Home-Start Guildford


HR Trustee - posted 12/8/21

Our Trustees attend Board meetings, which are held about every six weeks and last for about two hours. These meetings are generally held during the working day and we have recently resumed in-person meetings in Astolat in Burpham. In addition, Trustees attend various events that we organise for supported families and volunteers and fund and profile raising events. Trustees typically might attend two-three events per year in addition to the Board meetings. Most Trustees will have a particular area of focus and responsibility and be encouraged to contribute more generally as we discuss the challenges faced by and the performance of the charity.

Our HR Trustee will bring a level of expertise on current HR polices and will chair our HR Commitee, which, among other responsibilities, sets the salary levels for our staff (six at present) and more generally considers all aspects of our relationship with our staff.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for Trustees who will share our passion for helping vulnerable families. It will help if the Trustees are parents as this may make it easier to empathise with the challenges faced by the families whom we support. In addition, an ability to listen, question and express ideas or concerns will be important as will enthusiasm and energy. It will also help if the Trustees live in or near the borough of Guildford and have an understanding of the borough and contacts within it.

What's in it for the volunteer?

We typically support over 150 families each year. While the day to day operations are managed by a very experienced and capable staff team, the longer term direction and strategy of the charity is set by the Board of Trustees. Along with the other Trustees the HR  and the Fundraising Trustee will have the opportunity to contribute ideas, support and challenge in Board meetings and in-between meetings.

At each of our meetings we make sure to remind ourselves of the incredible difference that our support makes to some of the most vulnerable families in our borough - support which has been described as "life-saving" by some parents.

Purposes

The main purpose is to fulfill the duties of a Trustee which are to work together with other Trustees in order to ensure that the charity is administered effectively and can account for its activities and outcomes.

 

General responsibilities

All Trustees have the following responsibilities:

  • to support the Scheme Manager and team
  • to be aware of the charity's overall performance and raise any questions or concerns
  • to engage in discussion, questioning and debate in Board meetings
  • to engage in discussions on strategic planning
  • to contribute to financial oversight and be aware of the charity's financial position
  • to engage in discussions on risk management
  • to review and approve policies and monitor compliance
  • to act as an ambassador for Home-Start Guildford

 

Specific responsibilities : HR Trustee

  • health and safety policies and procedures within the office
  • well-being of HSG staff
  • recruitment policies and procedures
  • performance and reward policies and procedures
  • diversity, fairness and inclusion policies, measures and compliance
  • chair the HR Committee

Mission Statement

Parents Supporting Other Parents - a simple idea that really works!

Home-Start Guildford has been supporting families for more than 20 years.  We are a charity and voluntary organisation that aims to prevent family crisis or breakdown by offering regular volunteer support to parents who are under stress with at least one child under the age of 5, usually referred to us by Health Visitors.

We recruit and train volunteers who are parents themselves, to visit the families at home for a few hours once a week and offer them informal, friendly and confidential support, as well as practical help.

This support is aimed to help parents grow in confidence, strengthen their relationships with their children and widen their links with the local community.  Ultimately this support helps the children have the best possible start in life.

Please see the volunteer role for more detail.