“I’m under no illusion that I’m a perfect parent. However, working with Home Start has shown me that the experience I’ve gained in raising my own family is enough for me to help support, encourage and give hope to a family struggling with young children.”
Role description for Chairperson
The following are additional to the role, responsibilities and duties of a trustee.
Role:
To lead the trustee board, ensuring that it fulfils its responsibilities for the governance of the scheme and to optimise the relationship between the trustees, the staff and volunteers.
Responsibilities:
- leading the trustee board in its role of setting the direction and strategy of the scheme
- ensuring that the trustee board employs its resources to comply with all legal requirements and acts in furtherance of the objects of the scheme at all times
- planning the annual cycle of trustee and sub-committee meetings
- setting the agenda for trustees’ meetings
- monitoring the implementation of decisions taken at meetings
- ensuring compliance with the Home-Start Agreement and Quality Assurance system.
Duties:
- chairing and facilitating meetings of the trustees and sub-committees as appropriate
- liaising regularly with the senior member of staff to maintain an overview of the scheme’s affairs and activities and to provide support and guidance as appropriate
- representing the scheme when appropriate at functions and meetings
- acting as a spokesperson when appropriate
- leading the process of appraising the senior worker
- sitting on appointment panels for staff
- bringing impartiality and objectivity to decision making
- sitting on disciplinary panels as appropriate
- facilitating change and addressing conflict within the board of trustees and within the scheme.
Person specification for Chairperson:
- Commitment to Home-Start.
- 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.
- Understanding of the importance of Nolan’s seven principles of public life; selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.
- Leadership skills.
- Experience of committee work.
- Tact and diplomacy.
- Good communication and interpersonal skills.
- Impartiality, fairness and the ability to respect confidences.