Cheshire Down’s Syndrome Support Group

Job Description - Chair of Trustee’s

Overall

  • Leading the Board of Trustee’s and the organisation to ensure that all its activities enable it to meet the charities objectives.
  • To ensure an effective relationship between:
  • the Board of Trustee’s and the staff/volunteers
  • the Board of Trustee’s and the external stakeholders/community
  • Acting as a spokesperson and figurehead
  • To increase the profile of the Charity in the local business community exploring networking opportunities and possible nominated charity opportunities
  • To supervise and support the General Manager
  • Be an ambassador for the charity, raising the profile of the charity in the local community with the focus being around World Down Syndrome Day on 21st March

Specifically

  • Plan and prepare the Board of Trustee’s meetings and the AGM with others as appropriate.
  • Chair Board of Trustee’s meetings ensuring:
  • A balance is struck between time-keeping and space for discussions.
  • Business is dealt with and decisions made.
  • Decisions, actions and deliberations are adequately minuted.
  • The implementation of decisions is clearly assigned and monitored.
  • Ensure adequate support and supervision arrangements are made for the General Manager and any other staff/volunteers directly managed or reporting to the Board of Trustee’s.
  • Support the Board of Trustee’s to find a successor and do a fund hand over of responsibility

Qualities

  • A willingness to lead the organisation
  • Possesses tact, diplomacy and powers of persuasion.
  • Possesses relevant knowledge
  • Has the relevant skills to run a meeting well.

Board of Trustee’s forCheshire Down’s Syndrome Support Group

The BOT roles

1All members of the Board of Trustee’s undertake to actively govern the organisation, directing and controlling the organisation through collective decision making.

2To make my areas of expertise known and to undertake to make my advice and expertise available to the Board of Trustee’s, staff and volunteers as required. This could include business, teaching experience.

3To govern one or more staff, volunteers or projects.

4To do represent the charity in the wider community, actively raising the profile and promoting World Down Syndrome Day on 21 March each year.

The Governance role

Together the Board of Trustees will:

1Determine Mission and Strategy – actively take part in setting the organisation’s direction and determining how it will get there though the annual planning process and the business plan/strategic plan.

2Accountability – agree to be held to account for the actions of the organisation and to hold those who carry out the work (staff and/or volunteers) to account.

3Recruitment –Responsible for Board of Trustee’s renewal, contributing to the recruitment and induction of new trustees. Contribute to effective decision making and information sharing processes, positive group dynamics, and take part in reflection, learning and development as necessary.

4Safeguard assets - acting as custodian of the assets, tangible (money, property etc) and intangible (organisation’s reputation and name), ensuring that assets are used appropriately and constitutionally. Ensuring that there are sufficient assets for the organisations survival.

5Be an ambassador for the organisation, representing the organisation and linking the organisation to its stakeholders, such as members, the community, funders etc.

6To contribute to the recruitment, selection and supervision of the head of staff as appropriate.

Conduct of role

I agree to:

1Be active – attending all meetings if possible.

2Act jointly – exercising no powers on my own unless powers have been specifically given to me by the Board of Trustee’s (minuted at a proper meeting).

3Act constitutionally (and within the law) – make sure that the organisation acts within the powers and objects (remit) set out in your constitution. Including following the constitution on how meetings are run and how the Board of Trustee’s is recruited.

4Act in the interests of the beneficiaries – putting myself in the beneficiaries’ position and make decisions that are best for them.

5Act reasonably and honestly at all times.

6Have a duty of care – act prudently and reasonably.

7Not delegate control and accept ultimate responsibility and accountability for what is delegated.

8Not benefit personally – unless allowed specifically in the constitution or by law.

9Avoid conflict of interest – abiding by the organisations written process/policy and elsewhere avoid the appearance of conflicts of interest.

Conduct of Trustees

I agree to:

1Strive to attend all meetings, sending apologies to the chair for necessary absences.

2Prepare for the meeting by reading the agenda, papers and emails before the meeting.

3Talk to the chair before the meeting if you need to clarify anything.

4Arrive on time. Stay to the end.

5Participate fully in the meeting;

  1. Listen to what others have to say and keep an open mind.
  2. Contribute positively to the discussions.
  3. Try to be concise and avoid soliloquies/speeches.

6Help others concentrate on the meeting. Discourage side conversations.

7Have the best interests of the organisation/beneficiaries in mind at all times.

8Draw attention to any potential conflicts of interest that may arise in the meeting.

9Fulfil any responsibilities assigned to you at the meeting and be prepared to report back on your progress at the next meeting.

10Act in accordance to the charities Culture Statement

Personal Qualities

Board of Trustee’s should:

1Have a commitment to the organisation and its aims.

2Have a willingness to devote the necessary time and effort.

3Possess good judgement and independence of mind.

4Show a willingness to work collectively as part of a group.

5Seek constructive debate and dialogue over confrontation

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