We are seeking a Non-Executive Independent Chair to join our Board to provide collective and inclusive leadership to the organisation, and deliver on our mission and vision, alongside ensuring effective governance of the organisation.
The Chair will also support, and, where appropriate, challenge the Chief Officer and ensure that the Board functions as a unit and works closely with the Chief Officer to achieve agreed objectives. The Chair will also act as an ambassador and the public face of the organisation in partnership with the Chief Officer.
We are keen to hear from people who are politically savvy, with the right skills and expertise who can combine experience of working at Board level with the ability to quickly grasp relevant issues and understand relationships between interested parties; a sound understanding of current Primary Care and NHS issues; excellent communication skills; a good understanding of governance and finance and a commitment to representing the interests of its member practices and the West Lancashire population.
Expertise in change and transformation and organisational development would be advantageous. Applicants must also be able to demonstrate skills in effective leadership aligned with a strategic approach and experience.
Applications (CV and covering letter) should be received by 19th June 2026.
Main duties of the job
The Chair will lead the Board of OWLS, Chair and/or participate in sub-committees as required and oversee the performance of OWLSs Chief Officer.
There are four Board Meetings per annum and typically one further ad hoc meeting. You will need to be prepared to commit approximately 10 hours per month. The remuneration for this role is £10,450 per annum.
About us
OWLS is the not-for-profit GP Federation for West Lancashire. We have full membership our members are the fifteen GP Practices in West Lancashire covering a population of 118,000 across three Primary Care Networks (PCNs). Originally established by local GPs in 2000 as an out of hours provider, we became the GP Federation in 2017.
Our vision is:
A thriving general practice community in West Lancashire, providing high quality services, directly and at scale, working with partners to improve the health and wellbeing of all our residents.
We do this by:
- Working with Primary Care Networks to ensure General Practice is front and centre within the Neighbourhood Health Service
- Supporting general practice in West Lancashire, providing services for practices and PCNs where required
- Acting as an honest broker for members and across services
- Facilitating at scale service delivery, directly and in partnership with others
- Playing an active part in building and training the primary care workforce of the future
Job descriptionJob responsibilities
Job Purpose
The Chair will provide inclusive leadership to the Board and the Management team to provide direction and support and deliver our vision and annual plans.
In conjunction with the three non-executive directors the Chair will assure the governance of OWLS ensuring we meet our contractual and regulatory requirements.
The post holder will act as an Ambassador and the public face of OWLS in partnership with the Chief Officer.
Key Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership
- Provide leadership to the organisation and its Board, ensuring that the organisation has maximum positive impact for its stakeholders and patients of West Lancashire
- Ensure that the Board operates within its agreed objectives and provides a clear strategic direction.
- Ensure that the Board regularly reviews major risks and associated opportunities and satisfies itself that systems are in place to take advantage of opportunities and manage and mitigate the risks in the changing healthcare landscape.
- Ensure that the Board fulfils its duties to ensure sound financial health of the organisation, with systems in place to ensure financial accountability.
- Act as an ambassador for OWLS.
- Maintain close relationships with key partners and stakeholders, in particular, to ensure that the West Lancashire GP Federation Board represents the interests of its member practices and the West Lancashire population.
- Be proactive in identifying opportunities for development and growth for OWLS and our member practices.
- Chair or participate in Board sub-committees as required.
Efficiency and Effectiveness
- Chair meetings of the Board effectively and efficiently, bringing impartiality and objectivity to the decision making process.
- Ensure that Directors are fully engaged and that decisions are taken in the best, long-term interests of the organisation and that the Board takes collective ownership.
- Foster and maintain constructive and supportive relationships with the Directors.
- Work closely with the Chief Officer to give direction to Board policymaking and to ensure that meetings are well planned, meaningful and reflect the responsibilities of Directors.
- Work closely with member practices, to ensure that their interests are upheld by the Board of Directors
Relationship with the Chief Officer and the Wider Management Team
- Establish and build a strong, effective and a constructive working relationship with the Chief Officer, ensuring s/he is held to account for achieving agreed strategic objectives.
- Support the Chief Officer, whilst respecting the boundaries which exist between the two roles and maintain an open and supportive relationship within which each can speak openly about concerns, worries and challenges.
- Conduct an annual appraisal for the Chief Officer in consultation with other Directors.
- Ensure that the Chief Officer has the opportunity for professional development and has appropriate external professional support.
Person Specification
Qualifications:
Essential
Desirable
- Educated to Masters level
- People management qualification
Disposition and Attitudes:
Essential
- Understanding and interest in healthcare issues
- A commitment to NHS values and principles
- Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills
- Ability to understand complex strategic issues and analyse and resolve difficult problems
- Sound, independent judgment, common sense and diplomacy
- Political savvy, with the ability to grasp relevant issues and understand relationships between interested parties
- Sufficient time and commitment to fulfil the role
Experience:
Essential
- Previous non-officer or Board level experience.
- Line management experience.
Desirable
- Experience of chairing a Board.
Skills / Competencies
Essential
- Strategic direction - The ability to think and plan ahead, to develop a clear vision and enthuse others, balancing needs and constraints.
- Holding to account - the ability to accept accountability for board performance, and probe and challenge constructively, and the ability to hold the Chief Officer and officers to account.
- Effective influencing and communication - a high level of ability to gain support and influence, political acumen.
- Team working - be committed to working as a team member, and the ability to take on a personal leadership role and build an effective team.
- Self-belief and drive - the motivation to improve performance and confidence to take on challenges.
- Intellectual flexibility - the ability to think clearly and creatively, make sense of complexity and clarify it for other people.
- Effective chairing of meetings, keeping to a predetermined agenda and strict timings, facilitating inclusive but structured discussion.
- Understanding and interest in healthcare issues.
- A commitment to NHS values and principles.
- Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills.
- Ability to understand complex strategic issues and analyse and resolve difficult problems.
- Sound, independent judgment, common sense and diplomacy.
- Politically savvy, with the ability to grasp relevant issues and understand relationships between interested parties.
- Sufficient time and commitment to fulfil the role.
Desirable
- Knowledge of corporate governance.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Pay: £10,450.00 per year
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Skelmersdale WN8 0HG
