Chair

Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust

  • Sector Health
  • Client Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust
  • Job Type Permanent
  • Salary/Remuneration £47,100 for c. 2-3 days per week
  • Reference GSe137396
  • Closing Date 9am Monday 30th November 2026

Shape the future of mental health, learning disability, and autism services across the South West

Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust (AWP) is one of the largest specialist providers of mental health, learning disability and autism services in the country, employing around 5,000 staff and serving a population of 1.9 million people across Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire. We aim to provide high quality, compassionate care everywhere, every day, and improve the lives of the people we serve.

As Chair, you will lead the Board in setting the strategic direction of the Trust, working closely with the Chief Executive to ensure strong governance, high standards of quality and safety, financial sustainability, and outstanding patient care. This is a significant opportunity to guide the Trust through a period of transformation and improvement, supporting delivery against its ambition to be a great place to work, provide outstanding care, operate sustainably and strengthen partnerships across the wider health and care system. You will be a visible ambassador for AWP, fostering collaborative relationships with staff, service users, carers, governors, system partners and local communities.

We are looking for an inclusive and values-driven leader with significant board-level experience, and a strong track record of leading complex organisations through challenge and change. Politically astute, you will be experienced in building trusted and progressive relationships with stakeholders and providing strategic leadership in challenging and evolving environments. Above all, you will be passionate about improving outcomes for people with mental ill health, learning disabilities, and autism, and demonstrate the integrity, compassion and collaborative leadership needed to inspire confidence and help shape the next chapter for AWP.

Applicants should live in or have strong connections with the area served by the Trust.

To find out more and discuss your interest, please contact our recruitment partners at GatenbySanderson:

 

Helen Barkham, Research Lead

E: helen.barkham@gatenbysanderson.com

T: +44 (0) 7921 308 766

 

Julia St Clare, Senior Consultant

E: julia.stclare@gatenbysanderson.com 

T: +44 (0) 7807 631 564

 

Melanie Shearer, Partner

E: melanie.shearer@gatenbysanderson.com

T: +44 (0) 7785 616 548

 

Closing date: 9am Monday 30th November 2026

Final interviews and stakeholder sessions: w/c 25th January 2026

To view the job description and person specification, please scroll to the bottom of the page, tick to agree to the privacy policy, then click 'Continue to full details'.

Documents

  1. Fit and Proper Person Declaration - New.docx

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