Chair of the Board - The Caldecott Foundation

The Organisation
The Caldecott Foundation, based in Kent and Nottinghamshire, is dedicated to transforming the lives of children and young people who have faced challenging beginnings. With over a century of experience, they provide therapeutic residential care, foster families, and tailored education through their purpose-built schools, which support pupils with identified educational needs. Their schools offer a nurturing environment, with personalised learning, home tutoring, and weekly boarding options to help children thrive.

At the heart of their approach is the ‘Caldecott Relational Model’, which fosters secure, reparative relationships, ensuring that every child feels safe, supported, and valued. Their highly trained professionals, including therapists and educators, deliver therapeutic care and bespoke education, creating pathways to mainstream schooling where possible.

The Role:
The Chair of the Board plays a pivotal role in providing strategic leadership and ensuring effective governance for the Foundation. The primary purpose of the role is to guide the Board in making impactful decisions that align with the Foundation’s charitable objectives, while maintaining the highest standards of integrity and accountability. They will foster a collaborative and high-performing Board culture, support trustee development, and ensure strong relationships with key stakeholders, including funders and partners. Acting as the Foundation’s ambassador, they will advocate for vulnerable children and young people, ensuring their needs remain central to the Foundation’s mission and operations.

Person Specification:

Essential Skills & Experience:

• Proven experience in a senior Board role, with strong governance and strategic leadership skills.
• Expertise in managing the interface between executive and non-executive teams.
• Excellent communication, diplomacy, stakeholder management skills and the ability to work collaboratively.
• Strong integrity, independent judgement, and commitment to charitable values.

Desirable Skills & Experience:

Background in charity governance, business leadership, or professional services.