RNIB Trustee Information pack for candidatesApril 2020

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Welcome A world without barriers for people with sight loss.I imagine a world where blind and partially sighted people will say: “I can lead the life I want to lead.” This is RNIB’s vision. To stand alongside blind and partially sighted people to create a world where there are no barriers for people with sight loss.

The world has changed beyond recognition since we started our work over 150 years ago but, for blind and partially sighted people, too much has stayed the same. Unacceptable inequalities in the modern world are a fact of life for too many of us; from difficulty accessing treatment and services, to a lack of emotional and practical support, and challenges getting into work. RNIB is now in a better position than ever to achieve this vision.

We work alongside a diverse community of 60,000 people living with sight loss, directly support more than 100,000 customers, and our messages reach millions of people who are at risk of losing their sight.

RNIB provides expert eye health and sight loss information and advice. Working with our supporters and partners, we’re equipping people with the advice and confidence they need to thrive; we’re mobilising our community to create networks and campaign; and we are changing society and public

attitudes. Underpinning all of this is our commitment to create a fit-for-purpose organisation to achieve all of this effectively and efficiently.

Over the past few years that I have led the Board, we have embarked on a series of important changes to how we’re set up, how we work and how we involve people in what we do, growing a range of new partnerships that make the best of what’s national and local. With an ambitious new strategy and priorities and a dynamic new brand, we’re excited about the future. We’re seeking two new Trustees to help us continue this work and lead us into that future. If you’d like to be part of our story, we’d love to hear from you.

Eleanor Southwood

Chair, RNIB

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Our vision – the world we want to createImagine a world where people say: “I can live the life I want to lead” and “I am valued for who I am, not identified by the disabilities I happen to have.”

We are leading the creation of a world where there are no barriers for people with sight loss.

Our values Alongside each of our values is an example of how we live the value in our work.

1. Led by blind and partially sighted people: Blind and partially sighted people are at the heart of our organisation and influence everything we do.

2. Collaborative: We work together to make the biggest difference.

3. Creative: We understand challenges and find ways to overcome them and move forward.

4. Inclusive: We include and value people with diverse experience, abilities and backgrounds.

5. Open: We are honest, candid and transparent, challenging ourselves and others.

RNIB’s charitable objects and ambitionTrustees are responsible for ensuring RNIB delivers its charitable objects and achieves its ambition statement.

RNIB’s charitable objects are:• To promote the better education,

training, employment and welfare of blind and partially sighted people;

• To generally watch over and protect the interests of blind and partially sighted people; and

• To prevent blindness.

RNIB’s ambition:• To make every day better for

everyone affected by sight loss.

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See differently – RNIB’s StrategyWe’ll lead the creation of a world where there are no barriers for people with sight loss.

In 2018, alongside re-launching our brand to encourage people to “See differently,” we launched a bold new strategy to achieve a world with no barriers to people with sight loss.

Our strategy has four key priorities:1. We will equip people with sight loss

to thrive. Our expert information and advice service will equip blind and partially sighted people and those that care about sight loss, to take on the world.

2. We’ll mobilise the community. We’ll do this by increasing the public’s understanding of sight loss. At the same time, we’ll work to systematically remove the barriers to equal participation in society.

3. We’ll change society. We’ll connect communities and influence decision makers so that together, we can make the world a fair place.

4. We’ll create a fit-for-purpose organisation. We’ll develop a customer-centred, knowledge-based and agile organisation that drives change.

Underpinning our strategy is a rolling three-year business plan, produced with the involvement of customers, which also continues our financial transformation and the re-focusing of our services to reach everyone who needs us, whenever they need us.

Around two million people live with sight loss in the UK today. And it can be tough. From difficulty accessing treatment and services, to a lack of emotional and practical support, blind and partially sighted people each face their own set of challenges every day. Feelings of isolation are unacceptably high, and only one in four blind or partially sighted people of working age have a job.

And we know the numbers will increase dramatically. By 2050, around 500 people could start to lose their sight every day – that’s one every three minutes. The world and everything in it are changing rapidly and our customers and their expectations are no exception.

Our context is becoming ever more complex: changes in giving trends, increased regulation and public scrutiny and uncertainties around Brexit make it even more important that we are the best we can be.

We are finding new solutions, new ways to build a world where the equal participation of blind and partially sighted people is the norm.

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Our commitment to diversity and inclusionRNIB is committed to developing and maintaining a Board of Trustees that is truly representative of its UK-wide customer base; demonstrating diversity with regard to gender identity, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation age, disability and geography. RNIB is committed to ensuring its board membership includes the depth and breadth of both professional and personal experience required to provide the organisation with the strategic direction and scrutiny required for it to succeed.

RNIB is led by blind and partially sighted people and is committed to the appointment of Trustees who have lived experience of sight loss. We will provide the following:

• Pay for your travel costs to the office and back for interviews.

• Make any reasonable adjustments – for example ensuring we have BSL interpreters organised in advance if you’d like them.

• Provide this document in a Word document format readily available to download.

• Offer a guaranteed first stage interview for disabled candidates who meet the minimum requirements for the role.

• Provide an induction for all appointed Trustees prior to attending their first board meeting.

• Run training and development sessions relevant to your role as a Trustee.

If there is anything else you’re concerned about or think we could provide, please let us know. 

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RNIB Trustee role profile and person specificationPurposeRNIB is seeking Trustees to be part of our Board and wider organisation. The Board leads on setting and overseeing the implementation of the organisation’s strategy and supporting and holding to account the CEO and management to deliver our mission effectively for maximum impact. As an organisation led by blind and partially sighted people, candidates with lived experience of sight loss are critical to our governance and particularly encouraged to apply.

Legal contextTrustees are responsible for the legal stewardship of RNIB. This involves ensuring RNIB is compliant with legislation and its own governing documents, which are the Royal Charter and Bye-Laws. The trustee role carries with it a number of legal director duties which trustees are expected to understand.

We expect all our Trustees to be aware of the Charity Governance Code. In particular, our Trustees should be committed to our cause and have joined our board because they want to help us deliver our purpose; they should understand their roles and legal responsibilities and be committed to good governance and want to contribute to our continued improvement.

Charity Commission guidance states that Trustees must:• Ensure that everything they do helps

to achieve the charity’s objects;

• Comply with the charity’s governing document and the law;

• Act in the charity’s best interests;

• Manage the charity’s resources responsibly;

• Act with reasonable care and skill and take advice when necessary;

• Ensure the charity is compliant with statutory accounting and reporting requirements.

Key responsibilities and duties• Fulfil the legal duties of the

Trustee role.

• Set strategy and agree the business and financial plans to support strategic delivery.

• Scrutinise performance, ensuring that everything RNIB does and all resources spent go towards achieving RNIB’s charitable objects.

• Provide financial stewardship and responsibility for the management of all RNIB assets.

• Undertake regular and detailed scrutiny of RNIB’s financial position, ensuring financial stability and the proper investment of any funds managed on its behalf.

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• Ensure effective and efficient administration of RNIB by maintaining and working within the agreed assurance framework, with particular reference to compliance with external regulation and exemplary practice.

• Take responsibility for the safeguarding and health and safety of RNIB customers and staff, ensuring appropriate management and reporting.

• Take responsibility for risk management across RNIB, ensuring risks are identified, assessed and mitigated as far as possible.

• Determine and lead the culture of RNIB, ensuring that all behaviours and decisions are in accordance with RNIB Values and that the Values are embedded across the organisation (see separate document on RNIB Values and behaviours).

• Be visible to RNIB Connect – the community of blind and partially sighted people. Trustees are expected to make a commitment to RNIB Connect through attending its events, listening to its feedback and supporting it to develop and grow.

• Prepare for and attend all board meetings.

Trustee Person SpecificationEssential criteriaCandidates must be able to demonstrate that they meet the following criteria.

Skills, knowledge and experience1. Confident and effective

communication and influencing skills, with a willingness to provide constructive challenge to peers and the Executive.

2. Ability to work effectively as part of a team that makes collective strategic decisions.

3. Ability to facilitate change and apply this within RNIB.

4. Ability to think strategically and analyse complex information and concepts.

5. Understanding of and commitment to the work of RNIB and the issues that it faces.

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Desirable criteriaSkills, knowledge and experience• Experience of operating as a board

member within another charitable, public sector or commercial organisation, or a strong and demonstrable ability to do so.

• Knowledge of the statutory duties, responsibilities and liabilities of Trusteeship.

We are seeking the following skills on the Board:1. Experience of strategic customer

relationship management in a commercial context, including the systems, processes and behaviours needed to create and maintain an excellent customer experience

2. Fundraising strategy and innovation, including new and dynamic approaches and digital

3. Digital transformation and the change management to support the embedding of new digital approaches

4. Investments, particularly institutional and charitable investments.

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Further informationEligibility criteria• Candidates must be aged 16 or over

and resident in the UK.

• Candidates must not be employees of RNIB.

• Shortlisted candidates will be subject to written references and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) and/or Access Northern Ireland checks prior to formal appointment as a Trustee.

• Shortlisted candidates will be required to sign a declaration to disclose certain personal information to confirm they are a “fit and proper person” to manage a charity; that they are not disqualified; and to state that they will ensure that RNIB funds are used for charitable purposes.

Minimum time commitment• Trustees are expected to prepare for

and attend all board meetings.

• Meetings are held six times a year during office hours which last approximately four to five hours. Most but not all meetings are held in London.

• Trustees will be expected to sit on or chair one or more of RNIB’s Committees, each of which meets around four times a year.

• Trustees are also expected to attend RNIB’s Annual General Meeting and occasional regional or national RNIB events.

In all, Trustees are expected to commit at least 18 days including four Board meetings and four Committees which take place during usual working hours plus additional time being digitally or otherwise connected with blind and partially sighted people. 

Term of appointment• The term of appointment will be for

up to three years. Trustees may serve for no more than three consecutive terms of three years.

RemunerationWhile the Trustee role is unpaid, reasonable expenses, such as those incurred in travelling to meetings, are payable in line with RNIB’s standard expenses policy.

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How to applyWe ask that your application consist of the following three documents:

• A supporting statement, which addresses and provides evidence against the criteria set out in the person specification. The supporting statement provides you with the opportunity to explain your motivation for applying, as well as highlighting how your experience and achievements fit with the requirements of the role. As such, it is an important part of the application process.

• A copy of your CV.

• Our diversity monitoring form should also be completed and returned. The information you provide in this form will not be shown to the Selection Panel and will play no part in the assessment of your application.

• We offer disabled applicants the option of requesting their application is considered under the terms of disability confident Guaranteed Interview Scheme (GIS). To be invited to interview under this scheme, you must meet the minimum criteria for the role. This means being able to demonstrate all the essential criteria in the candidate pack and any one of the skills required. If you are eligible for GIS, please state this clearly in your covering letter.

All documents should be emailed to Sam Carey or Elizabeth Oni-Iyiola with your name in the subject field to RNIB@inclusiveboards.co.uk

For an informal discussion about the role or the process, please contact: Sam Carey or Elizabeth Oni-Iyiola 0207 267 8369 RNIB@inclusiveboards.co.uk

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Timetable Closing Date: 8 JunePreliminary interviews with Inclusive Boards: Ongoing until 26 JuneFinal interviews with RNIB: week commencing 13 July

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rnib.org.uk

A registered charity in England and Wales (no. 226227), Scotland (no. SC039316) and the Isle of Man (no. 1226). Also operating in Northern Ireland. A company incorporated by Royal Charter. Registered in England and Wales (no. RC000500). Registered office 105 Judd Street, London WC1H 9NE

To find out more about our work, please visit our website at: www.rnib.org.uk/about-rnib-what-we-do/our-strategy

Our brand:https://www.rnib.org.uk/about-us/see-differently

Financial information and annual review:https://www.rnib.org.uk/about-rnib-what-we-do/annual-review-and-annual-reports