The Role of a South Buckinghamshire Community Hospice Trustee

• Liz Taylor
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• 10 November 2016
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• New Hospice |

In support of Trustees’ Week, running from the 7th-13th November, we heard from one of our Trustees, Trevor Davey, to hear about the role of a Trustee within The South Buckinghamshire Community Hospice.

Can you give us an overview of what a Trustee’s role entails?

“The Trustees collectively have a responsibility of ensuring that The South Buckinghamshire Community Hospice, as a registered charity and a Limited Company, is managed with good governance in all its aspects.

We have responsibilities as directors of the business that are; legal requirements, providing support and guidance to the employees, volunteers, other Trustees, consultants and contractors to the best of our ability.”

Which aspects of the Hospice does your work oversee?

“We are a mixed group bringing different skills and professional experience in such diverse matters including –

·         Medical and clinical

·         Financial expertise 

·         Complementary therapies

·         Property Management

·         Project Engineering

·         Human Resources

·         Management expertise at a senior level

·         Fundraising

·         Promotion of the Hospice

·         Health and Safety

·         Spiritual Support

·         Hospice care.”

When the Board of Trustees meet, what kind of matters do you discuss?

The Trustees meet formally every two months, with some Trustees taking on responsibility for certain aspects of the business, such as the new build, medical research, financial and the future business plan of the management of the hospice.

The role of The South Buckinghamshire Community Hospice is forever changing to meet the needs and aspirations of our patients. Needs will change as medical advances take place, the population changes and our catchment area and age groups change. In the 9 years I have been a Trustee the changes are considerable and the challenges of the future are exciting, especially with the completion of the new Community Hospice and what the future holds.”

What, would you say, is important for a Trustee to remember when carrying out their work?

“Always remembering our purpose is to provide the best possible support for our patients, and their families, with life limiting problems – without any restrictions within our accepted limitations.”