Non-Executive Director (Clinical), South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) operates across more than 90 sites in South London, providing not only core mental services for their four local boroughs, but over 50 specialist mental health services nationwide.

Part of the Sought London Mental Health and Community Partnership, they work closely in partnership with a variety of organisations across London including South West, and South East London Integrated Care systems, Kings Health Partners and the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience.

We provide the widest range of NHS mental health services in the UK and aim to be a leader in improving health and wellbeing – locally, nationally and globally.

We serve a local population of 1.3 million people in south London, as well as specialist services for children and adults across the UK and beyond.

Each year we provide inpatient care for over 5,000 people, and treat more than 40,000 patients in the community in Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham and Croydon.

Dear Candidate
Thank you for your interest in the role of Non-Executive Director (Clinical) at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. We are pleased you are considering joining us at this important point in our journey and we warmly welcome your application.
We are the largest mental health Trust in the country and provide mental health services to around 1.3 million people across four South London boroughs, alongside a number of specialist and national services. We employ more than 6,000 staff and work closely with academic and clinical partners to bring together care, research and education in a way that drives improvement. We are proud of the Trust’s history and its contribution to shaping modern mental healthcare, and we are equally clear that we have more to do to meet the expectations of our patients, families, staff and partners.
The role of a Non-Executive Director is central to this ambition. As members of our Board, NEDs uphold the highest standards of accountability and transparency. They offer support, thoughtful challenge and constructive oversight, ensuring that the Executive Directors deliver the Trust’s strategy and maintain strong organisational performance. They play a crucial role in ensuring that patient safety, quality and the voice of our service users, carers and communities remain at the heart of everything we do, and that staff feel able and supported to speak up.
We are now seeking a NED with a clinical background to join the Board at a pivotal time. This is a significant opportunity to contribute to the future direction of the Trust, support the continued strengthening of our governance, and help us deliver high quality care to the communities we serve. You will bring clinical expertise, an independent perspective and constructive challenge to our shared work, supporting the Trust to achieve its strategic goals and to sustain its journey of improvement.
We welcome candidates with a strong background in delivering high quality clinically effective services, anchored in patient safety and continuous quality improvement. This may have been gained in medical, nursing or allied health disciplines at a senior or executive level.
Experience in mental health or complex acute services is of particular interest. Your insights will be important as we focus on data-driven improvements in patient outcomes, developing models of care, embracing innovation and delivering measurable cutting-edge care to frontline services, and addressing health inequalities and unwarranted variations in practice and care. As a member of the Board, you will work closely with fellow directors and the Council of Governors to provide effective oversight, support and challenge.
This is an exciting time to join SLaM. The Board and Executive leadership team are evolving to reflect our ambition to strengthen the Trust and address long standing challenges. We have recently completed our CQC Well led inspection and expect the final report in the coming months. We are investing in new facilities, working on enhancing the roles and responsibilities of our clinical leaders, expanding our digital and data capabilities, including through a new electronic patient record system and better population health management, and deepening our work with partners across health and care to support preventative and integrated approaches. In this context, your role will help ensure that the Trust maintains a clear strategic focus, navigates scrutiny with confidence, manages risk effectively and delivers on its commitments.
We value diversity of thought, background and experience. We will welcome the contribution you can bring, whether from within the NHS or beyond. We are particularly interested in candidates who can demonstrate integrity, resilience, a deep commitment to fairness and equity, and who feel their personal values align well with our own
This is a highly rewarding role offering you the chance to support an organisation with a profound impact on people’s lives and help ensure that the way we lead reflects the significance of that responsibility. You will join a committed and ambitious Board, and you will be supported in your development as part of a strong and collaborative team.
Thank you again for your interest. We look forward to learning more about what you could bring to SLaM and to meeting you during the process.
Yours sincerely
Jane Bailey
Chair
Please click here to read the Job Description & Person Specification
All applications must include:
- A full curriculum vitae/resume - this should include your contact address and details, stating your preferred method of contact, highlighting and explaining any gaps in your employment history.
- Quoting the relevant role reference number:
  Non-Executive Director (Clinical): A041254
- A covering letter highlighting your skills and experience and allow insights on your knowledge, skill and experience relevant to the role. You should outline your personal responsibility and achievement within previous roles that demonstrates you have the knowledge, skills and competencies to deliver this role, as outlined in the person specification and take the opportunity to highlight your personal values and motivations for applying for the role. (Microsoft Word document)
- Contact details for three referees, these will not be contacted without your permission. (References should validate a minimum period of six years employment)
- A completed Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form (which you will be redirected to once you have submitted your application) *
Right to work checks
If you are successfully shortlisted, our partner, Yoti, will contact you to complete an online right to work check. This is a quick and secure process, ensuring that all necessary legal requirements are met before proceeding further in the recruitment process.
Monitoring
One of Alumni Global’s and SLaM’s objectives is to ensure that its workforce is reflective of the local community and therefore we actively encourage applications from under-represented groups. So that we can successfully achieve these aims, while it is not mandatory we would encourage every applicant to complete the “Equal Opportunities Monitoring form” so that we can measure the effectiveness of our efforts. The Recruiting Manager does not have access to the Monitoring Information Sections of the application form at any stage of the process and the information provided will be kept entirely confidential.
For a confidential discussion on this role please contact:
Frank McKenna, Global Managing Director or Michael Earnshaw, Director of Research on +44 77 1905 59 71.
Candidate adjustment
If you require any reasonable adjustments to be made as part of the recruitment process please can you advise us so that we can ensure this is accommodated.
Closing date: 6th February 2026
Stakeholder Sessions: TBC
Final Interviews: w/c 2nd March 2026 - TBC
Please ensure you have made a note of the final interview date(s). We recommend that you bookmark this microsite, as any potential updates regarding the role will be posted online.