The

Recruitment of a

County Priory Group Chair

Revised August 2017

Contents

1.Introduction3

2.CPG Membership4

3.CPG Responsibilities4

4.CPG Chair - Role Description5

5.CPG Chair - Person Specification6

6.The Recruitment Process7

1.Introduction

The Order of St John has been saving lives for over 900 years andis now a major international charity, accredited to the United Nations, providing first aid, health care and support services in over 40 countries around the world.

St John is an Order of Chivalry of the British Crown with 25,000 members around the world. Her Majesty The Queen is the Sovereign Head of the Order and His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester has been the Grand Prior since 1974.

The important work of the Order of St John started during the Crusades over 900 years ago when members of the Order provided care and support to pilgrims of all denominations and creeds in their hospital in Jerusalem.

Today the Priory of England and the Islands is one of eleven international branches of the Order, and our work of providing care to people in need is carried out on behalf of the Priory by its subsidiary charity St John Ambulance, England's premier first aid charity.

County Priory Groups (CPGs) undertake the important work of the Priory at a County level and have a wide range of important responsibilities which are outlined in more detail in Section 2 of this pack.

Within the Priory the role of County Priory Group Chairs are influential positions and we are looking for committed individuals to undertake these important roles. CPG Chairs are not remunerated but reasonable expenses will be reimbursed.

We aim to widen the diversity of CPG membership and especially welcome applications from women, young people, those from minority ethnic backgrounds, people who are LGBT and those with a disability who meet the person specification requirements.

If you would like to contribute to our important work in your County and have the necessary skills required to become a CPG Chair we would very much like to hear from you.

Training, advice and peer support will be available for newly appointed Chairs.

2.County Priory Group (CPG) Membership

The Chair of each CPG is appointed by the Prior (who is the Chair of Trustees) and membership of the group is usually ten to twelve people and usually includes

Chair

Deputy Chair(s)

Lord-Lieutenant – Her Majesty the Queen’s County representative

County Chaplain

CountyPresident

Representative of St John Fellowship

CPG Secretary

St John Ambulance District Manager(s)

Others with interests and skills such as fundraising, public relations and marketing to enable the CPG to deliver its strategy and objectives

3. County Priory Group Responsibilities

The main duties of a CPG is to

  • Act as local Ambassadors for St John and develop positive relationships with key local community leaders
  • Oversee nominations for St John Honours and Awards and support the nominees attending St John Investitures
  • Promote faith aspects of the Order of St John through CountyChaplains
  • Liaise with the St John Fellowship through their representative
  • Liaise with Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant or their representative
  • Organise fundraising at a local level in conjunction with the Head of Priory and CPG Affairs
  • In partnership with NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) arrange an annual Order of St John Award for Organ Donation Ceremony
  • Support the work of St John Ambulance whenever possible
  • Meet quarterly to coincide with the honours submission timetable

4.County Priory Group Chair - Role Description

CPG Chair - Role Description
1 / Act as an ambassador for the Priory (and St John Ambulance) and promote its good name and the opportunities it offers to serve the local community
2 / Chair the local County Priory Group (CPG)
  • Hold at least four CPG meetings each year
  • Ensure that four Honours and Awards sub-group meetings are held
  • Liaise with the Priory Hospitaller and support the work of St John Eye Hospital in Jerusalem
  • Support the work of St John Ambulance in England and overseas
  • Promote the Charity’s mottos – ‘For the Faith and in the Service of Humanity’
  • Developeffective partnerships with the local St John Fellowship
  • Fundraise for all parts of St John including the St John Eye Hospital, St John Ambulance and the historic buildings
  • Administer the annual Order of St John Award for Organ Donation ceremony in partnership with NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT)

3 / Support decisions made by the Priory Council and accept collective responsibility for implementing the same at a local level
4 / Promote the Priory and St John Ambulance locally in accordance with agreed PR policies and procedures
5 / Liaise with the St John Ambulance Regional Directors and District Managers
6 / Provide support, guidance and feedback to the Priory Regional Member of Chapter which is the Trustees advisory group
7 / Oversee local St John Awards events, local St John Church and Cathedral Services and other local St John ceremonial occasions, including when appropriate, the annual visitation by Priory Trustees in partnership with the Head of Priory & CPG Affairs, Priory Affairs Department, St John Ambulance Regional Director, Priory Regional Members of Chapter and other CPG Chairs in the Region

5.CPG Chair - Person Specification

CPG Chair - Person Specification / E or D
1 / Have a clear understanding of the strategic direction and priorities of the Charity set by Trustees / E
2 / Ability to translate the Priory vision into measurable local targets / E
3 / Proven ability to deliver national aims and objectives in a local setting e.g. effective leadership and chairing of local meetings of stakeholders / E
4 / Knowledge and experience of Priory and/or St John Ambulance / D
5 / Ability to provide positive assistance and support to St John Ambulance Regional Directors and District Managers as and when required / E
6 / Ability to work with other stakeholders in a non-operational role / E
7 / Experience and understanding of contemporary best practice in charity governance / D
8 / Good knowledge of local issues and communities as well as having the ability to develop good relationships with stakeholders / E
9 / Excellent communication skills with a commitment to activelyinform local stakeholders of developments and success stories / E
10 / Ability to commit time equivalent to around 15 days per year to attend four CPG meetings and represent the Priory at other times as and when required / E
11 / Provide constructive advice and support to people in other parts of the organisation who are also striving to achieve the strategic mission and to assist them to discharge their responsibilities / E
12 / Administratively self servicing with the ability to provide information, simple reports and statistics centrally as and when required / E

6The Recruitment Process

Vacancies for all CPG Chairs are advertised on the St John Ambulance website, the St Johnintranet site “Connect” as well as being advertised externally within the relevant County.

All applicants will be required to complete the short on line application form which can be found via the link on the volunteer vacancy pages on both the website and “Connect”.

Applicants will also be required to upload a short resume and covering letter demonstrating how they meetthe person specification requirements of the role.

Please note that it is important for applicants to include as much detail as possible demonstrating how they meet the person specification requirements in their covering letter as this will form a significant part of the selection and appointment process.

All applications will be considered by an Appointments Panel chaired by the Chancellorwho will submit their recommendations to the Prior for his consideration.

Initial appointments are usually for three years followed by the opportunity to apply for a further three year tenure if all parties agree.

We aim to widen the diversity of County Priory Groups and especially welcome applications from women, young people, those from minority ethnic backgrounds, people who are LGBT and those with disabilities who meet the person specification requirements.

Whilst previous County Priory Group experience is not an essential requirement, an understanding of either the Priory or St John Ambulance would be a distinct advantage.

Revised August 2017

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