Job Description

Mothers’ Union is a worldwide, Christian, women-led movement, with 4 million members in 83 countries globally. As the governing body of the central Charity and leaders of the worldwide Movement, the Trustees are responsible to the membership for planning strategy for Mothers’ Union as a whole, good stewardship in the risk management, safeguarding of assets and finances of the organisation, monitoring, reviewing and evaluating its work, and ensuring good governance.

To move this forward effectively Mothers’ Union is looking for an individual to work in voluntary capacity on the Central Trustee Board who is an international safeguarding specialist, to champion Safeguarding for the organisation and bring knowledge and experience in international safeguarding to the Board.

Focus for the Safeguarding Trustee on the Board:

• To champion safeguarding throughout the movement of staff and volunteers.
• To support the trustees and senior staff in their responsibilities to keep children and vulnerable adults safe, ensuring they recognise safeguarding concerns and react appropriately in line with organisational policy and process.
• To support staff on specific safeguarding issues, as required, including acting as a critical friend in supporting the development team when designing and monitoring programmes.
• To ensure that the area of safeguarding is developed and considered in all areas of operations. This will ensure that Board decisions take the importance and centrality of safeguarding for the movement into account, and strengthen the capacity and understanding of Safeguarding across the movement.
• Provide strategic direction, leadership, and oversight of the movement’s safeguarding policies and procedures.
• Be an organisational focal point for international Safeguarding within the organisation.
• Chair the Safeguarding Committee (The Safeguarding Committee is intended to provide oversight of and support for the movement to keep its employees, members and beneficiaries safe, scrutinising in detail, on behalf of the Board of Trustees, the development of the policies, plans, reports and actions relating to safeguarding for the central Charity and its affiliated Mothers’ Unions around the world).

Terms:

• The Safeguarding Trustee shall be appointed for the position (following an open external recruitment process) for a term of office of three years, and can be reappointed for a second term of three years, as outlined in section 22 in the Mothers’ Union regulations and By Laws.
• The Safeguarding Trustee may be a member of Mothers’ Union, but will not be able to continue to hold another office, whilst fulfilling this role.
• This is an unpaid position, expenses paid.
• This role is predominantly working remotely with occasional visits to Mary Sumner House for meetings (If needed).

Experience, Knowledge and Skills:

• An active commitment to Christian faith and prayer;
• Committed to the aim and objectives of Mothers’ Union;
• Proven knowledge and understanding of safeguarding as it relates to a global, grassroots organisation, with an understanding of sectoral best practice.
• Personal experience of handling safeguarding reports within an organisational context.
• Proven experience in supporting and facilitating organisational and personal change, and the implementation of policies and associated safeguarding systems and structures.
• Creativity to look at alternative approaches to promoting and generating a culture of safeguarding within and beyond the organisations membership.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Adaptability to changing situations.
• Excellent leadership skills, including supporting change at a local and global level.
• Excellent interpersonal skills – the ability to be equally comfortable with and sensitive to senior volunteer leaders, members, staff, external stakeholders, from different cultures and contexts.

Other Desired Attributes

• To be able to travel internationally, if requested.
• Be flexible, open-minded and able to express concerns.
• Characteristics of empathy, patience and understanding in their work, with a respect for possible differences of perspective and culture.
• The ability to listen to the different voices and to ensure that these voices are heard at the worldwide Board.
• An appreciation of the Mothers’ Union movement around the world.
• An understanding of the wider Church.
• A network of safeguarding contacts, which could help further the Mission of Mothers’ Union.

Time Commitment and Working Pattern

In a three-year term of office, Trustees are expected to attend one residential Trustee meeting per year lasting around 5 days, generally in the UK. In addition, at least a further 3 virtual formal meetings a year, each comprising roughly 2 x 2.5 hours starting at 12.00 UK time. The Board may also choose to meet informally on a number of further occasions for fellowship or capability development, virtually, by mutual agreement. NOTE: it is recognised that an appointed trustee may have wider commitments, which make full attendance at a one week residential, and participation in informal fellowship events challenging. The Board will look sympathetically at how to manage effective participation without full participation on these occasions for the right candidate.

Working Relationships

• Worldwide President, Chief Executive, fellow Trustees, staff and Leadership Team.
• Mothers’ Union members and leaders from around the world.
• Key stakeholders and leaders of related bodies, where appropriate and with the agreement of the Board, particularly within the international faith based safeguarding network.

Other Relevant Information

• A significant amount of written material is circulated to Trustees prior to each meeting. Trustees are expected to read and study the material before the meeting and any follow up material after the meeting.
• The Safeguarding Trustee will be expected to lead the Safeguarding Committee of the Board from the start of 2022. The committee may do their business by email, virtual meetings or occasionally where required face-to-face meetings. Typically, 3 virtual meetings a year of about 2 hours duration each.

How to Apply

If you are interested in this position, please apply by sending your CV and a Supporting Statement via Charity Jobs. The Supporting Statement should clearly outline how your skills match the main responsibilities of the role.