Reports To:Chair of the Board of Directors

Change Mental Health is a leading national mental health charity providing unique support to people with severe and enduring mental ill health. With over 50 years’ experience across Scotland, we believe people affected by poor mental health and illness deserve the highest quality of support in the community and that every person has the right to be valued and to share in the opportunities, challenges, and joys of everyday life.

The primary responsibility of trustees is to provide the organisation with strategic leadership and maintain a governance perspective to ensure it is well managed and administered, and resources are used appropriately.

In addition to the above statutory and specific duties, each trustee should use any specific skills, knowledge or experience they have to help the board of trustees reach sound decisions.

This may involve:

• Scrutinising board papers
• Leading discussions
• Focusing on key issues
• Providing guidance on new initiatives
• Time Commitment
• 4 board meetings per year, from 4-6.30pm, and up to two board away days, normally taking place on a Saturday.

All Trustees are required to attend at least 75% of board meetings annually.

Statutory Responsibilities:

• To ensure that the organisation complies with its governing document, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations
• To ensure that the organisation pursues its objects as defined in its governing document
• To ensure the organisation uses its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objects: the organisation must not spend money on activities which are not included in its own objects, no matter how worthwhile or charitable those activities are
• To safeguard the good name and values of the organisation
• To ensure the effective and efficient administration of the organisation
• To protect and manage the property of the charity and to ensure the proper investment of the charity’s funds
• To ensure the Board operates effectively and:
• Contributes to the establishment of the organisation’s strategic direction and goals and the monitoring of any strategic plans.
• Evaluates the organisation’s performance on a regular basis and holds the Chief Executive Officer accountable for outcomes
• Ensures the financial stability of the organisation and understands and acts upon financial and other monitoring information presented to it, questioning such information when appropriate
• Defines the boundaries of management authority
• Delegates the implementation of its decisions to the Chief Executive and Senior Leadership Team, supporting them as required to carry out their work
• Ensures the performance and development of the Chief Executive Officer is reviewed annually
• Reviews its performance annually and that all Trustees actively participate in this evaluation
• The Board’s agreed position is represented when speaking publicly on behalf of the organisation
• Acting in the best interests of the organisation at all time
• Respect the confidential nature of all information relating to the business of the charity in accordance with information governance and data protection policies
• Working together and not pursuing personal or sectional interests at the expense of organisation interests

Other Duties:

In addition to the above statutory and specific duties, each trustee should use any specific skills, knowledge or experience they have to help the board of trustees reach sound decisions.

This may involve:

• Scrutinising board papers
• Leading discussions
• Focusing on key issues
• Providing guidance on new initiatives

Time Commitment:

4 board meetings per year, from 4-6.30pm, and up to two board away days, normally taking place on a Saturday.

All Trustees are required to attend at least 75% of board meetings annually.

General Duties

• Act in accordance with Data Protection legislation. Ensure all records, personal, staff and client data are managed in line with Data Management and Information Governance policies
• Comply with legal and regulatory requirements such as provisions set out in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
• As with all employees, workers and volunteers; to encourage people to join Change Mental Health as a member, donor or activist
• To act in accordance with the charity’s Health & Safety and Safeguarding policies and to notify your line manager promptly if there are any concerns
• To participate in regular supervision and appraisal and undertake any relevant training as appropriate to the role
• To work in accordance with the charity’s national policies and local operating procedures and those of external regulators or professional bodies