stroke.org.uk Director,Legal and Corporate Governance November 2017
Welcome Thank you for your interest in the role of Director, Legal and Corporate Governance. The Stroke Association is the leading UK stroke charity. We have been leading the fight against stroke for over 20 years. We influence and campaign to improve stroke care and support people to make the best possible recovery. We fund world-class research to develop new treatments and ways to prevent the devastation of stroke. Breakthroughs in treatment have halved the number of people dying from stroke in the UK but it is still the second biggest killer in the world. That is why we are involved in projects across the globe. To realise a world where there are fewer strokes and all those touched by stroke get the help they need, we work with integrity, demonstrating our values as one combined passionate, innovative, respectful and professional team within the Stroke Association. Our five values of Professionalism, Passion, Innovation, Respect and Openness, and Working together feed into everything we do and are trying to achieve. As you progress along your path with us you will be asked to complete your tasks with these in mind. Thank you again for your interest. If you feel that you have the required skills and experience that we are looking for, we welcome your application. Together we can conquer stroke. 2
Background The Stroke Association is the only national charity focused on the prevention of strokes, who also provide services in support of people whose lives have been affected by strokes. Through our funding of research into the development of new treatments there have been major breakthroughs, more than halving the number of people dying from strokes in the UK. With 62,000 direct service users, 15,000 helpline calls, the impact on outcomes has been substantial in the UK, but there is still more to do to reach more of the population. However, the story globally is very different, where stroke is still the second biggest killer in the world. The appointment of this role comes about at a time of major change within the third sector. These challenges are varied and interconnecting, but despite this challenging period for charities, the Stroke Association continues to develop services. An exciting journey of growth, enhancing capacity, capability and performance is underway, spearheaded by the new CEO, Juliet Bouverie. The range of our services is wide: we have further developed My Stroke Guide (MSG), our digital self-management tool to support stroke survivors and their carers in their recovery following a stroke; we have developed a fundraising campaign to continue the highly successful Childhood Stroke project; we are gaining funding for our Back to Work project in London, and we have introduced a pilot for Self-Funded Referral services for physiotherapy and exercise. All this is just the tip of the iceberg. We have agreed five key strategic objectives for the 2015-2018 three year strategy period, supported by an internal objective of operating as a world class organisation: 1. Preventing avoidable strokes; 2. Making sure there is best stroke support and care; 3. Expanding the network of services and long term support across the UK; 4. Building research and promoting knowledge to improve stroke care; 5. Ensuring a well-trained and resourced health and social care workforce; and 6. Operating as a world class organisation (internal objective). 3
Our vision,mission and future Our vision We want a world where there are fewer strokes and all those touched by stroke get the help they need. Our mission Our mission is to prevent strokes, and achieve life after stroke through providing services, campaigning, education and research. Future plans Many uncertainties continue to exist in the external environment. Nevertheless, this year we have continued to invest in the provision of our services, stroke research, awareness, information and education, and we have made significant achievements in relation to our strategic objectives. We will continue to campaign and use our influence to improve outcomes for everyone who has a stroke in the UK, engage in stroke prevention work and raise awareness of stroke and work done by the Stroke Association, and to continue to invest in and expand our research. Our strategic objectives include developing new service products, enhancing and expanding our fundraising product portfolio, and strengthening our systems and infrastructure. Making such investments over the current strategy period will enable us to raise more income, and achieve more for stroke survivors and their families, over the medium and long-term. 4
The role Salary: Competitive Title: Director, Legal and Corporate Governance Responsible to: Chief Executive Responsible for: Chief Executive Office Our legal and corporate governance function plays a vital role in providing strategic and operational business services. Becoming a trusted business partner for the organisation, the function will ensure corporate, company secretary, audit, compliance and trustee governance services underpinned by sound legal and charity advice to trustees, and executive to deliver our strategy. At times the role will also act an independent voice on all governance issues affecting the charity and will do so with confidence and authority. Under our new Chief Executive, we are committed to achieving so much more through a dynamic new strategy and ambitious plans for growth. Essential to achieving our success is the role of Director, Legal and Corporate Governance who will ensure effective administration of the charity s governance through leading-edge central business function. As a key member reporting to the CEO and in support of the Executive Board, you will lead on embedding a culture of business partnering working across all business functions and areas of operation as well as leading major programmes of change as we undertake the transformation of our organisation. 5
How to apply We want to make the process of applying for this role as straightforward as possible. To this end, we ask that your application consist of the following three documents: A supporting statement, no more than two pages in length, which addresses and provides evidence against the bolded criteria, set out in the Person Specification. The covering letter provides you with the opportunity to explain your motivation for applying, as well as highlighting how your experience and achievements fit with the requirements of the role. As such, it is an important part of the application process. A comprehensive CV. Your completed Equal opportunities monitoring form - The information you provide in this form will not be shown to the Selection Panel and will play no part in the assessment of your application. 6