Information Pack
Applicants to the Board of Grandparents Plus
Thank you for your interest in Grandparents Plus’ board of trustees. Inside this pack
you will find:
 Grandparents Plus’ mission, vision and charitable objects
 The trustee job description and person specification
 Our latest annual report and accounts
 Our ‘who we are and what we do’ leaflet
The selection process
The role of Trustee is an extremely important one and the Board is keen to ensure
that new Trustees strengthen the Board’s mix of skills, expertise and diversity and
also demonstrate an understanding of the expectations of the role.
Please note that in this recruitment round we are looking for trustees with
specific skills, knowledge or experience in any of the following areas:
o
o
o
o
Academic research, particularly in family policy or a related
policy area
Family Law
Experience of service delivery or a senior role in local
government children’s services
private sector and/or marketing experience
If you are interested in becoming a Trustee and would like to talk informally to
someone first, please contact Sam Smethers, our Chief Executive on 020 8981 8001
who can answer queries or put you in touch with the Co-Chairs or another board
member for a confidential conversation.
If you wish to apply please write to us (email or letter) providing a short statement
outlining why you would like to be a Trustee and what skills and experience you
would bring to this role. Please also include a short CV. The deadline for
applications is Friday 23rd November 2012.
Please email your application to info@grandparentsplus.org.uk with the subject
heading ‘board application’ or you can return postal applications to:
Grandparents Plus, 18 Victoria Park Square, Bethnal Green, London E2 9PF
The Nominations Committee will interview candidates on Wed 5th December and will
make recommendations to the Board. Successful candidates will then be able to
stand for election at the AGM which is scheduled for Thursday January 24th 2013.
Trustees generally meet four times a year for board meetings plus a one/two strategy
away day discussions each year. Trustees are expected to attend all meetings.
Trustees’ expenses (for travel to Board meetings and overnight accommodation
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where required and childcare costs) are paid, but the role itself is without
remuneration.
Please do get in touch if you require any further information.
Yours sincerely
Stephen Burke & Jean Stogdon
Co- Chairs Grandparents Plus
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Our vision
We want to see:
A transformation in the way society thinks about the role of grandparents and the
wider family so that their contribution can be recognised, valued, supported and
celebrated.
Kinship carers and the children they care for get the recognition and support they
need.
Grandparents Plus champions the role of grandparents and the wider family because
we want to make children’s lives better. We do this by:




Campaigning for change so that their contribution to children's wellbeing
and care is valued and understood
Providing evidence, policy solutions and training so that they get the
services and support they need to help children thrive
Advising and supporting grandparents and wider family members by
ensuring they have access to a holistic service, offering them professional
advice and information and casework support; and by ensuring they can have
a voice and help each other, especially when they are caring for children who
are not living with their parents
Advising, informing and supporting professionals to develop good
kinship care practice and advising employers about how to respond to the
needs of their ageing workforces
Our values
Inclusive: we are approachable, welcoming and non-judgemental. We celebrate the
diversity of family life, and we actively challenge prejudice and discrimination.
Authoritative: our work is based on clear evidence, balanced argument and expert
understanding of the realities of family life. We provide specialist knowledge about
the role and needs of grandparents and the wider family, informed by the voices and
experience of grandparents and extended families themselves.
Collaborative: we strive for open and productive relationships with all of our
stakeholders, and work in collaborative partnerships and alliances to achieve our
aims.
Campaigning: we have a clear agenda for change to improve the lives of children,
grandparents and families, and we mount compelling and effective campaigns to
challenge the status quo and deliver positive change in opinion, policy and practice.
Charitable Objects
Grandparents Plus was founded in 2001 by Lord Young of Dartington and Jean
Stogdon, one of our Co-Chairs. It became a registered charity in 2002 and is also
incorporated as a Limited Company. It is governed by its Memorandum and Articles
of Association where the objectives are the same as those set out in its charity
registration which are to promote the better care, upbringing and establishment in life
of children, in particular by;
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
Promoting the role of kinship care by grandparents at all levels, particularly in
circumstances of family breakdown, single parenthood or other difficult
circumstances;

Supporting and advising grandparents and other kin who are acting as or
intend to act as carers, particularly in the circumstances mentioned above.
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Job description for Grandparents Plus Board member
Job purpose: To further the organisation’s mission, keeping within its charitable
objectives.
Main tasks
With other board members:
1.
To provide strategic leadership for the organisation by taking part in
formulating and regularly reviewing its strategic aims, setting overall policy, and
evaluating performance.
2.
To ensure that the activities, policy and practices of the organisation are in
keeping with its objects and aims.
3.
To ensure that the organisation complies with the legal and financial
requirements of a charitable organisation and its own governing documents and
strives to achieve best practice.
Main duties
1.
Providing strategic leadership

Consider the organisation as a whole and its beneficiaries, whether as a
member of the board members or any of its committees, sub-committees, groups
etc.

Reflect the organisation's vision and principles, strategy and major policies at
all times.

Contribute specific skills, interests and contacts and support the organisation
in fundraising activities.
2.
Ensuring policies and practices are in keeping with aims

Have reference to Charity Commission guidance at all times, particularly
when exercising the functions of the board members, or any of its committees,
sub-committees, groups.

Attend meetings of the board members.

Reflect the board members' policies and concerns on all its committees, sub-
committees, groups.
3.
Ensuring best practice

to appoint the CEO and monitor his/her performance.

To ensure the effective and efficient administration of the organisation.
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
To maintain sound financial management and control of the charity’s
resources.

Be an active member of the board in exercising its responsibilities and
functions.

Maintain constructive relationships with staff.

Take part in training and development sessions provided for the benefit of the
board members.

Fulfil such other duties and assignments as may be required from time to time
by the board.

To use specific skills, knowledge or expertise to help the board members
reach sound decisions. This may involve scrutinising board papers, leading
discussions, focusing on key issues, or providing advice and guidance on new
initiatives.
Person Specification
At any time the Board needs a good balance in terms of the mix of skills and diversity
of background of trustees. Some of the criteria below are essential for all Board
members. Other criteria are identified as ‘essential’ as part of the overall Board mix,
but not essential for all Board members. In making judgements on desirable criteria
we will have regard to the overall balance on the Board at any one time.
Essential
In this recruitment round we are looking for trustees with specific skills,
knowledge or experience in any of the following areas:
o
o
o
o
Academic research, particularly in family policy or a related
policy area
Family Law
Experience of service delivery or a senior role in local
government children’s services
private sector experience and/or marketing expertise

Commitment to Grandparents Plus’ vision, mission, and values and to our
work to improve the lives of children by supporting the role of grandparents
and the wider family.

Ability to work well as part of a Board and contribute broadly to the work
described above (for example good team work and constructive challenge).
Desirable

Experience of being a grandparent or of the influence of grandparents in your
life; or experience of being a kinship carer, of growing up or working in kinship
care; or experience of working on issues that are directly relevant to
grandparents and the role they play in family life.

Experience of Board or committee work
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
Experience of major organisational processes such as strategic planning,
budgeting and risk management.
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