Role description for a Trustee

Roles:

With other trustees to hold Home-Start in trust for current and future beneficiaries by:

• providing leadership and direction for the scheme within the ethos and values of Home-Start
• ensuring that the scheme has a clear mission, vision and strategic direction and is focussed on achieving these
• being responsible for the effective performance and management of the scheme
• ensuring that the scheme complies with all legal and regulatory requirements, the objects of the charity, the governing documents including the Home-Start Standards and Methods of Practice and the Agreement and quality standards
• securing and acting as guardians of the scheme’s assets
• ensuring that the scheme’s governance is of the highest possible standard
• undertaking an ambassadorial role for Home-Start
• appointing sub-committees and agreeing their terms of reference.

Responsibilities:

• setting the strategy and undertaking the strategic management of the scheme.
• ensuring that the scheme pursues its objects as defined in the governing documents
• ensuring the scheme accounts for its activities to its funders, the relevant Charity Regulators, its members, the local community and others
• ensuring that the scheme applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objects.
• ensuring the financial stability of the scheme
• ensuring proper accounting records are kept
• ensuring the proper investment of the scheme’s funds.
• ensuring that the major risks to which the scheme is exposed are reviewed annually and managed
• ensuring the effective and efficient administration of the scheme
• approving the scheme’s policies
• ensuring the scheme fulfils its responsibilities as a good employer and is an effective manager and supervisor of staff and volunteers
• ensuring the scheme is appropriately insured
• protecting and managing the property of the scheme
• monitoring and evaluating the work of the scheme and contributing to quality assurance self assessments and reviews
• safeguarding the good name and ethos of Home-Start.

Duties:

Collective

• approving the strategic plan annually and monitoring progress against it
• determining/approving the annual budget and monitoring progress against it
• preparing and approving the annual report and accounts
• ensuring compliance with the Home-Start Agreement and Quality Assurance system.

Individual

• attending meetings of trustees
• playing an active part in the trustees’ meetings and deliberationsv
• exercising due care and attention and using reasonable skill in dealing with the scheme’s affairs
• using own skills, knowledge and experience to help the trustees reach sound decisions
• taking the lead in any trustees’ activities where the trustee has special knowledge
• avoiding any conflict of interests
• sitting on committees when required
• sitting on recruitment and disciplinary panels if required
• reflecting annually on the board’s performance and your own performance as a trustee.
• taking part in Quality Assurance self assessments and reviews
• ensuring that major decisions and policies are made by trustees acting collectively.

Person specification for a Trustee:

• Commitment to the scheme.
• Willingness to devote the necessary time and effort.
• Strategic vision.
• Good, independent judgement.
• Ability to think creatively.
• Willingness to speak their mind.
• Understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship.
• Ability to work effectively as a member of a team.
• Abiding by Nolan’s seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.