Trustee

Do you want to support the running and future development of our independent Care Home charity based in Gerrards Cross, especially as we increase our support for people living with dementia?

Swarthmore Care Home is an ‘exempt’ (not needing to Register with the Charity Commission) charity registered with the FCA and regulated by the CQC, providing residential and dementia care in a bespoke setting and grounds.

Set up in 1945 with a Quaker ethos, although now neither residents nor trustees are expected to be Religious Society of Friends’ Members, we are looking to increase our Board’s knowledge and abilities for the good care of older people, both now and for the future. Trustees have committed to expanding our support and care for people living with dementia, and thus we need to increase our collective experience in all associated areas.

1. We are looking for trustees with an understanding of care and ideally experience in the Care Sector.
2. We are also looking for trustees with experience of HR, who can help us increase our collective skill in people management.

You don’t need prior charity trustee experience, just the ability to jointly contribute to creating and scrutinising our strategy and operational delivery as part of our trustee team. Induction to your role and our organisation will be provided, including access to external training as needed.

Care-focused trustee:

• Our Care Sub-committee, which meets primarily online, strategically steers the Home in all matters of care and support for our residents. We’re looking for new trustees to join and contribute to that strategy, advising our Senior Leadership Team in their day-to-day management.
  This trustee role includes the option to eventually take on the role of Chair of this Subcommittee, and to become the Nominated Individual (CQC-defined).
• We’d expect experience in working or volunteering in a care setting, although we’re flexible about what that is, plus your understanding of supporting people living with dementia. Similarly, you should have a grasp of Adult Social Care and the CQC, and of compliance with their expectations.

HR-focused trustee:

• Our Registered Manager and SLT manage the 50+ employees, and while we outsource HR/legal advice to ensure compliance, the Board wants a more-robust future-facing planned strategy. You would not be managing any employees, as trustees do not execute any operational responsibility, but collectively challenge and support our whole employee team for the benefit of our residents.
• Your experience in employee (or even volunteer) management will be welcome, as well as your appreciation of our people-planning for a 24/7/365 operation. Your up-to-date HR and legislative knowledge will be welcomed, but is not essential.

What do YOU get as a volunteer trustee with our organisation?  

• An opportunity to exercise your strategic skills, probably in a different context
• An opportunity to influence and collectively-lead our organisation
• A chance to expand and implement your understanding of our work
• A chance to augment your experience of charities, and a boost to your career and CV, if needed
• Satisfaction of helping an organisation that supports older people, thus giving something back to the community

What do we get?  

• Your strategic skills, knowledge, understanding and experience, especially in areas of Care or HR
• Your ability to influence plans for our charity’s future
• Enhancement to our overall governance and the Board of trustees; improvement in our operational growth
• Your participation in our collective decision-making, contributing to all areas of our charity work
• Your enthusiasm

What do our residents get?  

• Continued and expanded good support and care for our residents
• A forward-looking and agile organisation, with a well-informed and well-managed Board of trustees

Time commitment:
We ask for approx. ten hours per month, which includes all meetings, discussions, etc.  You will need access to digital communications, as almost all of our charity’s business is run that way.

Quarterly Board meetings (2 FTF, 2 online) lasting about 2.5 hours, plus online Care Committee or online strategy and people-planning meetings, each lasting up to 2 hours. The AGM is held FTF in the Autumn, and is where trustees report to our Religious Society of Friends’ Members.
In addition, at least two scheduled in-person visits to the home per year are expected.

Trustees are appointed for a three-year period, with the option to repeat that to the maximum of six years.

Find out more:
Informal no-obligation discussions can be had online with Mike Allen, Vice-Chair, M.Allen@swarthmorecarehome.org.uk who can supply you with a detailed Role Description and Skills Specification for either role, and our recent Trustees’ Annual Reports and Accounts.

Application:
By your CV and a Cover Letter that answers Why you are interested and What you can bring to Swarthmore Care Home. A more-formal interview will be arranged for suitable applicants.

Trustee appointments are subject to satisfactory references and satisfactory completion of an Enhanced DBS check.