Programme timetable

Please review the programme timetable below, as the application will require you to indicate any dates which you will be unable to attend.

• 13 May 2025, 10:00 to 12:00, Onboarding workshop (virtual)
• 12 June 2025, 10:00 to 17:00, Session 1 – Programme Induction (in person)
• 13 June 2025, 09:30 to 15:00, Session 1 – Programme Induction (in person)
• 2 July 2025, 09:30 to 14:00, Session 2 – Setting the context: A Healthier Wales (virtual)
• 11 September 2025, 09:30 to 15:00, Session 3 – Developing and communicating your leadership offer (virtual)
• 16 October 2025, 10:00 to 15:00, Session 4 – Governance and assurance; the role of the critical friend (in person)
• 25 November 2025, 09:30 to 13:00, Session 5 - Quality, performance, finance and planning (virtual)
• 20 January 2026, 10:00 to 15:30, Session 6 – Leading a quality health and care system (in person)
• February 2026 (date to be confirmed), 09:30 to 17:00, Session 7 - What’s next? (in person)

Completing your application

Your application will need to provide evidence that you demonstrate the values and skills that are key to the role of NHS Independent Board Members, which are:

• Commitment to adhering to the Seven Principles of Public Life (Nolan Principles) and the NHS Wales Values
• Commitment to engaging with a wide range of stakeholders and ensuring a diverse range of voices are heard and considered
• Ability to work collaboratively and as part of a team to meet common goals.
• Ability to apply strategic insight and/or lived experience for the benefit of customers/service users.
• Ability to provide independent challenge and scrutiny whilst maintaining constructive relationships.
• An understanding of effective governance, risk management and systems of internal control and assurance

This guidance will support you to complete this section of the application.

Values and Skills - Guidance

Your examples must be no more than 250 words per question (2 minutes per question if submitting a video application). These can be from any area of your life and personal experience, including but not limited to employment, volunteering and community activities.

Tell us about a time that you have championed inclusion, and the impact that this had

Your answer to this question should provide a specific example that shows how you actively value and promote inclusion. In this question you should also consider how you demonstrate the following NHS Wales Values:

• Focusing on prevention, health improvement and inequality
• Investing in staff/others

Describe how you establish trust and confidence with people through positive relationships

Your answer to this question should provide a specific example that demonstrates how you go about forming effective relationships with people from a range of diverse backgrounds, sharing information, resources and support, to enable collaboration.

In this question you should also consider how you demonstrate the following NHS Wales Values:

• Working in true partnerships
• Investing in staff/others

Describe a time when you applied the lessons from either a success or a mistake to ensure a better result

Your answer to this question should provide an example that demonstrates how you

• champion evidence-based decision making
• recognise and promote opportunities for innovation and improvement
• identify and manage risks and/or issues.

In this question you should also consider how you demonstrate the following NHS Wales Values:

• Putting quality and safety above all else
• Integrating improvement into everyday working
• Invest in staff/others

Motivation for applying – Guidance

In no more than 500 words / 4 minutes, tell us why you are applying for the Aspiring Board Members programme. Please include:

• What motivates you to serve in the Welsh public sector
• How the programme fits into your personal and/or professional development objectives

Public board appointments are not for everyone. The role can be demanding. The holders of public appointments can have a major impact on the successful delivery of policy and services, which comes with a high level of public exposure and responsibility. This question is your opportunity to demonstrate:

• why you are interested in taking on a public appointment in Wales
• what you would bring to the programme and to such roles in the future, and
• how you feel that participating in the programme would support your broader personal and professional development.

Application form