APPLICATION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS:

ESU Governor – Safeguarding

To apply, please submit your letter of application accompanied by a full CV by 5 pm on Friday 7th July 2017. A Job Description is attached.

The ESU’s website can be found at

Please submit your letter of application and CV to Erica Wilkinson, Board Secretary, by email at erica.wilkinson@esu.org. Postal applications will be accepted at the following address:

The English-Speaking Union

Dartmouth House

37 Charles Street

London

W1J 5ED.

JOB DESCRIPTION

The English-Speaking Union

Job Title: ESU Governor – Safeguarding

OVERVIEW

It is essential that the ESU Board of Governors is familiar with their charity law duties to manage safeguarding risks, allegations and incidents appropriately. In discharging those duties, the Board must have in mind not only the need for the charity to follow Working Together and any other regulatory guidance, but also to understand the broader requirement as the Board is ultimately responsible for safeguarding.

SAFEGUARDING TRUSTEE ROLE

The ESU Chairman and Board are seeking to appoint a safeguarding governor as the policy and strategy lead on the monitoring of the Charity’s safeguarding policy and procedures.

Applicants should have;

  • awareness of the safeguarding issues that could emerge in the charity;
  • knowledge of key principles and best practice in terms of the Board’s responsibilities to safeguard children and young people involved with the charity;
  • the ability and understanding to champion the Charity’s Safeguarding Strategy.

The following attributes are also required:

  • Applicants should be able to evidence that they have day to day experience of safeguarding.
  • Applicants should have experience of the ESU.
  • Experience of the Government’s guidance on safeguarding, legislative requirements and the expectations placed on organisations working with children to safeguard and promote the welfare of those in their care, and Charity Commission safeguarding guidance is essential.

BOARD MEMBER ROLE

As a member of the Board serving as a trustee of the charity you and fellow governors have specific responsibility for (based on the Charity Commission guidelines in ‘The Essential Trustee’):

  1. Accept ultimate responsibility for directing the affairs of the charity, and ensuring that it is solvent, well-run and delivering the charitable outcomes for the benefit of the public for which it has been set up.
  2. Should be able to evidence that they have day to day experience of safeguarding and that they will fit in with the Board.
  3. Should have experience of the ESU.

Compliance- Governors must

  1. Ensure that the ESU complies with charity law, and with the requirements of the Charity Commission as regulator; in particular ensure that the charity prepares reports on what it has achieved and Annual Report and Accounts as required by law.
  1. Ensure that the ESU does not breach any of the requirements or rules set out in its Royal Charter and Bye Laws and that it remains true to the charitable purpose and objects set out there.
  1. Comply with the requirements of other legislation and other regulators (if any) which govern the activities of the ESU.
  1. Act with integrity, and avoid any personal conflicts of interest or misuse of the ESU’s funds or assets.

Duty of Prudence- Governors must

  1. Ensure that the ESU is and will remain solvent.
  1. Use charitable funds and assets reasonably, and in furtherance of the charity’s objects.
  1. Avoid undertaking activities that might place the ESU’s funds, assets or reputation at risk.
  1. Take special care when investing the funds of the ESU, or borrowing funds for the ESU’s use.

Duty of Care- Governors must

  1. Use reasonable care and skill in their work as trustees, using their personal skills and experience as needed to ensure that the ESU is well-run and efficient.
  1. Consider getting external professional advice on all matters where there may be material risk to the ESU, or where the trustees may be in breach of their duties.

TIME COMMITMENT

The Board meets ordinarily four times per year. Governors are also expected to sit on a committee or ad-hoc working party, meeting on average a further three-five times per year.

LOCATION

The location of meetings is ordinarily the ESU headquarters at Dartmouth House, 37 Charles Street,London W1J 5ED, although there may be a need to work at other ESU locations from time totime as required. Some overseas travel may be involved but not required.

REMUNERATION

This is an unremunerated position, although travel and out of pocket expenses will be covered for all official the ESU Business where attendance as a Governor is required, in accordance with the Governors’ Expenses Policy.