Citizens Advice Cumbria

CHAIR

Volunteer Role

We are seeking an individual willing to take on the role of Chairing – and providing leadership to – the vital Citizens Advice Consortium for Cumbria. The post is voluntary and will involve some travel to Bureau locations across Cumbria, for which travel expenses are reclaimable.

Citizens Advice Cumbria (CAC) is made up of the 5 Citizens Advice Bureaux operating in the six districts of Cumbria. CAC’s role is to

  • Secure funding for CAB services across Cumbria;
  • Work with Citizens Advice and Cumbria Bureaux to deliver high quality advice services on contracts;
  • Secure and support service developmentswhich require a countywide approach.

CAC currently has contracts with Citizens Advice for the Money Advice Service, Cumbria County Council money advice, CCCG/Macmillan welfare benefits advice service.

The Chair plays a vital role in ensuring that CAC is organised to provide the services sought by Citizens Advice and all our local partners.

The successful applicant must be able to demonstrate:

  • Commitment to the aims and principles of Citizens Advice;
  • Experience of chairing meetings, leading partnership working and committee work;
  • Excellent communication and inter-personal skills;
  • Ability to travel efficiently throughout Cumbria;
  • Ability to plan and prioritise workload.

Citizens Advice is committed to equality of opportunity for everyone

Role Requirements – Chairperson Citizens Advice Cumbria

The chair is responsible for controlling Board meetings, ensuring that everyone who wishes to has a reasonable chance to speak and take part. She or he should be able to listen to and understand a wide range of views, present information clearly and concisely and get clarification of relevant points, thus enabling the board to make effective decisions. The board must demonstrate its leadership of the organisation. It is the chair’s role to enable the board to do that.

The Chair will essentially share duties with a Vice Chair, if one is appointed by the Board, and can call on the following for further support:

  • The Treasurer
  • Other Trustees of the Board
  • The professional Staff of Citizens Advice
  • The Managers of each CAB
  • The Contracts Administrator

As Citizens Advice Cumbria is a partnership organisation made up of the individual CAB's the key element of the role is the facilitation of working together to achieve a joined up service across Cumbria.

Main duties and responsibilities

(These can be delegated to or shared with other trustees. Examples are given in brackets from recent activities where this is appropriate for clarification).

  • Ensuring that board decisions are made within the remit of the governing document and the policies of Citizens Advice;
  • Ensuring that trustees receive induction and adequate training to enable them to fulfil their roles;
  • Reviewing how the Board Operates and discussing any improvements that are required with the Board – to ensure that we learn and improve;
  • Ensuring that the board is able to respond to the needs and views of all CAB's within the group;
  • Planning the annual cycle of board meetings, and chairing and facilitating these to ensure their smooth running;
  • Producing Policy papers for the Board [Contracts Monitoring, Papers for Steering Group etc];
  • Developing Tenders and contract documents for contractors employed;
  • Planning the agenda for meetings with the Meetings Secretary;
  • Developing membership of the trustee board to ensure that it contains the diverse range of skills, experience and knowledge needed to operate effectively;
  • Ensuring that successors for key posts - treasurer, chair etc. - are identified and inducted in good time;
  • Checking that decisions taken at meetings are being implemented;
  • Providing or arranging for support and supervision for the Contracts Coordinator;
  • In conjunction with the treasurer, ensuring proper management and control of CAC finances;
  • Representing the bureau with local stakeholders to meet the objectives of CAC;
  • Representing the CAC in relationships with funders and negotiating for funds [ FIF, Cumbria County Council, National Lottery ];
  • Act as the Official Signatory and ultimate responsible officer when contracts are signed [ FIF and Cumbria County Council ];
  • Act as the first contact for active contracts when the issue cannot be dealt with by the Project Coordinator;
  • Assisting the five individual CABx in Cumbria to work together effectively – currently including chairing the regular meetings of our Managers.

It is anticipated that this work could be covered in two days per month but some individuals may choose to make a greater commitment to the work needed.

Personal skills and qualities

  • Leadership skills
  • Experience of committee work
  • Facilitation skills
  • Tact and diplomacy
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
  • Impartiality, fairness and the ability to respect confidences.

It is desirable for the chair to have knowledge of the type of work undertaken by CAB's and a commitment to keeping ahead of the changes in the organisation that take place.