Job Description

Camphill Wakefield is an inclusive land and craft based charity and independent specialist college, based on a 34 acre campus on the outskirts of Wakefield, West Yorkshire.

We are committed to delivering holistic further education to SEND young people. We strive to provide a unique, practical and purposeful vocational and creative environment. We aim to develop each student’s agency, by providing “hands-on” learning with an employability focus, we enable all our students to be heard, understood and make a positive transition to adulthood.

The Board of Trustees seeks to recruit four new trustees to provide guidance to the Executive Team and hold them to account.

We are especially interested in hearing from candidates with a background of working in:

• SEND Further Education
• Clinical Therapies sector ( SALT / OT/ SEMH)
• Facilities Management / Health and Safety
• People with lived experience of using social care.

Those with commercial experience and financial knowledge are also welcome.  We are always keen to extend the diversity of our Board and particularly welcome applications from underrepresented groups.  Full training will be given to all new Trustees.

Our Vision

Camphill Wakefield strives to be the “Provider of Choice” for SEND land and craft based education and care in Yorkshire, with residential students and adults from further afield. We wish to be a responsible community partner to a wide range of organisations that share our values. Our community ethos, land based campus and welcoming accommodation can enhance the experience and engage a wide range of individuals and groups with SEND needs.

Our vision is to fully utilise our campus and resources, work in collaboration with stakeholders, families and funders, build on our established reputation with employers and wider partners to ensure Camphill students receive a unique and purposeful education that launches them onto greater opportunities in the future.

The Full Board meets every half term. In addition, Trustees can expect to join one or more of the standing committees – Finance & Resources, Safeguarding, Curriculum and Quality – and participate in ad hoc committees that take on specific and less frequent tasks. You will also visit some of our services, and participate in Trust events.  In general, you should be able to commit 10 to 15 days to board work.

The role

Trustees provide independent points of view and bear collective responsibility to ensure the Camphill Wakefield operates with effective control, accountability and high standards of conduct and probity.

They will also use their skills and personal experience to work with colleagues to set the Charitable Trust’s values, standards and strategies and ensure that:

• the necessary financial and human resources are in place to achieve the strategy
• the Trust’s obligation to its stakeholders and the wider community are understood and balanced fairly at all times
• Ensure that the Board sets challenging objectives for improving its performance across the range of its functions
• Work with colleagues to set criteria for assessing the organisation’s performance and monitor and evaluate achievement
• Contribute to the determination of appropriate levels of remuneration for the CEO and Senior Leadership Team
• Ensure that all risks to the organisation are identified and managed
• Engage positively and collaboratively in board and committee discussion of agenda items
• Provide a checking mechanism to ensure that financial controls and risk management systems are robust and defensible and that the Board is kept fully informed through timely and relevant information
• Participate in one or more board committees
• Exercise independent judgement to the benefit of the Trust
• Provide leadership to the Trust within a framework of prudent and effective controls
• Ensure that the organisation values diversity in its workforce and the people it supports, and demonstrates equality of opportunity in its treatment of staff and the people we support
• Act as an ambassador for the Trust in engagement with stakeholders, including the local community
• Take a proactive role in engaging with services provided by the Trust

The Chief Executive reports to the Board and the Senior Leadership Team regularly engages with it.

The person

Trustees need to have a strong interest in SEND education and social care, although specialist knowledge of the sector is not required. They should have experience in at least one of the following areas:

• Commercial acumen and business growth
• Experience of dealing with people issues in organisations
• A good knowledge of corporate governance in the public and private sectors
• Experience of working in a highly regulated sector
• A high level of interest in helping people with learning disabilities and/or mental health needs

We would especially like to hear from people with experience

• SEND Further Education
• Clinical Therapies sector ( SALT / OT/ SEMH)
• Facilities Management / Health and Safety
• People with lived experience of using social care.

Individuals selected will become Trustees under charity law and company directors under company law.

They will be expected to demonstrate the following Board-level competencies:

• Strategic direction, the ability to think and plan ahead, with a clear vision that identifies risks and consequences and enthuses others, balancing needs and constraints
• Ability both to support and hold the CEO and senior Team to account
• Effective influencing and communication, a high level of ability to gain support and influence, combined with a clear understanding of the political context
• Team working, be committed to working as a team member
• Motivation to improve the overall performance of the Trust across the dimensions of Education and care quality that puts the person first while maintaining the financial integrity of the Trust
• Intellectual flexibility, the ability to think clearly and creatively, make sense of complexity and clarify it for other people

Trustees should have or be willing to develop an understanding of SEND Further Education, health and social care, and knowledge of governance.

We welcome applications from all candidates who have a range of skills and experience, preferably with some Board experience, although full training will be given.

Board composition

Pennine Camphill Community Ltd (trading as Camphill Wakefield) is a charitable company limited by guarantee without share capital subject to company law and is a not-for profit organisation. It’s Directors, who are appointed on a voluntary basis, are drawn from the public and private sector and bring significant Education, health and social care, SEND Further Education and other professional expertise. Our rules and methods of operation are set out in the published Articles of Association.

For an informal discussion, and further information, please contact James Heaton Jennings – CEO on 01924 - 255281

The application process will be a CV and covering letter followed by a face to face meeting.