NSUN is looking for a new Chair of the Board of Trustees

Trustees act as the guardian of the vision, purpose and values of NSUN, acting in its best interests and working constructively with other Board members and staff to:

• Achieve and maintain excellent standards of governance
• Ensure NSUN’s purpose and objectives are achieved
• Ensure that NSUN is managed and controlled appropriately and maintains its financial sustainability
• Demonstrate that NSUN is accountable to its members, funders and stakeholders
• Ensure NSUN works within the requirements of the law, regulation, its funding bodies and best practice standards

The Trustee role is strategic rather than operational. Click here to view our Scheme of Delegation.

The role of the Chair of the Board of Trustees is a leadership role in ensuring the Board of Trustees fulfils its responsibilities for the effective governance of the charity. The key responsibilities of Trustees are set out below and a specific role description for the Chair can be found under the heading “The role of the Chair”.

Key responsibilities

1. To take part in formulating and regularly reviewing the strategic aims of the organisation, and to collaborate in providing the direction of NSUN’s ongoing development
2. To work with the other Trustees in ensuring that the practices and policies of NSUN are in accordance with its mission
3. With other Trustees, to exercise effective control of the organisation, ensuring that it functions within the legal and financial requirements of a charitable organisation and in accordance with best practices

As part of the board, Trustees will

• Ensure compliance with the Charity Commission requirements and its guidance
• Devote sufficient time and energy to NSUN, including preparing for meetings and where possible keeping up to date with relevant mental health, social care, human rights and disability sector issues
• Contribute specific skills and experience in the monitoring and safeguarding of the organisation’s performance
• Attend and participate in any Board induction, training or other development activities, and the Board appraisal scheme
• Register all interests that might have a bearing on NSUN’s work and declare any potential or actual conflicts of interest as and when they arise
• Represent NSUN positively to all external stakeholders and interested groups
• Collaborate in the design, implementation, and monitoring of a risk management framework in order to safeguard the assets and reputation of the organisation

Trustees’ specific duties include

• Develop, review and safeguard NSUN’s strategic aims, and assist in their implementation
• Attend the meetings of the Trustee Board, AGM and sub-committee meetings as required
• Monitor and evaluate the organisation’s financial and operational performance against its strategic aims, exercising efficient control and ensuring best practice
• Work towards NSUN’s vision, purpose, and values
• Ensure all of the organisation’s policies are in accordance with its aims and values
• Attend all training and development activities and opportunities, including the induction process upon taking up the role of Trustee. Commitment to continually develop an understanding of the work NSUN undertakes
• Work as an effective member of the team within the Trustee Board whilst reflecting the values of the organisation, protect its assets and integrity
• Forge and maintain effective relations with the staff team, engaging with members and stakeholders as required

Trustees are expected to attend and contribute to all board meetings bringing their skills and experience to ensure effective governance, through support, constructive challenge and scrutiny. Board meetings are held six times a year, are usually 3 hours in length, and require around 3 hours of preparation. Meetings are held online, however we are aiming to include some face-to-face development days in addition to this, for which expenses are covered. Additionally, Trustees are invited to the online Annual General Meeting. Additional subcommittee meetings are c. 1 hour in length and can number between four and eight meetings per year.

To enable the smooth operation of the organisation between meetings, trustees will also need to respond to regular email communications (the time commitment will vary from week to week but should average no more than 1 hour per week). The Trustee role is voluntary (unpaid) but expenses related to the work are covered.

• Papers are emailed two weeks in advance of meetings, with optional pre-board meetings to run through the papers
• Trustees are encouraged to join one of the board committees/working groups
• Trustees are invited to the annual general meeting (AGM) and members’ event which usually takes place over a full day (the business part is around 1 hour long). Trustees can claim out-of-pocket expenses incurred including travelling to meetings with any reasonable adjustments necessary
• Trustees serve a three-year term before being eligible for re-election. Officers are elected annually
• Trustees will have a yearly appraisal to support their development. Training and additional support is also available, to meet specific development needs. Training on topics relevant to the work of NSUN is provided 2–3 times a year (usually for half a day) and attendance is an important part of the Trustee role.  
• Upon joining and regularly thereafter we will discuss how best to meet any access and support needs you may have

The scope of the Chair’s involvement will be wider and will include:

• Monthly supervision meetings with the CEO and annual appraisals (1 hour in length)
• Being the named contact and lead in response to complaints and whistleblowing
• A slightly higher time commitments in terms of email correspondence, meetings and check-ins with board members and the staff team around time critical or more involved decisions (approx. 1–2 hours per week)

In addition to the normal responsibilities as a Trustee, the Chair has a leadership role in ensuring the Board of Trustees fulfils its responsibilities for the effective governance of the charity.

Overall responsibilities

• Provide leadership to the charity and its Board, ensuring that the Board fulfils its responsibilities for the governance of the organisation and has maximum impact for its members and wider stakeholders
• To work in partnership with the CEO to help achieve the mission of the organisation, and maintain effective relationships between trustees, staff and members

Strategic leadership

• Ensure the charity has a clear vision, mission and strategic direction and is focused on achieving this
• To hold a strong understanding of the power imbalances commonly seen at Board level within the sector and provide leadership on ways of working which address this and continue to hold lived experience as an integral part of the board’s effectiveness
• To be comfortable to bring constructive challenge to areas where improvement is needed

Governance

• Continue to develop the Board to ensure governance is effective and ways of working are regularly reviewed
• Develop the knowledge and capability of the Board of Trustees, addressing performance on an ongoing basis and through annual 1–1 performance appraisals
• Ensure that the balance of skills within the Board is suitable and that future Trustees recruitment incorporates the right balance of skills, knowledge and experience
• Lead on any key appointments within the charity such as the CEO

External Relations

• Act as an ambassador for the charity
• Develop and maintain close relationships with key stakeholders and influencers
• Represent the charity at external functions, meetings and events
• Attend meetings with prospective funders when required, with the support of the CEO

Efficiency and effectiveness

• Chair the meetings of the Board of Trustees effectively and efficiently including the AGM
• As well as undertaking 1–1 performance reviews with the Board, the chair will undergo a 1–1 with an external body, incorporating feedback from the wider Board and CEO

Relationship with the CEO of NSUN and the wider team

• Build a strong, effective and a constructive working relationship with the CEO
• Ensure regular contact with the CEO and develop and maintain an open and supportive relationship. Undertake regular supervision and performance appraisals
• Liaise with the CEO to maintain an overview of the Charity’s affairs, providing support as necessary
• Ensure that the CEO has the opportunity for professional development and has appropriate external professional support

Additional information

• Develop a collaborative system of support, in particular between those Trustees with officer roles (Vice–Chair and Treasurer)

• All Trustees must have lived experience of mental ill health, distress or trauma
• All Trustees must have a demonstrated commitment to the values and mission of NSUN
• All Trustees must have an excellent understanding of, and interest in, current work happening on the intersections of racial justice and mental health in the UK

Skills and Knowledge

• Demonstrate a strong and visible passion and commitment to the charity, its strategic objectives and cause
• Exhibit strong interpersonal and relationship building abilities and be comfortable in an ambassadorial role
• Demonstrate tact and diplomacy, with the ability to listen and engage effectively
• Strong networking capabilities that can be utilised for the benefit of the charity
• Ability to foster and promote a collaborative team environment
• Use their specific knowledge and experience to support the effective running of the charity and help the Board of Trustees reach sound decisions
• Demonstrate a willingness to devote the necessary time and effort to their duties as a Chair and a Trustee, attending Board meetings and an active involvement outside of the Board meetings
• Demonstrate good, independent judgement in your role as Chair

 Trustee Experience

• Significant experience of chairing meetings/events or experience of operating at a senior strategic leadership level within an organisation
• Experience of effective governance in a charity or similar organisation and understanding of governance issues
• Experience of external representation
• Experience with overseeing a transitionary period at a senior level within an organisation

Knowledge and Skills

• Broad knowledge and understanding of the Charitable sector and the issues affecting it
• Strong leadership skills, ability to motivate Trustees and the staff team
• Good understanding of charity governance issues

NSUN has recently run three small grants programmes for our user–led group members – the COVID-19, Side By Side, and Sustaining Spaces Funds. All Trustees must declare any roles within organisations or groups with the potential to cause a conflict of interest and are prohibited from personally benefitting financially from their role at NSUN. However, should NSUN run similar programmes in the future, a Trustee being part of a member group need not mean that group could not apply for a grant. Rather, the Trustee concerned would be expected to have declared their membership in advance via NSUN’s register of interests for Trustees and would remove themselves from any discussion regarding that group’s application for funds.