Context
We are committed to ensuring a strong and vibrant third sector, as part of Leeds’ vision of a ‘Healthy and Caring City for all ages’ and working in partnership with statutory services to deliver and improve health and care. Leeds Health and Wellbeing Board is the key body overseeing the Leeds Health and Wellbeing Strategy, influencing commissioning and delivery of support to improve the health and wellbeing of people in Leeds. The Health and Wellbeing Strategy vision is: ‘Leeds will be a healthy and caring city for all ages, where people who are the poorest improve their health the fastest.’
We are seeking to fill the role of Forum Central (FC) Third Sector Representative for the Health and Wellbeing Board, as Corrina Lawrence, the current representative, is stepping down due to retirement. We particularly encourage applications from under represented communities working with people who experience the least health equity.
About the role
Through Forum Central we have two Third Sector Representatives who are full voting members. There is also a deputy, the deputy is an additional non-voting member.
Helen Hart from BARCA is one of the representatives. Pip Goff from Volition attends the meeting acting as deputy. See full membership here: Health and Wellbeing Board membership
The two representative roles entail championing the work of the Health and Wellbeing Board across the city and advocating for the diverse Third Sector within the board. The successful candidate will be supported by the Forum Central team in gathering and synthesizing views from the sector to feed into the Health and Wellbeing Board, as well as feeding back from the board via Forum Central Reps and Reference Group. It is an excellent opportunity to ensure that:
- The Third Sector is able to to influence high quality health and care support and services and to contribute to improving wellbeing in Leeds
- The Health and Wellbeing Board harnesses the power of the Third Sector to help deliver the Leeds Health and Wellbeing Strategy and
- City partners receive the valued input and insight of the Third Sector and harness their contribution to Best City outcomes
Candidates for both roles must be able to provide time and capacity to commit to:
- Attending all Health and Wellbeing Board meetings
- Attending the quarterly Forum Central Health & Care Leaders Network
- Attending Third Sector Forum Central Reps Meetings monthly online
- Having regular contact with the Forum Central team members to discuss input from the sector across the agenda and for ongoing support
Commitment
Eight meetings (rotating between workshop, public and board to board sessions) are held each year, each lasting around three hours and requiring approximately three hours preparation/feedback time.
We aim to have the representative confirmed before the next the Health and Wellbeing Board public meeting on Thursday 20 November 2025 – 9am – 12 noon
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Applicants should be able to demonstrate and give examples, evidencing skills and knowledge in the following areas:
- Be confident speaking on behalf of the sector, without a personal or organisational bias
- Have a commitment to people’s voices being at the heart of decision making in Leeds
- Be committed to reducing health inequalities and improving outcomes for people
- Understand key relevant concepts including wider determinants of health and intersectionality
- Have strong knowledge of the health and care system in Leeds and in particular the Third Sector, voluntary and community services and an understanding of the importance of place and asset based provision
- Understand the strategic context for health and care in Leeds and the issues facing Third Sector organisations delivering health and care outcomes in Leeds
- Strong communication skills and the ability to be a confident strategic voice for our diverse Third Sector with a willingness to challenge constructively and hold the board to account
- Have experience of contributing to multi-agency meetings
Support to the roles
The role is supported by the Volition Director Pip Goff and the wider team who provide:
- An induction which will address any training and development needs and provide knowledge, information and data about Third Sector health and social care activities
- Links and introductions to the Forum Central membership and wider partnerships
- Support for actions following meetings (e.g. accessing research, data, engagement with the wider sector) as required
- Access to simple feedback mechanisms
- Forum Central will communicate key messages arising from any board meetings to the wider sector (through the FC Website, ebulletin, etc.)
- Support available to enable capacity if that is a barrier to people from smaller organisations
Selection process
Interested parties should provide an expression of interest to [email protected] explaining how you meet the role criteria. The expression of interest should be no longer than 500 words. Alternatively, you may submit a short video application explaining your suitability for the role.
We particularly encourage applications from under represented communities working with people who experience the least health equity.
The deadline for submission is 12 noon on Thursday 6 November 2025
Expressions of interest will be reviewed by Forum Central with input from the Health and Wellbeing Board Health Partnerships team and applicants will be invited to an informal discussion week commencing 12th November.
Contact
If you have any questions or would like more information on the roles please contact: [email protected].
