In general, you should have the right to work in the UK to be eligible to apply for a public appointment.
There are a small number of specialist roles that are not open to non-British citizens. Any nationality requirements will be specified in the vacancy details.
The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards.
You cannot be considered for a public appointment if:
your estate has been sequestrated in Scotland or you enter into a debt arrangement programme under Part 1 of the Debt Arrangement and Attachment (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 17) as the debtor or have, under Scots law, granted a trust deed for creditors.
You must inform the sponsor department if, during the application process, your circumstances change in respect of any of the above points. When you apply you should also declare any relevant interests, highlighting any that you think may call into question your ability to properly discharge the responsibilities of the role you are applying for. You should also declare any other matters which may mean you may not be able to meet the requirements of the Code of Conduct of Board Members (see Outside interests and reputational issues section below)There are a small number of specialist roles that are not open to non-British citizens. Any nationality requirements will be specified in the vacancy details.
The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards. You cannot be considered for a public appointment, which includes this role, if:
- you are disqualified from acting as a company director (under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986)
- have an unspent conviction on your criminal record
- your estate has been sequestrated in Scotland, or you enter into a debt arrangement programme under Part 1 of the Debt Arrangement and Attachment (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 17) as the debtor or have, under Scots law, granted a trust deed for creditors.
In addition, legislation related to NHSBT sets out how individuals are disqualified from appointment as a NED, if they:
- have within the last five years been convicted of a criminal offence and have been sentenced to a sentence of imprisonment.
- are the subject of bankruptcy restrictions order or an interim bankruptcy restrictions order, or a debt relief restrictions order or interim debt relief restrictions order
- have within the last five years (other than redundancy) been dismissed from paid employment with a health service body, or had your tenure of office as the chairman, a member, a director or a governor of a health service body other than a clinical commissioning group terminated on certain grounds or have been removed from office as the Chair or a member of a clinical commissioning group.
- are the subject of a national NHS disqualification, or have been refused approval to fill a medical practitioner vacancy and have not been subsequently included in a primary care list, or has been conditionally included on a primary care list or removed from inclusion on a primary care list on certain grounds, or you have been removed from such a list on certain grounds or suspended or have been contingently removed from a primary care list.
- have been subject to a disqualification order in relation to Company Directors or an order under section 429(2)(b) of the Insolvency Act 1986
- has been removed from office as a charity trustee on certain grounds, removed from being concerned in the management or control of any relevant body or removed from a senior role of a registered social landlord.
- if you are the Chair (member, officer, director or governor) of NHSBT you cannot be the chair or non-office member of the NHS Counter Fraud Authority
- If you are the Chair, chief executive or non-officer member of NHSBT you cannot be a chair or non-officer member of the NHS BSA.
Circumstances in which an individual may not be considered for appointment also include:
- if you have been appointed to NHSBT as a Board member and served a total of 8 years
- if you are a member of the House of Commons
- you cannot be a Chair of an NHS Trust if you are a chair, member, director or employee of NHS Blood and Transplant. You can however be a NED of an NHS Trust if you are a chair, non-officer member of NHS Blood and Transplant.
The above is only intended to act as a summary of the legislation and you should consider the relevant sections of the legislation in full, which are attached for your ease at Annex A of the candidate information pack.
When sending your application online, you will be asked to confirm that the information you have provided is true and correct and that you are eligible to apply for a public appointment. As part of this, you will also confirm that you have read any disqualification criteria for the role, and that you are willing to stand down from any other role/s in order to take up the appointment. If you are currently disqualified from appointment, please provide further details in your supporting letter.
For further advice, please contact Daniel Clemence on
Daniel.Clemence@dhsc.gov.ukFit and Proper Person Test
Non-Executive Directors of NHS Blood and Transplant hold positions of significant public responsibility. It is therefore essential that those appointed are able to maintain the confidence of the public, patients, and NHS staff.
The Fit and Proper Person Requirements are set out in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. Please see Annex B of the candidate information pack. The Department of Health and Social Care is required to ensure that individuals appointed to these roles meet these requirements.
Full Fit and Proper Person checks will be undertaken for candidates at offer stage, prior to any appointment being confirmed.
