not acting individually unless specifically authorised to do so

Work considerately and respectfully with all respecting diversity, different roles and boundaries and avoiding giving offence

Show leadership promote and support the principles of leadership by example

1 Trustee Full time Job