Elements and Performance Criteria
- Ensure clarity of role and responsibilities of governing body
- Identify governing body role and responsibilities in relation to organisation's compliance with own objectives and legislative/regulatory requirements, financial performance and solvency, policy development and/or ratification, risk management and internal management
- Focus on strategic direction to maintain integrity of organisation's purpose and activities
- At all times act reasonably, in the interests of the organisation and its stakeholders, independently of any other group or organisation
- Maintain equal responsibility for the actions and decisions of the governing body
- Where involved in operation decisions and matters, maintain clear distinction between role at strategic and operational levels
- Where appropriate, contribute to definition of roles, responsibilities and terms of reference of sub-committees and individual members of governing body
- Maintain compliance of organisation
- Monitor organisation's performance and address any issues relating to compliance with own governing document, financial solvency, legislative/regulatory and, where appropriate licensing/accreditation requirements
- Monitor and review organisation policies, procedures and reporting mechanisms to ensure ongoing compliance, especially in relation to changing requirements
- Monitor any fund raising activities and donations to ensure compliance with relevant requirements
- Review changing trends in the community sector to ensure organisation's ongoing adherence to and leadership in promoting and applying underpinning philosophy and approaches
- Review and maintain organisation systems, policies and procedures
- Set and maintain relevant systems of financial control, internal control, performance reporting and policies and procedures
- Put in place and ensure implementation of system for regular review of organisation's internal policies, systems and controls to ensure their effectiveness
- Where appropriate set up quality assurance/audit practices, processes and personnel
- Manage risk
- Identify and assess risks facing the organisation, staff, users and other stakeholders, and take appropriate steps to minimise exposure to risk
- Avoid undertaking activities which may place at undue risk organisation's users, beneficiaries, volunteers, staff, property, assets or reputation
- Obtain advice from appropriate authorities if required in relation to matters where there may be material risk to the organisation or where trustees may be in breach of their duties
- As a member of the governing body, take ultimate responsibility for dealing with and managing conflicts that may arise within or on behalf of the organisation
- Put in place policy and procedures to enable confidential reporting of matters of concern, such as misconduct, misuse of funds, mis-management and risks to the organisation or its stakeholders
- Ensure principles of access, equity and inclusion are promoted and applied
- identification and assessment of needs to be met
- allocation of resources and provision of services
- membership of governing body and any asub-committees
- staff recruitment, selection, training and conditions of service
- communication with stakeholders and public
- accessibility of meetings and communications
- purchase/procurement of goods and services
- Contribute to maintaining functional governing body
- Contribute to regular review of effectiveness of governing body
- Contribute to recruitment and selection of new members of governing body
- Contribute to ongoing strategic review of organisation's work as a basis for constructive change and innovation
- Ensure all staff, volunteers and agents have clear and sufficient delegated authority to discharge their duties effectively, where necessary within clearly identified limits relating to budgetary and/or other matters
- Maintain integrity of governance
- Ensure any benefit from involvement in governance of the organisation is within what is allowable by law and in the interests of the organisation
- Identify and promptly declare any actual or potential conflict of interest and, if necessary, offer to resign from position of governance
- Follow organisation guidelines for declaration of personal gifts or hospitality received in relation to organisation's business or from personnel or organisations connected with the organisation
- Maintain open communication and consultation between the organisation and its stakeholders to ensure:
- key stakeholders are encouraged to engage in planning and decision-making processes
- stakeholder views are taken into account in decision-making
- stakeholders are informed and consulted on relevant plans and proposed developments
- feedback and complaints from stakeholders are processed appropriately
- organisation governance, performance, impacts and outcomes are openly reported to stakeholders