Enabling Active Living

www.southwestmscentre.co.uk

Charity Number 900083

TREASURER OF BOARD OF TRUSTEES

RECRUITMENT PACK September 2019

Welcome Letter

Dear Applicant

We would like to thank you for your interest in becoming a voluntary Trustee at The

Southwest Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre. It is an exciting time for the Charity as we have

developed a 3 year strategy. We are entering a period of significant change and progression

and would welcome dynamic, business orientated individuals to join our Board and help us

on this new journey. Please take a look at our website southwestmscentre.co.uk for more

information, and if you feel that this role is for you, we are eager to hear from you.

In this document you will find:-

1. The Advertisement 2. Some information about our Charity 3. Trustee Role Description 4. Person Specification 5. Trustee Code of Conduct 6. Staff Structure Chart 7. Some additional information about our Board 8. The application process 9. Annual Accounts 2017/18

Applications can be made by sending a current CV to our recruitment partner, Jackie Dawkins

of Shine Charity Recruitment (Jackie@shinecharityrecruitment.co.uk). Please include a

covering letter, which demonstrates your suitability.

If you would like to discuss the role further before applying, please feel free to contact Jill

Patient, Centre Manager on 01392 447411.

We look forward to receiving your application.

Yours sincerely

Molly Holmes (Chair) and Jill Patient (Centre Manager)

Advert

The South West MS Therapy Centre was established in 1982 to provide therapies,

information and support for people with Multiple Sclerosis, their carers and families in the

south west. Our aim is to offer a number of therapies in a welcoming and friendly

environment, promoting independence and to improve wellbeing and quality of life for our

members.

We are recruiting a voluntary Treasurer who is passionate about improving the lives of

people with Multiple Sclerosis and has the expertise to drive our organization forward. Key

objectives in our strategy are:

Future sustainability

Maximizing our reach to people with MS of all ages in the south west;

Increasing the size of the Centre to provide modern up to date facilities for clients,

carers and professionals;

Increasing the range of therapies we provide.

We are seeking people with a strong track record at board or management level together

with experience in financial management.

Our Board meets six times a year and you will also be required to attend 1-2 strategy days a

year plus induction training. All meetings are held in the evening at the MS Therapy Centre in

Exeter.

For more information please contact our Recruitment Partner, Jackie Dawkins at Shine

Charity Recruitment Jackie@shinecharityrecruitment.co.uk or 01884/841751

About the South West MS Therapy Centre (West Grange, Clyst Heath EXETER Devon EX2 7EY Tel: 01392 447411)

The South West MS Centre is part of a national network of MS Therapy Centres. Clients are offered a

range of therapies to assist with managing their MS, they become member of the Centre and pay an

annual fee to access these therapies. A Centre Manager who is supported by an Events & Fundraising

Manager, Administrator and Finance Officer manage the centre. Supporting them is a team of part

time staff and volunteers who ensure the Centre runs well five days a week. The Centre does not

receive any Government funding, and relies upon donations and fund raising activities.

Some of the therapies offered:-

Hyperbaric Oxygen (HBO)

Oxygen is the healing element in the atmosphere. It is essential to the health of everyone that the

tissues in the body absorb oxygen. Any tissue injury requires Oxygen for healing. It is believed that the

use of Hyperbaric Oxygen therapy for Multiple Sclerosis and many other conditions is beneficial.

The actual cause of MS is currently not known, but there are many Disease Modifying Drugs (DMDs)

which are available to limit or reduce MS symptoms and relapses. While not intended to compete

with the latest DMDs, the use of Hyperbaric Oxygen is a "self help" therapy which provides the body

additional oxygen. This can increase the body's own ability to heal and limit some of the damage

caused by the disease. Normally this is without any negative side effects.

Experience shows that early and ongoing Hyperbaric Oxygen therapy may reduce the rate of

progression or the frequency of relapses. Hyperbaric Oxygen may also help many other conditions. It

is particularly beneficial for the healing of bone and soft tissue injuries, burns and ulcers (associated

with diabetes). In fact currently 60% of hyperbaric users are not MS sufferers

Physiotherapy

The centre has a large selection of modern physio equipment, and is constantly adding to the range.

They have an onsite Physiotherapist who is very familiar with MS and can distinguish between

symptoms caused by neurological problems and those caused by muscular problems.

Complimentary Therapies

Exercise classes, Yoga, Tai Chi, Pilates, Massage, Reflexology, Counselling & Chiropody are just a few

of the various therapies which are available at the Centre.

Governance

The annual income of the charity is c£160,000 per annum. The Charity has recently set a

strategy for the next three years and updated the Articles of Association to meet the

requirements of the Code of Governance for smaller charities set by the Charity Commission.

The Board has made great strides in improving the governance of the charity and in setting a

clear plan for the future.

Treasurer: Role Description

The Treasurer is elected at the Annual General Meeting for a 3-year term of office.

The post holder is responsible for the Company accounting procedures and financial records, in

accordance with the Memorandum and Articles of Association and in accordance with the

requirements of the Companies Act and the Charity Acts.

The Treasurer will, acting with the Chair and Board, determine the Expenditure Control Policy and

ensure and supervise adherence to the guidelines there laid down.

The Treasurer is responsible for ensuring:

a) The orderly collection, control and recording procedures for all monies received and duly banked.

B) Where appropriate, formal acknowledgement and/or the issue of receipt is given to any person or

organisation donating monies to the Centre.

c) The agreement, in liaison with the Finance Officer of all invoiced and bills, properly received and

detailed, and for making the settlement of such accounts in a timely, correct and complete manner.

Also for ensuring that a suitable petty cash resource is maintained under the Administrator's control

and for regular checking the correct disbursement and accounting record for such cash.

d) The undertaking of regular reconciliation of the centre's bank account(s).

e) The payment of staff salaries and wages and employers NI.

f) The maintenance of competent and correct detailed records of the Centre's finances showing

receipts and payments and any account transfers.

g) The presentation of reports including management accounts, income and expenditure, cash flow

and budget monitoring reports and forecasting are available at each Board meeting;

h) Working with the Finance Officer to prepare end of year accounts and the annual budget.

The Treasurer's responsibilities also require that: -

The Treasurer will attend Committee meetings and report on the financial state of the Company,

drawing attention to any non-routine or not-forecast expenditure items since the last meeting.

When the Annual Accounts have been audited they will be presented to the Committee for approval

and acceptance. When approved by the Committee, the final audited accounts are signed by the

Chair and the Company Secretary. Copies must be sent to the Registrar of Companies and to the

Charity Commission. For the AGM, copies should be available for distribution to the Members.

The Treasurer will ensure the arrangement and maintenance, through the Centre's insurers, of

suitable insurance policies and levels of policy cover in respect of all relevant risks for the Centre's

property, facilities equipment and possessions as advised in the MS National Therapy Centres Manual.

The Treasurer must ensure that valid and up-to-date specimen signatures and corresponding name

and Company Officer details are maintained with the Company's bank(s) and/or investment houses.

Person specification: Treasurer

QUALITIES

Education and qualifications Good standard of literacy and numeracy Competent in Microsoft Office Word & Excel Accountancy qualification Knowledge of Charity SORP

Experience Good communication and leadership skills Managing people A team orientated approach to problem solving and to management Working with a management committee structure Analyzing information: financial: statistical Report writing Developing policies and procedures Budgetary and sound financial management Proven ability to communicate and explain financial information to members of the Management Committee and other stakeholders

Skills and Knowledge Skills and experience in one or more areas of non executive governance and management e.g. strategic planning, business management, financial/accountancy, understanding HR issues, experience of Trusts or other grant giving bodies particularly fundraising and legal knowledge. Networking, good local knowledge Negotiation Ability to manage change and resistance Influencing and political awareness Decision making Listening

ATTRIBUTES ESSENTIAL

Personal characteristics Ability to offer complete confidentiality

Integrity

A commitment to the organisation and its values & objectives

Ability to fulfill time commitment

Willingness to learn

Good, independent judgment

Willingness to speak their mind

Ability to be flexible

Strategic thinker

Ability to maintain personal and professional boundaries

Non-judgmental

Ability to lead in a consultative and empowering manner

Ability to motivate a team

Ability to self evaluate and reflect on practice

Trustee Code of Conduct

It is the responsibility of management committee members or trustees to:

Act within the governing document and the law – being aware of the contents of the Charity’s

governing document and the law as it applies to the Southwest Multiple Sclerosis Therapy

Centre;

Act in the best interest of the Therapy Centre as a whole – considering what is best for the

Charity and its beneficiaries and avoiding bringing the Centre’s name into disrepute;

Manage conflicts of interest effectively – registering, declaring and resolving conflicts of

interest. Not gaining materially or financially unless specifically authorised to do so.

Respect confidentiality – understanding what confidentiality means in practice for the

Charity, its board and the individuals involved with it.

Have a sound and up-to-date knowledge of the Charity and its environment – understanding

how the MS Therapy Centre works and the environment within which it operates;

Attend meetings and other appointments or give apologies – considering other ways of

engaging with the Charity if you are regularly unable to attend Trustee meetings;

Prepare fully for meetings – reading papers, querying anything you don’t understand and

thinking through issues in good time before meetings;

Actively engage in discussion, debate and voting in meetings – contributing positively,

listening carefully, challenging sensitively and avoiding conflict;

Act jointly and accept a majority decision – making decisions collectively, standing by them

and not acting individually unless specifically authorised to do so;

Work considerately and respectfully with all – respecting diversity, different roles and

boundaries, and avoiding giving offence.

Trustees are expected to honour the content and spirit of this code.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

CENTRE MANAGER

ADMINISTRATOR FINANCE OFFICER PR/FUNDRAISING MANAGER

RECEPTION STAFF OXYGEN OPERATORS THERAPIES/SUPPORT DRIVERS/GARDENER/MAINTENANCE

PART-TIME RECEPTIONISTS x 3 SENIOR OXYGEN OPERATOR PHYSIOTHERAPY PART-TIME STAFF X 2

MEET & GREET (Volunteers) x 4 No.1 OPERATORS (Volunteers) x 2 COUNSELLOR DRIVERS (Volunteers) x 2

RECEPTION (Help) x 1 No.2 OPERATORS (Volunteers) x 5 TAI CHI

YOGA FUNDRAISING (Volunteers) x 4

ADMINISTRATION PILATES

Admin (Volunteer) x 4 REFLEXOLOGY EXERCISE ASSTS (Volunteers) x 4

MASSAGE

EXERCISE CLASS

VIOFOR

CHIROPODY

June 2019

Additional Information

Board Meetings - Meetings are held every two months (17.30 pm) at the Centre

Two strategy days per annum plus induction training

Expenses – reasonable out of pocket expenses may be reimbursed to Trustees. Trustees are not paid

Trustees are covered by indemnity insurance

Other Trustees:

Molly Holmes (Chair)

Rory Gibson (Company Secretary)

Emma Grant

Darren Herd

Mike Holmes

Darren Walters

Centre Manager Jill Patient

Recruitment Process

Application by CV and Supporting Statement to Jackie Dawkins, Shine Charity Recruitment

01884/841751 (jackie@shinecharityrecruitment.co.uk)

First interview with Jackie Dawkins

Informal meeting with current Chair and Centre Manager

Meet the Board - attend a meeting as an observer (15 October 2019)

AGM – 15 October – formal appointment

References - two references will be taken prior to appointment