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“You are so knowledgeable and i feel so comfortable talking to you cause you really understand my struggles.”

A mum supported by Home-Start

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.