Group Chair
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- Employer:
- South Central and South East Ambulance Group
- Location:
- Travel expected across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex and Kent
- Remuneration:
- £58,000 + £10,000 complexity allowance
- Closing date:
- 9am Friday 9th January 2026
- Job Ref:
- GSe127368
Associated documents
Description
The South Central and South East Ambulance Group is the first ambulance group model of its kind in England.
It is being formed by closer collaboration of South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) and South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb). Our aim is simple: to build a service that is more resilient, more efficient and one that will further develop the delivery of safe, high-quality care for every patient, every time.
By combining our expertise and resources, we can respond more effectively to growing demand, invest in innovation that benefits patients and create new opportunities for staff development.
SCAS and SECAmb will remain separate organisations and continue delivering local services but by working as one group we can share resources, standardise clinical models and improve patient care across the South East. To deepen our collaboration we are aligning under a single leadership structure, with a Group Chair and Group Chief Executive who will be tasked to develop the forward strategy. Under this new group model, we expect to accelerate progress in areas like digital innovation and clinical development.
Our Group Chair will lead both Boards during this critical period. They will play a critical leadership role, balancing local priorities with the demands of regional service delivery across diverse communities and will be leading the Group and both organisations into an important new era for the NHS.
We are looking for an exceptional and politically astute Chair who is passionate about serving the interests of our communities and who has the fortitude, intuition and empathy to lead us into the next exciting stage of our journey, ensuring that we make the most of the many opportunities that our closer working will provide.
Our Group Chair must be someone who wants to support our colleagues as they help us to deliver excellence and shape the future of ambulance provision for the communities in which we serve. We are looking for a values-driven leader who embodies compassion and resilience. This is a unique opportunity to make a tangible impact by driving innovation and integration that will influence both the regional and national landscape.
This role requires a visible and influential leader with the ability to build and maintain effective partnerships across the NHS, local authorities, emergency services and the communities-at-large to drive system-wide improvements in patient care.
If you have experience as a Non-Executive Director, and ideally as a Chair, of a complex and highly regulated public facing organisation, with a track record in leading sustained transformation, and have a passion for the NHS; the people who work within it, and those who are served by it, then please do visit our recruitment website for further information: https://join-scseamb.co.uk/
For a discussion in confidence, please contact our retained recruitment partners at GatenbySanderson:
Will McAlpine, Principal Researcher
E: will.mcalpine@gatenbysanderson.com
T: +44 (0) 7554 050 236
Julia St Clare, Senior Consultant and Research Lead
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
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How to Apply
- Please submit an up to date copy of your CV, along with a Supporting Statement that addresses the criteria set out in the person specification, using examples to demonstrate how you meet the essential requirements.
- A completed fit and proper person form – the template can be downloaded from the same place as the job description.
- Detail any employment or education gaps.
- You should provide the names, positions, organisations, and contact details for your referees, which must be your line managers and include your current and most recent employer. The referees should cover at least two roles as the minimum. Please note, should you be appointed, you will be required to provide references covering your last 6 years of employment as per the new NHS Fit and Proper Person regulations. Where there have been gaps in employment, this six year period will be extended accordingly. Referees will only be contacted for those proceeding to the final stage - we will always gain your permission before we contact referees.
- Let us know any difficulty you may have with the indicative timetable.
- Check that your contact details are correct before you submit.
Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an automated email to confirm that you have applied. If you do not receive this email, please make contact with GatenbySanderson.