Candidate Pack - Avante Trustee Candidate Pack
Avante Care & Support is a Registered Charity supporting over 1000 older people through ten registered nursing and dementia care homes and home care services across Bexley, Greenwich, Medway and Kent. The organisation has an income in excess of £30 million.
Avante Care & Support was established nearly 30 years ago and is well regarded in the areas it serves, has an experienced and committed workforce and looks to make a difference through the care and support offered to individuals and to families in need of care and support. Avante’s activities are delivered in accordance with its vision statement: Communities where everyone has a vibrant and fulfilling life.
The Board of Trustees is responsible for the overall governance and strategic direction of the charity, and for developing the organisation’s aims, objectives, and goals in accordance with the governing document and legal & regulatory guidelines.
Avante is keen to expand its operations and has ambitious plans, so this is an exciting time to get involved with a progressive, growing organisation.
For more information about Avante Care, please see Avante Care & Support | Care Homes & Home Care | Kent & London
Governance
- To attend Board meetings and participate in decision-making by the Board and act with reasonable care and skill.
- The time commitment expected on both boards and committees will be circa 3 hours per meeting with an annual all day away day. Papers are sent electronically a week in advance of each meeting and additional time will be required to read these.
- To be a member of Committees of the Board as required and agreed, such as the Care & Quality and Finance & Resources Committee.
- To regularly evaluate the appropriateness and effectiveness of the Board.
- To ensure that the organisation’s policies are in line with current legislation and good practice.
- To approve and regularly review the organisation’s budget.
- To ensure that the organisation is structured to ensure it is financially sound.
- To ensure that all published reports adequately reflect the nature of the organisation and its financial health.
- To comply with the organisation’s conflict of interest policy.
- To appoint independent auditors and approve audited accounts
Leadership
- To develop and approve the organisation’s mission and values.
- To promote the reputation of the organisation.
- To provide the strategic leadership necessary for all staff to always deliver high-quality services.
- To represent the organisation at public events.
Strategy
- To regularly assess the market and review and develop the organisation’s strategy.
- To agree the Annual Plan implementing the strategy.
- To review and authorise any major corporate changes to the organisation e.g. corporate amalgamations, takeovers or formal partnerships.
Performance Management
- To monitor and assess the organisation’s results in relation to the agreed objectives, budget and business plan.
- Risk management
- To maintain a robust overview of the principal risks facing the charity;
- To exercise scrutiny over the charity’s risk management systems.
Executive performance monitoring and remuneration
- To recruit and support the Managing Director.
- To monitor performance for the Managing Director and maintain an overview of Executive Team performance.
- To establish remuneration policy for the Managing Director and Executive Team.
- In addition to the above duties, each Trustee should use any specific skills, knowledge or experience they have, to help the Board reach sound decisions. These may involve scrutinising Board and focus group papers, leading discussions, focusing on key issues, providing advice and guidance on new initiatives and other issues in which the Trustee has special expertise.
- All Trustees are expected to bring commitment to inclusion, diversity and the application of equal opportunities working in practice.
- A Trustee is required to act reasonably and prudently in all matters relating to the charity and must always act in the best interests of Avante. As the Board is responsible and liable for the governance and functioning of the charity, they are accountable in varying degrees to a variety of stakeholders, including service users and funders.
Avante is seeking two trustees to complement its Board of trustees - Avante Care & Support.
The suitable candidates should have background expertise in either:
- Social care, ideally adult social care background or a health-related profession.
- Someone who has a strong understanding of the operating environment surrounding care and support.
- Ideally someone who has an understanding of the commissioning environment, the regulatory environment surrounding care and care and support in the wider system
- Someone from a property related background (ideally asset management or development)
- finance background
- HR background
Ideally you will be based in the Southeast so that you are able to discharge your trustee duties and visit Avante’s care homes as part of your duty of care as a trustee, these are largely based in Kent and surrounding areas Avante Care Homes - Avante Care & Support and also to be able to attend board meetings in person at the Head Office – De Gelsey House, 1 Jubilee Way, Faversham, ME13 8GD or at one of Avante’s care homes.
To apply for the position of Trustee, please submit the following documents:
- A CV & Covering Letter detailing your motivations for applying and the added value you would bring to Avante as a Trustee. (Maximum 2 sides of A4).
- A Diversity Monitoring Form (You will be prompted to fill this in electronically when applying via the WIG website).
Advert closing date: - 24th August
Interview dates w/c 5th October & 12th October
If you have any questions about this opportunity, or would value a confidential discussion, please contact Katy Crothall, Head of Talent at [email protected] or [email protected]
Annual commitment is:
- 4 Board meetings
- 8 Committee meetings
- 1 Away Day in June
- 1 annual awards (an afternoon usually in October or November)
Trustees serve for three years and can be re-appointed twice so they are able to serve a total of nine years.