Role: Trustee, Imperial Health Charity

Appointment Term: Initially three years, with the possibility of one or (exceptionally) two further three-year terms to be served.

Frequency of meetings: 7-10 meetings a year for Board and Committee work. Workload should be less than 2 days/month.

Remuneration: None; reasonable travel expenses for attending meetings will be covered.

Note: Trustees normally also join one of the board committees which typically sit 2 weeks before a board meeting. Committee membership will be discussed with successful candidates on appointment.

Governance

The charity’s Board comprises up to 10 Trustees: seven independent members and three representing the NHS Trust. The Chair must be one of the independent Trustees.

The Trustees delegate the day-to-day management of the charity to its Chie Executive, Ian Lush, along with his senior management team and staff – 44 in all. Trustees are responsible for fiduciary and financial oversight and for agreeing the charity’s strategy. There are subcommittees, reporting to the Board, which over the charity’s grants, arts, finance and investments, audit and risk.

The charity works closely with the Trust and takes full account of its overall objectives and strategic direction. The charity is, nonetheless, independent in its decision making and has to make choices in allocating its resources effectively.

Trustees play a key role in ensuring that this is done in a timely, transparent, and efficient manner, and that the impact of its fundraising and grant-making is measured systematically. The charity also works in partnership with other charities and voluntary organisations to maximise its impact.

The Trustee's role on the Board

1. To participate fully and actively in the meetings of the Board and its committees.

2. To contribute to the strategic direction of the Charity

3. To review the performance of the Charity against the key performance indicators approved by the Board.

4. To establish constructive working relationships with fellow Trustees and the Executive, recognising that day-to-day management is the responsibility of the Executive.

5. To act as ambassadors for the Charity externally.

6. To act in accordance with the accepted standards of behaviour in public life and the Charity’s values.

7. To exercise the Board’s responsibilities in the interests of the Charity as a whole, rather than as a representative of any constituency and to accept collective responsibility for decisions made by the Board.

8. To act fairly and impartially at all times in the interests of the Charity, using

independent judgement and maintaining confidentiality as appropriate.

9. To establish constructive working relationships with fellow Trustees and the Executive TEAM, recognising that day-to-day management is the responsibility of the Executive Team.

Person specification

We are looking for two trustees, one with a technology background and one generalist, ideally with some connection to the north west London community and/or a volunteering background.

We are open to applications from candidates for whom this would be the first board appointment.

You will have:

• A commitment to understanding and fulfilling the duties and responsibilities of a governor and maintaining knowledge in this regard through professional development.

• Strong personal commitment to aims and values of the Charity.

• Experience of operating at a strategic and/ or corporate level.

• The ability to negotiate outcomes and influence others to agree with those outcomes.

• The ability to analyse complex and detailed information, readily distil key issues, and develop innovative approaches and solutions to problems.

• Ability to operate as an effective member of a team with fellow governors.

• Ability to communicate effectively with a broad range of stakeholders.

• Willingness to devote the time needed to be an effective governor.

• Legally eligible to be a director and a charity trustee.

• Commitment to equality and diversity.

• No envisaged barriers to obtaining DBS disclosure.

Applications are particularly welcome from candidates who have either of the following skills:

IT/Technology

• Professional background in IT or cyber or data analytics or AI

Community connection/Volunteering experience

• We are looking for a trustee to support us to deepen our connection with the Northwest London community

• We are open with respect to the candidates’ professional background; ideally someone who has experience in setting up and organising significant volunteering activities