Role Description
For
Vice Chair
Role:
Vice Chair of Age UK North Tyneside
Location:
Bradbury Centre, North Shields
Area of Benefit:
In and Around North Tyneside
Responsible to:
The Charity via the Chair
Responsible for:
Supporting the Governance of the Charity
General 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 applies its resources exclusively in
pursuance of its objects
 To contribute actively to the Board of Trustees’ role in giving
strategic direction to the organisation, setting overall policy, defining
goals and setting targets and evaluating performance against
agreed targets
 To safeguard the good name and values of the organisation
 To ensure the effective and efficient administration of the
organisation
 To ensure the financial stability of the organisation
 To protect and manage the property of the charity and to ensure the
proper investment of the charity’s funds
 If the charity employs staff, to appoint the chief executive officer and
monitor his/her performance.
In addition to the above statutory 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:-
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Scrutinising Board papers
Leading discussions
Focusing on key issues
Providing guidance on new initiatives
Other issues in which the trustee has special expertise.
The Vice-Chair acts for the Chair when s/he is not available and
undertakes assignments at the request of the Chair. Specific additional
duties may be assigned by the Chair and may include:
 Membership of/Chair to a Sub-Committee
 Representing the organisation to external bodies where appropriate
 Dealing with urgent decisions in between set Board meetings
Delegated decisions will be taken to full Board meetings or appropriate
Sub-Committee meetings for ratification.
The Vice Chair will act as the Co-ordinator of the appraisal process
assessing the Chair’s performance. S/he will also be the ‘lead
independent member’ on matters such as the Chair’s conduct and
behaviour if there are complaints which need attention.
While the Trustee Board will decide on how to recruit a new Chair on the
expiry of a current postholder’s role, the Vice Chair will also be a person
capable of undertaking the Chair’s role either on an acting or permanent
basis, subject to the Trustee Board’s decision.
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Person
Specification for
Vice Chairperson
PERSON
SPECIFICATION
ESSENTIAL
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EXPERIENCE
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SKILLS/
ATTRIBUTES
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VALUES &
ATTITUDES
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Nolan’s seven principles
of public life: selflessness,
integrity, objectivity,
accountability, openness,
honesty and leadership
Experience of committee
work
Strategic vision
Good, independent
judgement
Ability to think creatively
Willingness to speak their
mind
Ability to work effectively
as a member of a team
Leadership skills
Tact and diplomacy
Good communication and
interpersonal skills
Impartiality, fairness and
the ability to respect
confidences
Business Acumen
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Understanding and
acceptance of the legal
duties, responsibilities and
liabilities of trusteeship
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Commitment to the
organisation
Willingness to devote the
necessary time and effort
KNOWLEDGE &
OTHER
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DESIRABLE
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Knowledge of the
type of work
undertaken by the
organisation and a
wider involvement
with the voluntary
sector and other
networks
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