Pip Tucker
Trustee
Pip Tucker works for Somerset County Council as a public health specialist helping to set priorities in health and social care across the County, and has been a trustee at St Margaret’s for 18 months.
How were you introduced to the hospice?
Four years ago, I was tasked with writing a report on behalf of the Director of Public Health in Somerset on end of life care. The report was focussing on end of life care as a community issue, something for everyone and not just the medical intervention aspects.
During the project I worked with Joy Milliken, Clinical Director, and CEO Ann Lee and it was around the time the hospice’s Fit for Future strategy was published. After this I kept in contact with Joy through my role. Sometime later a colleague was approached regarding becoming a trustee and she asked if I would also be interested. I said yes straight away, mainly because in the course of writing the report I had been so impressed with the hospice, if anything I wondered where my contribution would fit in!
I had been trustee of other organisations so had some understanding of the responsibility and I was learning more and more about the county’s provision of end of life care so I was pleased to be considered. The hospice movement is marvellous, and the hospice is an exemplary example of excellence of care. I had recently stopped being a trustee of another organisation so felt that realistically I would be able to fit the extra commitment in.
In the first instance I spoke to a number of existing trustees to find out how I would contribute, it was around this time of the year because I remember eating Christmas cake!
How does your involvement in the hospice impact your ‘day job’?
Being a trustee at St Margaret’s works well for me, my work and the work of the hospice closely aligns. I believe that it brings opportunities for the hospice as I can ensure that in any planning or discussions through my role, I can make sure St Margaret’s, the care and support we provide, are always considered as part of the wider health care provision in Somerset.
I do have to consider any conflict of interests between my job and my voluntary role, but I believe we experience coincidences of interest instead and as long as I’m open and honest about my connection and I can objectively approach my role, this works well..
When I’ve been able to, I’ve enjoyed visiting the hospice and meeting the wider team, it really helps to build a picture of the important service the hospice provides. Obviously, this year has been very different. But with technology and the fast uptake of online meetings I haven’t felt disconnected.
The meetings are held in late afternoons/evenings, so I tend to put aside time before hand to read the committee packs and the technology of Teams, means the meetings are run effectively and focus on the right level of information.
I'm obviously looking forward to when we can resume some physical visits, the hospice ‘Walk the floor’ programme is a chance to meet with the teams on an operational level, being able to talk to and ask questions of our frontline staff. I think this is really useful for all trustees to get a genuine feeling of how the day-to-day operations run. It puts context to the information we receive at a strategic level.
How much time do you think you commit to the hospice?
The committee I’m on runs for roughly two hours, with the full board running for up to five hours, so I suppose I would say I spend one day every three months in meetings with preparation time being spread out to a few hours a month.
The hospice is a hugely diverse organisation and as a trustee you have a responsibility for not just your own area of expertise; for myself its interesting learning more about the retail, estates and fundraising aspects. It can enrich areas of I wouldn’t otherwise have connections with, and I’m grateful for this.
What would we find you doing on an average weekend?
I think I’m probably doing the same as everyone else in my spare time, especially this year! I have a 10 year old son, so my weekends consist of a lot of football. I enjoy spending time in the garden or getting out for a bike ride or walk to blow the cobwebs away.
We’d like to thank Pip for taking the time to explain his experience of being a trustee. If you would like to find out more about becoming a Trustee, please click here.