Job Summary
Harris Hill is delighted to be working with Hospice of the Good Shepherd to recruit its new Chief Executive Officer.
Application Process
* An up-to-date CV.
* A completed data capture form (which Harris Hill can share with you).
* A Supporting Statement (no more than 2 x A4 pages) outlining why you are interested in becoming Chief Executive Officer of Hospice of the Good Shepherd demonstrating relevant experience for the role.
Please submit your completed application to: by 9am, Monday 5th January 2026.
Key Dates
* Closing date for applications: 9am, Monday 5th January 2026
* First interviews: w/c 19th January 2026
* Second interviews: w/c 26th January 2026
About Us
Hospice of the Good Shepherd provides care and support free of charge to the people of Chester, West Cheshire and Deeside who are affected by life‑limiting illnesses, and we ensure everyone we support has the best possible quality of life. We help our patients to live as well as possible and to make every moment count.
Key Responsibilities
* Bring inspirational leadership and drive to the Hospice.
* Give direction, maintain financial stability and develop the operational management of the Hospice.
* Have a passion for end‑of‑life care, with the energy and talent to motivate our highly committed teams as we forge a path to a future where we tailor our services ever more closely to the needs and wants of our local communities.
* Provide strong, visible leadership to staff and volunteers, building a motivated and high‑performing workforce committed to teamwork and professional development.
* Lead, support and direct the Senior Management Team, nurturing a culture of collaboration and excellence to ensure services are delivered in line with the Hospice’s strategy, core values and governance standards.
* Drive the development of good people‑management practices, including recruitment, induction, performance management, personal and professional development and staff engagement, ensuring an effective and resilient workforce.
* Foster a culture of inclusion, care and wellbeing, that promotes open communication, collaboration, responsiveness and shared accountability.
* Lead and manage change to maintain a learning organisation and continuously improve the staff experience.
* Work with the Board of Trustees to formulate and implement a 35‑year strategic plan and annual business plan.
* Ensure plans are translated into clear, meaningful objectives with measurable outcomes and that performance is monitored with key performance indicators.
* Provide the Board with informed professional advice and recommendations to support effective strategic decisions.
* Track changes in the healthcare and regulatory landscape and advise on strategies to safeguard the Hospice’s long‑term relevance and sustainability.
* Future‑proof the organisation by identifying opportunities for service development and new income streams.
* Ensure the highest standards of specialist palliative and end‑of‑life care for patients and families.
* Regularly review services to meet changing community needs and contractual requirements.
* Take action to address underperformance and safeguard service quality.
* Ensure central support functions (Finance, People, Estates, Facilities, IT) are effectively managed and compliant with legislation.
* Represent and promote the Hospice at local, regional and national forums.
* Build and sustain effective relationships with donors, commissioners, partners and statutory bodies.
* Engage actively with the community to promote fundraising and volunteering.
* Act as Senior Information Risk Owner (SIRO), working with the Caldicott Guardian to manage risk and information governance.
* Ensure the Hospice operates in a secure environment and reports breaches of security.
* Maintain full implementation of information governance principles.
* Undertake any other duties commensurate with the level of the post as directed by the Trustees.
* Maintain own personal and professional development, keeping up to date with best practice within the sector.
Key Stakeholders / Relationships
* Internal: Board of Trustees, Senior Management Team, all staff and volunteers.
* External: Local Hospice networks; Local NHS Trusts, ICB and Community Service Providers; Commissioning bodies; Local community, donors and supporters; National bodies including Hospice UK.
Governance, Risk and Financial Management
* Work effectively with the Chair and Board of Trustees and its various committees to maintain effective communications and ensure informed and beneficial decision making in support of the Hospice and its work.
* Act as Nominated Individual with responsibility for regulated activities under the Care Quality Commission.
* Ensure the Hospice operates within all legal, governance, compliance and regulatory requirements.
* Ensure that the Charter and any related documents are met.
* Support the Board in fulfilling its governance responsibilities by ensuring timely, accurate and relevant reporting.
* Develop and maintain robust risk management arrangements and ensure financial stewardship.
* Arrange the planning and production of the Hospice Statutory Annual Report.
* Establish and maintain robust systems to generate accurate quantitative and qualitative data.
* Oversee subsidiary companies including Hospice of the Good Shepherd Promotions Company Ltd and the Lottery.
People, Culture and Development
* Encourage equality, diversity and inclusion; champion inclusive practices at all levels.
* Promote a culture of learning, accountability and high performance.
* Lead and develop staff and volunteers through times of change.
* Maintain professional standards through education and development opportunities agreed with the Chair of Trustees.
Health, Safety & Security
* Comply with the Hospice’s Health & Safety Policy.
* Assure a secure environment and report breaches.
* Operate as SIRO, managing information governance.
Confidentiality and Safeguarding
* Strictly adhere to confidentiality policies and legal requirements.
* Take responsibility for safeguarding adults and children.
* Champion culture of safety, openness and accountability.
Equal Opportunity
The Hospice of the Good Shepherd is fully committed to fostering a culture of equality, diversity and inclusion where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. We value the unique contributions of all individuals and actively promote a fair, supportive, and discrimination‑free environment. All staff are expected to uphold these principles in their daily work.
Job Details
* Salary: £84,500 to £89,000 a year
* Contract: Permanent
* Working pattern: Full‑time
* Reference number: HOS1156991
* Job locations: Hospice of the Good Shepherd, Gordon Lane, Chester, Cheshire, CH2 4DG
* Date posted: 25 November 2025
Person Specification
Essential
* Qualifications: Educated to Degree level or equivalent.
* Experience:
o Significant experience of successful leadership at Board level in a multidisciplinary organisation.
o Knowledge of the hospice sector in the UK.
o Inspirational leader with demonstrable experience of leading and developing a Senior Management Team.
o Leadership Team with the ability to inspire, motivate and empower others.
o Strong strategic and commercial acumen, extensive experience developing and implementing business plans, managing large‑scale budgets, achieving efficiencies and broadening income streams through effective fundraising and partnership development.
o Deep understanding of the charity sector with the ability to align financial strategy with organisational mission and impact.
o Proven ability to demonstrate and embed values, vision and ethos, and to foster a positive, inclusive culture.
o Ability to identify, measure and manage organisational risk, taking appropriate action.
o Strong understanding of governance, compliance and Board dynamics, with experience developing robust relationships with Trustees.
o Extensive experience representing and collaborating with key stakeholders including regulators, partners, and the wider public.
o Extensive experience leading staff and volunteers through times of change.
* Personal skills and abilities:
o Strong ambassadorial skills, ability to act as an advocate and sector leader externally.
o Strong communication, negotiation and influencing skills, engaging diverse stakeholders.
o Integrity, versatility, flexibility and sensitivity to ethical issues, alongside a strong commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
o Ability to understand and analyse complex issues applying innovative and practical solutions.
o Strong emotional intelligence, assessing implications and impact of decision‑making.
o Ability to create an environment where individuals and services work together in a spirit of partnership.
* Other requirements:
o Willingness to work outside of usual working hours when required.
o Ability to travel to local and national events and all Hospice premises.
Desirable
* Educated to Masters level or equivalent.
* Experience in the care sector, ideally with an NHS interface.
* Experience of developing innovative service models and approaches to extend reach and impact.
* Ability to influence policy, strategy or service delivery at regional or national level.
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.
Employer details
* Employer name: Hospice of the Good Shepherd
* Address: Hospice of the Good Shepherd, Gordon Lane, Chester, Cheshire, CH2 4DG
* Website: https://hospiceofthegoodshepherd.com/
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