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Can you help us invest in the future of care so that everyone can age well?

We are looking for independent trustees who can lead and shape the charity, ensure good governance and deliver Hallmark Foundation’s vision. Please see the attached role description and criteria.

To apply, please send a CV and short covering statement by 25th October 2021 to Stephen Burke, CEO, Hallmark Foundation [email protected] For a discussion about the role, please call Stephen on 07960 136357 or send an email

Independent Trustees’ Role Description

1. Role Summary

  • Provides leadership and direction to the Foundation, ensuring strong governance and strategic direction of the Foundation.
  • Ensures that the Foundation pursues its Objects as defined in its governing document, charity law, company law and other relevant legislation/regulations.
  • Works in partnership with the Chief Executive and/or other relevant team members, helping them achieve the aims of the Foundation; and to optimise the relationship between the board of Trustees and the team.
  • Facilitates the Board of Trustees in stimulating excellent, well-rounded and carefully considered strategic decision-making.
  • Provides an independent perspective to guide and inform the Foundation 

2. About the Foundation

Established in 2019, the Hallmark Care Homes Foundation is an independent grant-making corporate foundation registered with the Charity Commission. Funded and founded by Hallmark Care Homes Ltd, the Foundation has an independent Board of trustees responsible for delivering its charitable purposes. 

The Foundation will focus on the following main areas of activity:

-Making quality care for older people sustainable and accessible
– Supporting care workers and providers to deliver quality care
– Becoming the charitable funder of choice for our partners and supporters
– Raising awareness of the foundation, its funded projects and impact 

3. Statutory Duties

The statutory duties of a trustee are: 

  • To ensure the Foundation complies with its governing document 
  • To ensure that the Foundation pursues its objectives as defined in its governing document. 
  • To ensure that the Foundation applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objectives; the Foundation must not spend money on activities which are not included in its own objectives, no matter how ‘charitable’ and ‘worthwhile’ those activities are. 
  • To contribute actively to the Board of Trustees’ role in giving firm strategic direction to the Foundation, setting overall policy, defining goals and setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets. 
  • To safeguard the good name and values of the Foundation. 
  • To ensure the effective and efficient administration of the Foundation. 
  • To ensure the financial stability of the Foundation. 
  • To protect and manage the property of the Foundation and to ensure the proper investment of the organisation’s funds. 
  • To appoint the Chief Executive Officer and/or other relevant administrative staff and monitor their performance. 

In addition, with other trustees, to hold the Foundation in trust for current and future beneficiaries by: 

  • Ensuring that the Foundation has a clear vision, mission and strategic direction and is focused on achieving these. 
  • Being responsible for the performance of the Foundation and for its corporate behaviour; ensuring that the charity complies with all legal and regulatory requirements. 
  • Acting as guardians of the Foundation’s assets, both tangible and intangible, taking all due care over their security, deployment and proper application. 
  • Ensuring that the Foundation’s governance is of the highest possible standard. 

Independent trustees have a particular role to play in ensuring the above so that the Foundation ‘invests in the future of care’ by bringing an external perspective to the board and focusing on delivering ‘public benefit’.

4. Qualities of a Trustee

Essential

  • Understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of Trusteeship and adhering to Nolan’s seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership. 
  • Commitment to the Foundation’s Objects, aims and values and willingness to devote time to carry out responsibilities. 
  • Strategic and forward-looking vision in relation to the charity’s objects and aims. 
  • Good, independent judgement, political impartiality and the ability to think creatively in the context of the organisation and external environment. 
  • Good communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to respect the confidences of colleagues. 
  • Balancing tact and diplomacy with willingness to challenge and constructively criticise. 
  • A track record of leadership, innovation and entrepreneurialism, focussed on delivering impact and real-world change, ideally in or allied to the care sector. 

Desirable

  • Prior experience of committee/trustee work.
  • Knowledge of the type of work undertaken by the Foundation. 
  • A wider involvement with the voluntary sector. 
  • Experience of chairing meetings, committee work, some experience of charity finance, charity fundraising. 
  • Leadership skills exercised through a period of change, particularly start-up and development phases. 

5. Time Commitment

The Board meets quarterly and Trustees are expected to be available for at least three out of four of meetings in a year. There will also be opportunities to contribute between meetings through events, activities and email/zoom.