Chair

Make every moment matter for babies, children, young people and their families across the West Midlands and Gloucestershire by becoming the new Chair of Acorns Hospices.

Applications close at 9 a.m. Tuesday 6th May.

Who we are.

Since 1988, Acorns have been bringing lightness into the dark for babies, children, young people and their families through Three Children’s Hospices in Birmingham, Black Country & the Three Counties.

Acorns support children who are life-limited or life-threatened and they support their families. They have through seven crucial services. While these are set out individually, it is of course common for a child and family to access many or all of these supports:

• End-of-life and after-death care
• Rehabilitative respite stays
• Symptom management
• Specialist family support
• Outreach
• Therapeutic services
• Commissioned beds

Between 700 and 800 children are supported at any one time at Acorns, and 1,000 families, including those who are bereaved. Making them the biggest children’s hospice in Europe.

Acorns services are holistic, designed and delivered in response to individual needs with care tailored for each child and family. They include medical, emotional, cultural, religious and spiritual support. Services are provided in the hospices and in the wider community, including a family’s home.

The Chair role. 

Mark Hopton has been a remarkable Chair for Acorns and now that he has come to the end of a successful full-term, we are looking for his replacement. The new Chair needs to be highly motivated by Acorn’s purpose and bring excellent governance and skill as a Chair, helping to ensure Acorns meets the growing needs of babies, children and young people with life-threatening and life-limiting conditions and their families across Birmingham, Black Country and the Three Counties.

Acorns is held in exceptionally high regard, and the new Chair will recognise the value of this and build upon it to ensure the organisation can continue to grow and be there for children and families in the decades to come.

They will understand how to motivate fellow board members and the CEO and team. They will be active and empowering of others, bringing the ability to be objective, strategic and focused on what matters most and where they can add value as Chair and Ambassador.

Given the scale of Acorns’ impact on children and families and the limited statutory support available, financial management and fundraising will always be a crucial area for the Chair and Board to be supportive of and alert to. An understanding and track-record of significant financial oversight will be essential.

As Chair, you will make a long-term commitment to serving at least two of the three-year terms, subject to board approval at the end of the first three-year term.

Please click 'Apply via website’ to be redirected to the Peridot Partners website, where you can find full details of the candidate profile and register your interest to apply.

Applications close at 9 a.m. Tuesday 6th May.