Trustee with legal expertise

At Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care, our unique care provides a lifeline of compassion and support to patients, carers, and families facing progressive life-limiting illness.

We provide palliative and end of life care support, including bereavement services, within Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire and our patient services are available to adults, as well as patients transitioning into adult services (16 to 25 years).

Bereavement support is offered for all ages to families of patients and those around them, as well as throughout the community, in schools and workplaces.

We are proud to offer care in the place that best suits the individual’s needs, whether that’s at home, in a care home, in a short stay in our inpatient unit, out in the community, or in our purpose-built Living Well Centre facilities.

As a hospice care charity, we have offered this support, free of charge, for over 40 years.

Our staff team of 340+ includes a wide range of patient-facing disciplines plus operational support based in Watford, Tring, St Albans, Chalfont St Giles and Berkhamsted. The charity is now one of the larger UK hospice charities, reaching a GP population of 797,037 of whom 75% live in Hertfordshire and 25% in Buckinghamshire.

Our mission is to provide the quality hospice care that our community needs. We do this by:

• Listening to our community and delivering services that are accessible to all
• Caring for people from diagnosis with a life-limiting illness
• Supporting people in the place that’s best for them

Our values are:

• Compassionate – Care at the centre of everything we do
• Collaborative – Working with others to get the best outcome every time
• Supportive – Looking after everyone around us
• Inclusive – Building an organisation where everyone feels welcome and valued

Our strategic aims are to SERVE our communities with a wide range of services, REACH more

local people and STRENGTHEN our ability to secure resources. 

Key responsibilities

Governance and strategic leadership

• Actively participate in Board meetings and relevant Board committee meetings (e.g. Governance), providing objective advice on strategic direction, performance and resources.
• Work with the Chair, Chief Executive and other trustees to ensure the charity maintains the highest standards of governance, complies with all relevant laws and regulations and delivers on its mission.
• Contribute to the development, scrutiny and approval of organisational strategies, major projects and investment decisions, ensuring alignment with long-term goals.
• Champion the charity’s values, diversity and inclusion and ethical standards at all times.

Legal oversight and stewardship

• Support the organisation in complying with its governing documents, charity law, and other relevant legislation.
• Safeguard the organisation’s assets and ensure they are applied exclusively for charitable purposes.
• Support the Board in understanding legal duties, responsibilities, and liabilities.
• Contribute to setting and reviewing the organisation’s strategic direction.
• Monitor performance and ensure accountability across all areas of operation.
• Ensure financial stability and integrity, approving budgets and monitoring expenditure.
• Act as an ambassador for the organisation, promoting its mission and values.

Person specification

• Qualified solicitor or barrister or significant experience in legal practice Strong understanding of charity law, company law, compliance and governance frameworks
• Commitment to the organisation’s values and objectives
• Experience and understanding of the role of Company Secretary
• Experience at senior leadership level
• Exceptional communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills.
• Strategic thinker, capable of balancing detail with the bigger picture, and exercising sound independent judgement
• Deep commitment to the mission, vision and values of the charity, including principles of equality, diversity and inclusion.

Time commitment

This appointment requires a commitment to Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care to attend quarterly early evening meetings of the Board of Trustees and serve on at least one Board committee (Governance Committee), with additional meetings as required.

In addition to attending meetings, trustees will need to make time to read and evaluate papers. All our trustees are encouraged to actively participate and engage in external events and networking to represent and promote the charity, where requested.

Appointments are usually for a term of three years with the possibility of two further three-year extensions by mutual agreement up to a maximum term of nine years.

Remuneration

This is a voluntary, unpaid trustee role. Reasonable expenses incurred in the course of duties will be reimbursed in line with the charity’s policy. 

The benefits of joining our Board of Trustees include:

• Professional recognition
• Networking opportunities with fellow trustees as well as access to forums and communities of likeminded trustees at other organisations.
• Training and support to get the best out of the role.
• Career development: Diversify your experience and demonstrate leadership, governance expertise and commitment to public service.

Application process

Please submit a covering letter outlining how your skills and experience would contribute to Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care in your role as Trustee, together with a recent CV.

The supporting statement should demonstrate why you want to join our charity, your suitability for this role and specifically address the key elements of this role specification.

If your skills and experience fit, you will be shortlisted and final selection will be via a two-stage formal interview process with the Chair of Trustees, Chief Executive and one or two other Trustees.

Deadline for applications is 5pm on Friday 13 February 2026.

Interview dates are 26 February and 11 March 2026 at Peace Hospice, Watford.

On successful appointment, the following will be required:

• Volunteer application form and appropriate references

• Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check

• Online course in data security, information governance and other essential learning

• Legal documentation required to become a charity Trustee