Appointment of Directorsto the Board of Disability Sport Northern Ireland

INFORMATION BOOKLET AND ROLE DESCRIPTION

This document is available in alternative formats on request.

Registered Charity No: NIC102838

CONTENTS

CONTENTS

  1. About Disability Sports Northern IrelandPage 3
  1. Current Activities Page 4
  1. Board StructurePage 5
  1. The Role of DirectorsPage 5
  1. Essential CriteriaPage 6
  1. Terms of Appointment, Time Commitment and RemunerationPage 7
  1. Induction TrainingPage 7
  1. Assistance for Board Members with DisabilitiesPage 7
  1. Application ProcessPage 9
  1. Selection ProcessPage 8
  1. Equality of OpportunityPage 8
  1. Application FormPage 9-10

1.Background to Disability Sport Northern Ireland

Disability Sport NI is Northern Ireland’s main disability sports charity working with children, young people and adults who would like to participate in sport and active recreation. The organisation works with people with physical, sensory and learning disabilities of all ages and with schools, disability groups, sporting organisations and clubs to ensure that everyone can benefit from the health, social and education benefits of sport and active recreation.

The organisation believes that every person with a disability has the right to participate in all aspects of life and is committed to building a more inclusive society where people with disabilities have the same opportunity as non-disabled people to lead a full, active and healthy lifestyle through sport and active recreation.

Launched in 1998 by a number of small disability sports groups to address the under representation of people with disabilities in sport, the organisation has gradually grown to represent the vast majority of disability sports groups and clubs in Northern Ireland.

The organisation currently has over 100 member groups made up of disability sports groups, schools and adult centres and organises a range of participation programmes, events, training courses and education projects all designed to improve the health and wellbeing of people with disabilities.

Although the majority of Disability Sport NI’s work is concerned with developing grassroots sports and active recreation opportunities, the organisation also works closely with Sport Northern Ireland and Governing Bodies of Sport to ensure that talented disabled sports people have the same opportunity as their non-disabled peers to train, compete and excel in their chosen sport on the world stage.

The organisation also has sole responsibility for the development of the disability specific sports of Wheelchair Basketball and Boccia in Northern Ireland.

Disability Sport NI is a limited company with charitable status and is recognised by Sport Northern Ireland as the key body responsible for the development of sport and physical recreation opportunities for people with disabilities in Northern Ireland.

The organisation is a member of the British Paralympic Association, GB Boccia, the UK Sports Association for People with Learning Disabilities, Disability Action, the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action and the Northern Ireland Sports Forum. Disability Sport NI also maintains close links with Paralympics Ireland.

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2. Current Activities

Disability Sport NI organises a wide range of programmes and services, all designed to give disabled people the opportunity to lead a full and active lifestyle through sport and active recreation.

The table below provides an overview of Disability Sport NI’s work.

Services / Description
Community Sport – Improving Health & Wellbeing / The development and delivery of inclusive sports and recreation opportunities and facilities which enable people with disabilities to lead a full, active and healthy lifestyle in their local community. This involves the organisation and delivery of:
  • Regional Disability Sports & Active Recreation Projects
  • Outdoor Recreation Opportunities
  • Community Events
  • Club Development Programmes
  • Sports Facility Access & Audit Service

Performance Sport – Developing Sporting Talent / The development of performance pathways, facilities and support programmes which enable people with disabilities to achieve higher levels of performance in their sport. This involves:
  • Supporting Governing Bodies of Sport to develop performance pathways and facilities which are fully inclusive of disabled athletes.
  • Managing the development of performance pathways and facilities for the disability specific sports of Boccia and Wheelchair Basketball.
  • Providing performance, funding and classification advice and management support to talented disabled athletes.
  • Hosting/organising major international disability sports events in Northern Ireland.
  • Representing Northern Ireland on key UK & Irish performance sports organisations.

Education, Training & Volunteers – Supporting Inclusion / The development and delivery of education, training and volunteer programmes which support the inclusion of people with disabilities. This involves the organisation and delivery of:
  • Inclusive Education Projects
  • Inclusive sport and PE Courses for teachers, trainee teachers and classroom assistants
  • Disability Inclusion Training & Inclusive Sports training courses for leisure services staff, coaches and sports leaders.
  • Coach Education Courses
  • Volunteer Programmes

Communications –
Inspiring Participation / Inspiring and encouraging people with disabilities to participate in sport by providing information on the opportunities available and highlighting the achievements of talented athletes and role models.

3.Board Structure

Disability Sport Northern Ireland’s Board of Directorshas been recently been re-organised and from late November 2015 will consistof not more than eight skills based membersrecruited through a public recruitment and selection process.

4. The Role of Directors

The role and responsibilities of Directors on the Board of is as follows:

  • To ensure the organisation fulfils its charitable objectives as outlined in its Articles of Association.
  • To contribute to the strategic development of the organisation, including contributing to the development of the organisation’s strategy.
  • To ensure that the organisation has adequate financial resources and that its finances are effectively managed.
  • To ensure that the organisation complies with its legislative requirements, including compliance with employment and equal opportunities legislation, and charity and company law.
  • To contribute to the development of policies and procedures that ensure the organisation meets optimum levels of good practice in governance.
  • To ensure that risks to the organization are maintained at an acceptable level.
  • To represent the organisation at meetings and events relevant to the business of the organisation.
  • To ensure that the needs of people with disabilities remain central to the organisation’s work.
  • To contribute to the development of a fundraising and communications strategy which will maximize the commercial, business and sponsorship opportunities available to Disability Sport NI.
  • To advise the organisation on the development of mutually beneficial relationships with relevant organisations in the private, public and voluntary sector.
  • To participate in and contribute to sub committees and working groups concerned with overseeing and progressing key functions of the organisation’s business.

5.Essential criteria

5.1an interest in the development of sport and active recreation for people with disabilities;

5.2a commitment to the vision, mission and values of the organisation;

5.3experience in at least oneof the following areas:

the voluntary sectorbusiness

project managementsports & leisure management

performance or professional sporteducation

trainingvolunteering

disability or health issuesfundraising

marketinggovernance

financial managementpersonnel

legal issues

5.4Candidates should also have experience of at least one of the following:

  • experience in strategic management in the private, public or voluntary sector including; overseeing the development and implementation of corporate strategies and business plans;
  • demonstrable experience and skills in a business or commercial environment;
  • ‘Direct’ experience of disability, eg. you are a person with a disability, or a parent/sibling of a disabled person; or
  • experience of disability sports, preferably as a participant, coach, or in a teaching or sports leadership role.

6.Terms of Appointment, Time Commitment and Remuneration

The Board will be appointed on a rotational basis on a four year cycle. To assist with the introduction of a rotational system, during the first cycle of the new process, four of the eight Directors will be appointed for a fixed term of two years. Thereafter all Directors will be appointed for a four year period.

After serving one period of four years Directors can apply to be appointed for a second period of four years through the normal selection and recruitment process.

Board membership is likely to require a minimum time commitment of at least 1 day per month.

Board member positions are not remunerated but reasonable travel and subsistence expenses will be reimbursed.

7.Induction Training

Disability Sport NI will provide induction training for the successful candidates.

8.Assistance for Board Members with Disabilities

Every effort will be made to provide whatever reasonable support Board Members need to help them carry out their duties.

9.Selection process

Following short-listing, all successful candidates will be asked to attend an interview.

A selection panel consisting of two existing Directors and the CEO will be appointed by the Board to oversee the interview and appointment process. The CEO’s role on the panel will be limited to an advisory one.

Interviews are expected to take place week commencing 16 November 2015.

The panel’s recommended candidates will be considered by the membership at the AGM on 25 November 2015.

Successful candidates will be informed as soon as possible after the AGM.

10.Equality of Opportunity

Disability Sports NI is committed to providing equality of opportunity for all individuals. Applications are welcome regardless of gender, age marital status, disability, religion, ethnic origin, political opinion, sexual orientation or whether or not you have dependants. All applications for appointment are considered strictly on merit.

  1. Application Process

Please complete the attached application form and return it to Disability Sport NI no later than 4.00pm on Friday 13 November 2015.

All applications should be sent to:Monitoring Officer

Disability Sport NI

Portside Business Park

189 Airport Road West

BELFAST BT3 9ED

Or by email:

APPLICATION FORM

SECTION 1 - PERSONAL DETAILS
Surname: / Forename
Title / MR / MRS / MISS / DR
If Other please specify / Email Address
Address
Postcode / Telephone Numbers
Home
Work
Mobile
How did you hear about this vacancy?
SECTION 2 - SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
Please provide information to demonstrate how your skills and experience to date meets the criteria of:
  1. an interest in the development of sport and active recreation for people with disabilities;
  2. a commitment to the vision, mission and values of the organisation;
  3. experience in at least one of the following areas:
the voluntary sectorbusiness
project managementsports & leisure management
performance or professional sporteducation
trainingvolunteering
disability or health issues fundraising
marketinggovernance
financial managementpersonnel
legal issues
  1. Candidates should also have experience of at least one of the following:
  • experience in strategic management in the private, public or voluntary sector including; overseeing the development and implementation of corporate strategies and business plans;
  • demonstrable experience and skills in a business or commercial environment;
  • ‘Direct’ experience of disability, eg. you are a person with a disability, or a parent/sibling of a disabled person; or
  • experience of disability sports, preferably as a participant, coach, or in a teaching or sports leadership role.

SECTION 2 - SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Signed: ______Date: ______

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