Connecting Carers (CC) Trustee

Trustee – Role descriptor and Person Specification

Title: Connecting Carers (CC) Trustee.

Main  purpose:  To  ensure  sound  governance  of  Connecting  Carers,  contribute  to  the  growth  and
development of the service.

Based: The central office is at 5 Tulloch Street, Dingwall. Board meetings can be attended remotely
via Zoom and in person which would usually be in Inverness. There may also be a requirement from
time to time to participate in other meetings which would usually be held in Inverness but could be in
other parts of Highland or rarely in other parts of Scotland.

Hours: Variable according to the needs of the service. On average, post training, one 2 -3 hour meeting
every  quarter  (3  months)  plus  additional  hours  associated  with  specific  responsibilities.

Overview of role The Board of Trustees have ultimate legal and financial responsibility for all activities
of  the  organisation.  They  maintain  an  overview  of  policy  and  strategic  direction  rather  than  being
involved in day-to-day operations.

Mission statement: To support Carers in Highland throughout their caring journey.

Vision: A better life for Carers in Highland.

Values:
Connecting Carers will ensure Carers' voices are heard:

•  with respect and compassion
•
through inclusion
•
through promoting choice and opportunity
•  by contributing to their local community, and

To ensure all Young Carers are seen, heard and supported.

Carer Support Line 01463 723560 is open Monday to Friday 10am – 4pm
Connecting Carers is a Company Limited by Guarantee. Registered in Scotland No: 136997.  Scottish Charity No: SC020501.
Registered Office: 5 Tulloch Street, Dingwall, IV15 9JY

Key aspects of the role:

Vision and Leadership

•  To be committed to the vision, mission, and values of CC

Mission statement: To support Carers in Highland throughout their caring journey

Vision: A better life for Carers in Highland

Values:
Connecting Carers will ensure Carers' voices are heard:

o  with respect and compassion
through inclusion
o
through promoting choice and opportunity
o
o  by contributing to their local community, and

To ensure all Young Carers are seen, heard, and supported

•  To provide strategic direction, including agreeing and monitoring strategic plans
•  To keep informed about the activities of CC and the wider issues that affect its work
•  To ensure the work of CC is monitored and evaluated

Accountability & Legal Responsibilities

•  To ensure that CC complies with its governing document – Memo & Articles of Association
•  To ensure that CC complies with the law, including charity law
•  To ensure that CC makes efficient use of resources, in particular that all monies are applied to

its objects, agreed plans and budgets

•  To ensure that risks to CC staff, volunteers and service users are identified, at an acceptable

level and are effectively managed

•  To be accountable to funders and other stakeholders
•  To personally abide by all policies and procedures

Financial & Staff Management

•  To understand the financial position of CC
•  To ensure that CC’s finances are effectively managed
•  To ensure that CC operates within its agreed accounting policies
•  To ensure adequate financial resources for CC
•  To contribute to and support fundraising strategies
•  To ensure that CC is properly insured against all reasonable liabilities
•  To ensure that CC is a responsible employer and adheres to legislation
•  To effectively support and manage the CC Managers

Responsibilities of Individual Trustees

While the Board of Trustees is collectively responsible for decisions made, it is important to be aware
of  the  individual  responsibilities  and  duties  of  trustees.  Outlined  below  are  the  duties  for  Charity
Trustees:

•
•
•
•
•
•
•

to act within powers
to promote the organisation
to exercise independent judgement
to exercise reasonable care, skill, and diligence
to avoid conflict of interest
to not accept benefits from third parties
to declare any interests in proposed transaction or arrangements

Training

The following compulsory training must be completed as soon as possible following appointment
to the Board of Trustees:

•  OSCR – Guidance and good practice for charity Trustees
•  Data protection training provided by CC’s Data Protection Officer
•  Governance training provided by HTSI (Highland Third Sector Interface) or SCVO (Scottish

Council for Voluntary Organisations)

•  Any other identified training as agreed or requested by the Chair of the Board

The following compulsory training must be completed as and when convenient but must be within
2 years of appointment to the Board of Trustees:

•  Refresh of Data protection training
•  Refresh of OSCR guidance
•  Any other identified training as agreed or requested by the Chair of the Board

Times and commitment

•  Board Meetings – Every quarter (3 months) for 2-3 hours during the day or evening
•  Appropriate time to read and study all papers and reports in advance of meetings
•  To lead/attend sub-committee meetings as appropriate

Carer Support Line 01463 723560 is open Monday to Friday 10am – 4pm
Connecting Carers is a Company Limited by Guarantee. Registered in Scotland No: 136997.  Scottish Charity No: SC020501.
Registered Office: 5 Tulloch Street, Dingwall, IV15 9JY

•  To support staff within certain operational areas such as recruitment, conflict management or

finance

•  depending on agreed individual Trustee responsibilities
•  Yearly AGM (Annual General Meeting) attendance
•  Time to time attendance at national or area conferences or meetings
•  Training on a range of subjects including governance

What we ask from Trustees:

•  To respect the confidentiality of the service we provide
•  To be honest, open, and respectful towards others
•  To attend all compulsory Training
•  To attend at least 80% of all Board Meetings over the course of the year
•  To actively contribute to good governance
•  To always adhere to CC Volunteer Policies and codes of good practice

What we offer in return:

Whilst being a Trustee is a real commitment and does take up some of your spare time, it’s also
hugely rewarding. Getting involved means that you can use your time and skills to make a real and
positive contribution to adult and young Carers in Highland. This is a particularly exciting time to
join us as the service expands and develops and you can join us to continue the growth.

You’ll be part of a team who are all committed to helping Connecting Carers make a difference to
the lives of unpaid Carers that we support. We all have something different to offer – whether your
skills are in accounting, marketing, fundraising, HR, PR, working with unpaid Carers, or you are an
unpaid Carer yourself, you can help us in the work of Connecting Carers to support unpaid Carers
and assist them to have the best life possible alongside their caring role.

As a Trustee you will not be dealing with Carers yourself directly nor will you be involved in the
operational side of things, so it is not essential to be knowledgeable in that regard – we are looking
for people with a different range of skills to help with governance. If you believe in our ethos, you
can help and make a difference. The initial training and induction will be thorough and will enable
you  to  be  more  confident  and  knowledgeable  about  the  impacts  of  caring  on  both  adults  and
children and young people – so do not worry if you do not have any experience at all in this area.

As well as the induction and training that Connecting Carers offers you will also be able to take part
in training offered by national and local organisations so there are opportunities to further develop
your skills.

Connecting  Carers  genuinely  believes  in  valuing  those  that  volunteer  for  us.  Without  the
commitment of our volunteers our service would not be able to offer the breath of support that we
currently  do.  How  we  support  and  recognise  the  contribution  that  volunteers  make  to  the
organisation has been recently demonstrated by being awarded the Volunteer Friendly Award.

All our volunteers have access to the free and confidential services delivered by health Assured, the
organisations Volunteer/Employee Assistance Programme provider.

There is a wonderful team of staff and volunteers at Connecting Carers and so much progress has
been made already – but we still have so much to do. Please read the person specification and if

you believe in what we are working towards, have some spare time, some skills to give and are
open to learning more, then please think about joining us.

Criteria
Knowledge &
Understanding

Experience

Skills & Abilities

Qualifications

Other

Trustee Person Specification

Essential

Desirable

•  Understanding of impact
of caring on adults
and/or children and
young people

•  Finance
•  HR
•  PR
•  Governance
•  Third Sector
•
•  Fundraising/grants/Trusts
•  Business Development
•  Unpaid Carer
•  Ability to work as part of
a small team of Trustees

IT

•  A commitment to an

understanding of unpaid caring in
the community

•  Shared value base with CC &
commitment to our aims

•  Good leadership skills
•  Excellent communication and

•

interpersonal skills
Impartiality and fairness and
recognition of any conflicts of
interest while carrying out the
duties.

•  Ability to respect confidential

nature of the service

•  Value base, skills, experience, and
personal qualities more important
than formal qualifications

•  A willingness to learn
•  Person centred approach
•  Reliability and commitment
•  Commitment to attending

required training

Carer Support Line 01463 723560 is open Monday to Friday 10am – 4pm
Connecting Carers is a Company Limited by Guarantee. Registered in Scotland No: 136997.  Scottish Charity No: SC020501.
Registered Office: 5 Tulloch Street, Dingwall, IV15 9JY