Chair of Trustees

Job Description Chair of Trustees

Introduction

The Lucy Rayner Foundation (LRF) is a charity set up in May 2013 by the Rayner family after the loss of daughter and sister Lucy to suicide. The LRF is an organisation that supports young people to deal with their mental health issues and provides them with tools and techniques to improve and maintain their mental health in the long term. This is done through education, training and support services.

Mental health has reached an all-time high and the demand for our services is increasing every day. We became incorporated in July 2022 to grow the charity to meet those demands and we have ambitious plans for 2024/25.

Currently we are without a Chairperson due to unforeseen circumstances and we are now looking for a dynamic leader to help steer the Charity in the years ahead.

The Role

The Chair will lead the Board in its role to ensure that the clear strategic direction of the charity is met as laid out in the regulatory framework, that governs LRF through its compliance, financial management and people performance.

The Chair will also support and, where appropriate, challenge the Chief Executive, use effective collaboration, constructive engagement within the Board and between the Board Members and support with the management team, staff and volunteers where necessary. 

The Chair should also act as an Ambassador and the public face of the charity as part of the LRF external communications efforts. The Chair also line-manages the Chief Executive with governance and HR procedures.

Time Commitment        - Four Board meetings a year and Chair the meetings and is to hold   regular meetings with the Chief Executive by agreement.

Reporting to:                    - The Board of Trustees

Terms:                                - 3 years (there will be a three month probationary period following the appointment

Renumeration:                 - Unremunerated. Out of pocket expenses incurred can reimburse

Role & Responsibilities

-            Establish a culture within the Board the fosters integrity, inclusion and openness

-            Working closely with the Chief Executive, to shape the work of the Board to ensure constructive challenge and support in the development, implementation of policy frameworks, organisational strategies, financial management and effective risk management whilst ensuring that it  meets all the charitable objectives.

-            Responsibility for governance arrangements working in the most efficient way

-            Esure that there is the right level of governance in place

-            Develop the knowledge capability of the Board of Trustees

-            Encourage positive change, where appropriate, address and resolve any conflicts within the Board

-            Ensure that the Trustees understand the balance between governance and management

-            Chair the meeting of the Board of Trustees

-            Supporting the Chief Executive, whilst respecting the boundaries which exists between the two roles

-            Ensure that the Chief Executive has the opportunity to grow and develop professionally and has the appropriate professional support

Personal Description

-            Has 3 years of experience as a Chair

-            Experience of operating at a senior strategic leadership level within an organisation

-            Have a passion for supporting those with mental health

-            Experience of charity governance and working with or as part of a Board of Trustees

-            Strong leadership skills, ability to motivate and bring people together

-            Financial management skills with an understanding of charity finance issues

-            Experience of chairing meetings and events

-            Demonstrate a strong and visible commitment to the Charity, its strategic mission and objectives

-            Strong networking abilities that can be utilised for the benefit of the Charity

-            Ability to commit time to conduct the role to the best of your ability, including attending events out of office hours.

Closing date for applications:

The Lucy Rayner Foundation operates an equal opportunity policy and commit to treating

and commit to treating all of our candidates and jobseekers fairly. We welcome and encourage

applications from everyone regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual

orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil

partnerships.