Date / 02/04/17
Author / Erika Moisl
The charity Lewisham Citizens Advice Bureau is a member of the national Citizens Advice (CitA) organisation. We deliver free, impartial and confidential advice to those who live, work or study in the London borough of Lewisham.
We are currently seeking a Trustee with experience of Human Resources (HR) and employment law to join our charity board at a time of rapid change. He/she will contribute to the board as a general Trustee plus offer specific HR expertise.
General Trustee duties and responsibilities
Each individual member of the Trustee Board has a responsibility to contribute to the discharging of the board's duties. They do this by:
- Governing the charity in the best interest of the clients and in line with the governing documents
- Actively contributing to setting policy and strategic direction, defining goals, setting targets and evaluating performance and ensuring effective oversight. This includes visiting Citizens Advice Lewisham to get to know the team and being aware of the service in action.
- Taking responsibility for their own learning and development
- Monitoring whether the service complies with its governing document and how well the advice needs of the local community are being met
- Supporting the development of Citizens Advice Lewisham through agreed projects and managing risk
- Maintaining confidentiality about any sensitive or confidential information received
HR specific duties and responsibilities
- Oversee highest standards of governance in policies and practice related to employee relations, recruitment, retention, reward and recognition as well as staff and Trustee development
- Assess risks and measure the impact of HR interventions in the light of changing legal requirements and best practice
- Monitor implementation of company policies and practices in the context of furthering charitable objectives and evaluating how they impact beneficiaries and staff
- Oversee long-term strategic oversight of the organisation’s personnel and staffing requirements in relation to the overarching goals of the charity
- Review and recommend current and future strategic resourcing, training and development and annual budgets and plans to the Trustee Board
- Actively contribute to policy setting, strategic direction, goal and target setting, and evaluate performance against targets, budgets, plans and charitable objectives
- Ensure that HR activities and interventions are linked to the company’s charitable objectives
- Ensure the Trustee Board monitors and reviews the performance of the company’s Chief Executive, rewards performance accordingly and identifies appropriate development opportunities
- Monitor whether the service complies with its governing document and standards and if the needs of the beneficiaries are being met
- Liaise about HR matters with the Citizens Advice Lewisham CEO and the JNCC (Joint Negotiation and Consultation Committee) union, with which Citizens Advice Lewisham works in partnership
- Chair the People Sub-committee, and report back to the full board
General Trustee skills and qualities
- Ability to meet time commitment
- Commitment to clients
- Ability to fulfil governance role, specifically to manage risks, ensure oversight and strategic development of the charity.
- Effective communication skills and willingness to participate actively in discussion
- Willingness to gain knowledge of local needs and resources
- Commitment to the aims, principles and policies of the Lewisham CAB service, including those relating to equal opportunities, independence, and research and campaigns
- Ability to understand and accept their responsibilities and liabilities as Trustees and employers
- Willingness and ability to learn and to develop
- Ability to think creatively and strategically, and exercise good, independent judgement
- Ability to build productive respectful relationships with other Trustees, staff and volunteers
HR specific skills and qualities
- Experience of performance management, HR/employment law issues and implementing them contextually
- Willingness to actively participate in discussions concerning needs of the charity’s beneficiaries, staff and the Trustee board
- Willingness to act in the best interest of the charity
- Sound, independent judgement and ability to think creatively
- Working effectively as a team member and demonstrating a willingness to learn and develop
Time Commitment and availability to attend required meetings
a)As Chair of People Sub-committee
- Quarterly evening Trustee Sub-committee meetings (each 1½ hours plus prep)
b)As Trustee
- Quarterly evening Trustee Board meetings (each 2½ hours plus prep)
- One annual Trustee Board awayday (weekend - 5 hours plus prep)
- Liaison with Chair, CEO and colleague Trustees by phone, e-mail or Skype (occasional)
- Day-time visits to our offices to understand our work and engage with staff/volunteers (occasional)
- Two annual stakeholder events (one evening event, one mid-week all-day event)
Diversity
We seek candidate Trustees from all backgrounds so that our board represents the diversity of our community. We welcome applications from all candidates regardless of ethnicity, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation or religion.
As services are delivered in a small geographic area applicants should ideally live, work or study in, or near, Lewisham and have some local knowledge of the area.
How to apply
Application: / CV highlighting relevant skills and experience you will bring to the role along with a cover note briefly explaining why you would like to be a trustee of Lewisham CAB and how you demonstrate the skills and qualities we are looking for.Closing date: / 5 May 2017
Interviews: / 15, 16, 17 May 2017
Contact: / Erika Moisl, trustee recruitment