Trustee - Clinical and Safeguarding
Purpose of the Role To provide strategic, senior clinical insight and safeguarding expertise at Board level, ensuring Momentum delivers safe, high-quality services that complement NHS care. The postholder will act as the Trustee Clinical and Safeguarding Lead, bringing professional oversight to safeguarding policy and culture across Momentum, and advising on the clinical context of supporting children with cancer, complex health conditions, palliative care and bereavement. Key Responsibilities ▪ Advise on the clinical and psychosocial aspects of Momentum’s services for children, young adults and families in paediatric oncology, complex health conditions, palliative care and bereavement contexts. ▪ Act as the Trustee Safeguarding Lead for the board: provide strategic safeguarding oversight, ensure Momentum’s safeguarding policies are robust, up to date and that the board discharges its statutory safeguarding duties. ▪ Support Board understanding of safeguarding responsibilities and provide assurance that policies, procedures and practice meet regulatory and ethical standards. Ensure that emotional wellbeing and trauma-informed practice is embedded across Momentum’s family and bereavement support and complement NHS/community services without duplication. . ▪ Support partnership working between Momentum and NHS clinical teams, helping maintain effective boundaries between clinical and emotional/wellbeing support. ▪ Work in partnership with the charity’s operational DSLs to provide challenge, advice, and governance assurance rather than day-to-day case management. ▪ Participate in board decision-making, governance, and strategy to maintain safe, impactful services for families. ▪ Champion a safeguarding first culture throughout Momentum and Board, including trustee oversight of policies, staff training, and case escalation. Ensure safeguarding is considered in all strategic decisions. Skills and Experience ▪ NHS Consultant Paediatric Oncologist, Paediatrician, or senior clinician with experience supporting children with cancer or life-challenging conditions. ▪ Current or recent Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or Named Doctor for Safeguarding in an NHS trust or charity context. ▪ Expertise in emotional wellbeing, trauma-informed care, or integrated psychosocial support for families. ▪ Understanding of charity governance and ability to provide strategic oversight in a non-medical, emotional wellbeing service context. Essential: ▪ Senior clinical professional, such as a Consultant Paediatrician, Nurse Consultant/Chief, Advanced Nurse Practitioner, or Specialist Nurse with significant experience in paediatrics, oncology, palliative care, or complex care – or equivalent experience. ▪ Substantial safeguarding knowledge and experience – for example, in a Named Nurse/Doctor role or as a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) within the NHS or voluntary sector. ▪ Passionate about holistic family care and emotional support for children with serious illness and bereaved families. ▪ Collaborative and empathetic, able to combine clinical knowledge with a family-centred approach. ▪ Understanding of governance responsibilities in relation to safeguarding, ideally within a non clinical (charity or school) context. ▪ Strategic thinker who can provide challenge and assurance while remaining collaborative and constructive. ▪ Commitment to Momentum’s values of compassion, trust, and inclusion. Desirable: ▪ Affiliation with one of Momentum’s partnership hospitals or community teams. ▪ Experience supporting families in trauma-informed or psychosocial care models. ▪ Previous trustee or advisory board experience in children’s services or mental health. ▪ Understanding of the voluntary sector’s role in complementing NHS care through emotional and wellbeing support rather than clinical treatment Time Commitment ▪ Attendance at quarterly Board meetings (held in person or remotely). ▪ Meet with Momentum DSLs to review Safeguarding policy annually. ▪ Review anonymised Safeguarding cases quarterly ▪ Ad hoc support to the CEO and service delivery leadership as needed.
Mission Statement
Helping families of seriously ill children to keep moving forward
From hospital to home and beyond, we’ll be with you and your family every step of the way.
