Trustee

Our trustees play a vital role in making sure that Confident Conversations achieves its core purpose: to help parents in hospital become partners in their child’s care. Trustees oversee the overall management and administration of the charity. They also ensure that Confident Conversations has a clear strategy and that our work and goals are in line with our vision. Just as importantly, they support and challenge the executive team to enable Confident Conversations to grow and thrive and so support more parents and carers in hospital.

Duties

This is currently a virtual role. All meetings are held virtually (online). Trustees need access to a computer, smartphone or tablet with internet access.

• Support and provide advice on Confident Conversation’s purpose, vision, goals and activities.
• Approve operational strategies and policies, and monitor and evaluate their implementation.
• Oversee Confident Conversation’s financial plans and budgets and monitor and evaluate progress; and review and approve Confident Conversations’s financial statements.
• Ensure the effective and efficient administration of the organisation.
• Ensure that key risks are being identified, monitored and controlled effectively.
• Provide support and challenge to Confident Conversations’s Director in the exercise of their delegated authority and affairs.
• Keep abreast of changes in Confident Conversations’s operating environment.
• Contribute to regular reviews of Confident Conversations’s own governance. Attend Board meetings, adequately prepared to contribute to discussions.
• Use independent judgement, acting legally and in good faith to promote and protect Confident Conversations’s interests, to the exclusion of their own personal and/or any third party interests.
• Contribute to the broader promotion of Confident Conversations’s objects, aims and reputation by applying your skills, expertise, knowledge and contacts.

What we are looking for

We are looking for someone willing to bring energy, enthusiasm and commitment to the role of trustee, and who will broaden the diversity of thinking and experience on our Board. You do not need previous experience of being a trustee – we will provide a full induction and training.

However, you should have experience of advocating for a patient in hospital who cannot effectively advocate for themselves. This includes parents and carers with lived experience of advocating for their child, and medical professionals (doctors, nurses, other medical specialists) who work in paediatrics.

Legally, trustees must be at least 16 years old. We do not accept applications from anyone who is currently disqualified from acting as a charity trustee.

Personal skills and qualities

• Willingness and ability to understand and accept their responsibilities and liabilities as   trustees and to act in the best interests of the organisation.
• Ability to think creatively and strategically, exercise good, independent judgement and work effectively as a board member.
• Effective communication skills and willingness to participate actively in discussion.
• A strong personal commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
• Enthusiasm for our vision and mission.
• Willingness to lead according to our values. All our work, including our interactions with each other, stakeholders and those we support, is guided by the following principles:
  • Kindness in our approach to our work and ourselves.
  • Differences are our strength. Difference of experience and thought is vital to our success.
  • Confidence in engaging with, and challenging, our work at all levels. We must be welcoming and supportive to ensure this happens.
• Commitment to Nolan’s seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.

Terms of appointment

Board members have a collective responsibility. This means that trustees always act as a group and not as individuals.

Terms of office

• Trustees are appointed for a three year term of office.
• This is a voluntary position, but reasonable expenses are reimbursed.

Time commitment

• Attending four one-hour Board meetings annually. Meetings are currently held virtually.
• Reading papers and preparing for Board meetings. Papers are circulated at least one week before every meeting. They are usually around two pages of A4 per paper, and meetings have, on average, four papers.
• There may be times when the trustees will need to be actively involved beyond Board meetings. This can involve scrutinising papers circulated by email, leading discussions, focusing on key issues, providing advice and guidance on new initiatives, presenting externally, or other issues in which the trustee has special expertise.

To apply, please email Lydia Strachan, Director, attaching your CV and a paragraph on why you feel you are suited to the role.

This role is advertised as part of TPP's Free Giving Back Services. This volunteer advertisement copy has been supplied to TPP and applicants apply direct to the organisation. Please contact the organisation directly if you have any questions about this volunteer role.