Board Trustee at Sense Scotland
Take a look at the role…
Sense Scotland was formalised as a charity in 1985. It grew quickly, from its beginnings as a small group of families pressing for services for their children, who were affected by deaf blindness, many because of maternal rubella. Since then, the organisation has gone on to successfully support thousands of disabled people and their families, in thousands of projects and services, throughout Scotland.
Sense Scotland are committed to working to their core values and working principles. Derived from families, these enshrine the organisation’s ethos and guide the actions of all staff. Sense Scotland’s values in practice mean they will:
- Be open and honest
- Recognise individual worth
- Build relationships through trust
- Act on the basis of individuals’ aspirations and needs
- Be accountable
Sense Scotland’s current strategic priorities are:
- Personalisation (Self Directed Support): To be the provider of choice. To be recognised for fitting our service around the needs of the individual
- Quality of Service: To Work in partnership with families, carers, service users, staff and other stakeholders to develop and improve service delivery and quality
- Sustainability and Growth: To grow their services to the benefit of the community by providing personalised, affordable and efficient services
In April 2019, Sense Scotland and ENABLE Scotland joined together to establish The Piper Communities Group. This ground-breaking and innovative group of social care charities, thought to be the first of its kind in Scotland, will enable the delivery of excellent quality social care services to their beneficiaries. The venture will see both charities share innovation, property and resources in an overarching Group structure to enable them to reach even more disabled people throughout Scotland. Whilst the Piper Communities Group, trading as the Piper Group, was launched in April 2019, both ENABLE Scotland and Sense Scotland will retain their individual identities and relationships with families, disabled people and supporters.
Further details can be found by visiting: www.sensescotland.org.uk
As a Board Trustee member your responsibilities will include the following;
Strategic
- Establishing clear strategy and regularly reviewing performance against organisational objectives
- Ensuring effective implementation of Board decisions by the Group Chief Executive
- Holding the Group Chief Executive to account for the effective management and delivery of Sense Scotland’s aims and objectives
- Ensuring the long-term sustainability of Sense Scotland
- Contributing to constructive debate on the strategic development of Sense Scotland
Governance & Compliance
- Ensuring Sense Scotland complies with the provisions of The Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and other relevant legislation
- Ensuring that financial controls and systems of risk management are robust
- Ensuring that appropriate health and safety controls and systems are in place
General
- Taking personal, team and corporate responsibility as a Charity Trustee and Director
- Supporting the Board Chair and Chief Executive while exercising personal responsibility and accountability
- Strengthening connections within the voluntary, private and public sectors and representing Sense Scotland externally
- Sharing responsibility for communicating the decisions of the Board
- Contributing to the process of maintaining the values and vision of Sense Scotland
- Offering constructive criticism and challenge to the Executive Team
- Participating in any induction, training and evaluation identified as an individual and as part of the Board
In addition to these responsibilities, each Board Trustee should use any specific skills, knowledge or experience they have to help the Board of Trustees reach sound decisions. This may involve leading discussions, focusing on key issues, providing advice and guidance on new initiatives, or evaluation of other issues in which the Trustee has special expertise.
Board Trustees will commit to participate, as far as is possible, in:
- Quarterly meetings of the Trustee Board
- The Trustee Board’s annual away day
- Ad hoc meetings of the Trustee Board or sub-groups
- Working groups which progress Sense Scotland’s strategic objectives
- Key internal and external events
For further information on the duties of the Trustee please visit: https://www.oscr.org.uk/managing-a-charity/trustee-duties
Interested candidates should provide a covering letter and a tailored CV to Douglas Adam at [email protected]
All third party applications will be forwarded to Livingston James.
Should you have questions prior to submitting an application please contact Douglas Adam, Head of Public and Not for Profit Practice, at Livingston James on 0131 220 2209.
