Lay Trustees - Role Description
JOB SUMMMARY
The College is a professional body and a registered charity. The Lay Trustees are responsible for controlling the management and administration of the charity. Trustees have, and must accept, ultimate responsibility for directing the affairs of the charity, and ensuring that it is solvent, well-run, and delivering the charitable outcomes for which it has been set up.
Lay Trustees have duties to:
- Ensure that the College as a charity complies with charity law, and with the requirements of the Charity Commission as regulator; in particular ensure that the charity prepares reports on what it has achieved and annual returns and accounts as required by law.
- Ensure that the College as a charity does not breach any of the requirements or rules set out in its governing document and that it remains true to the charitable purpose and objects set out there.
- Comply with the requirements of other legislation and other regulators (if any) that govern the activities of the charity.
- Act with integrity and avoid any personal conflicts of interest or misuse of charity funds or assets.
- Ensure that the College as a charity is, and will, remain solvent.
- Use charitable funds and assets reasonably, and only in furtherance of the objects of the College as a charity.
- Avoid undertaking activities that might place at undue risk the endowment, funds, assets or reputation of the College as a charity.
- Take special care when investing the funds of the College as a charity,or borrowing funds for the College as a charity to use.
- Use reasonable care and skill in their work as Trustees, using their personal skills and experience as needed to ensure that the charity is well-run and efficient.
- Consider obtaining external professional advice on all matters where there may be material risk to the College as a charity, or where the Trustees may be in breach of their duties.
- Attend meetings of the College Board of Trustees, including scrutinising papers and leading discussions.
- Chair and/or attend such meetings of the committees of the Trustees as the Trustees and/or the Appointments Committee (as applicable) may from time to time direct.
- Participate in strategic planning to forward the College’s business development.
- Be responsible for appointing and dismissing the Chief Executive and holding the Chief Executive and senior staff to account.
- Be involved in the appointment of senior staff as and when required.
- Attend functions on behalf of the College.
- Effectively supervise delegates, including the Council and Faculties and the College.
- Discharge any other duties or functions required of them by law or under the College’s constitution.
In addition to the matters set out in the role description of the Trustees, the Lay Trustees shall:
- Become well informed about surgery and the context in which the professional and clinical matters of the College are debated;
- Show an active and current interest in all aspects of the College; and
- Bring particular expertise to bear on the work of the College (business, people and culture, finance, investment, governance, legal, marketing, communication, public affairs, customer engagement).
