The roles
Trustees take ultimate responsibility for the work we do – setting the strategic direction of the organisation, ensuring its long term viability and overseeing executive performance. Trustees make sure we stay true to our vision and charitable purpose. They ensure our clients and residents are supported to the highest of standards and their voices are heard and influence decisions taken in the board room.
Whether ensuring we meet legal and regulatory requirements, shaping and implementing strategies or having oversight of the management of funds, our Trustees empower us to fulfil our duties and deliver on our ambitions.
There are four Board meetings per year plus two away days which Trustees should attend. In addition Trustees will be invited to join one of our committees (four additional meetings per year). Trustees are asked to visit our services to gain first-hand insight into the work we do and the impact we make. We like to celebrate achievements and Trustees are invited to our annual staff awards event as well as ad hoc events.
Trustees will contribute to strategic discussions with commercial insights and lived experience, and ensure effective systems are in place for managing St Anne’s performance.
The successful candidates will bring good knowledge of one or more of the skills referred to earlier as well as decision-making, confidence and understanding.
Our Trustees have the ability to collaborate effectively and make a commitment to St Anne’s mission and values.
Trustee – Audit, Risk and Assurance Committee
Role Purpose
To support the Board of Trustees of St Anne’s Community Services in providing compassionate, rigorous and values‑led assurance on the charity’s audit, financial reporting and regulatory compliance frameworks risk management, internal control, , ensuring that governance arrangements actively protect and enable the people St Anne’s supports.
The skills and experience we will be looking for are:
- A relevant accountancy qualification.
- Experience in audit, risk, finance or governance environments. We are particularly keen to attract a Trustee with an accounting qualification.
- Experience of operating at Board or Committee level, with a sound understanding of trustee duties and collective responsibility.
- Strong ethical judgement and confidence to provide compassionate, independent challenge.
- Ability to interpret, scrutinise and synthesise complex financial and non‑financial assurance information.
- Experience of engaging with internal and external auditors, regulators or inspectors, including managing independent relationships.
- Understanding of risk management in complex, regulated or safeguarding‑sensitive environments, including reputational and organisational risk.
- Ability to assess and influence organisational risk culture, risk appetite and tolerance in a values‑driven context.
- Experience of assurance beyond finance, including safeguarding, service quality, regulatory compliance or information governance.
- Understanding of regulated or values‑driven organisations, including charities or publicly commissioned services.
- Previous Trustee experience is not essential.
Trustee – Finance and Business Committee
Role Purpose
To support the Board of Trustees of St Anne’s Community Services in overseeing the charity’s financial sustainability, performance, investment and business development, ensuring resources are used responsibly and creatively to improve quality of life for people with complex needs.
The skills and experience we will be looking for are:
- Senior experience in finance, commercial leadership or business management. Experience from care sector would be an added benefit.
- Strong financial literacy combined with values‑led judgement.
- Experience of contributing to long‑term financial strategy and sustainability, not solely short‑term performance management.
- Experience of capital/development finances particularly around business cases
- Understanding of financial oversight in challenging or constrained funding environments, including commissioned services .
- Experience of evaluating budgets, forecasts, stress testing and financial risk, including liquidity and funding dependency.
- Ability to scrutinise business cases, investment proposals and growth opportunities through both financial and social value lenses.
- Experience of organisational growth, transformation, investment or turnaround, balancing ambition with risk and capacity.
- Understanding of ethical decision‑making in commercial contexts, including when to challenge or decline misaligned opportunities.
- Strategic mindset, with the ability to think long‑term about resilience, stewardship and impact.
- Confidence to ask challenging questions while maintaining trust and constructive relationships.
- A recognised accountancy qualification is preferred but not essential.
- Experience in housing is desirable but not essential.
- Previous Trustee experience is not essential.
Trustee – Quality and People Committee – Social Care and Safeguaring Experience
Role Purpose
To support the Board of Trustees of St Anne’s Community Services in overseeing service quality, safeguarding and health and safety, ensuring services are safe, compassionate and centred on the people St Anne’s supports.
The skills and experience we will be looking for are:
- Senior experience in adult social care is essential, including safeguarding and quality.
- Strong commitment to person‑centred, compassionate and strengths‑based services.
- Experience of quality governance, assurance or improvement at a senior or Board‑facing level.
- Strong understanding of safeguarding practice, learning cultures and responding to incidents, complaints and concerns.
- Ability to interpret and challenge qualitative and quantitative quality information, including lived experience and outcomes data.
- Experience of governance standards in relation to leading adult social care, safeguard and quality.
- Understanding of organisational culture, psychological safety and their impact on quality, safety and safeguarding.
- Experience of working within regulated environments, including engagement with regulators, inspectors or ombudsman bodies.
- Familiarity with continuous quality improvement approaches and learning‑based assurance.
- Ability to contribute to contribute to committee level discussions around workforce management
- Confidence to review and challenge performance in relation to housing provision and the health and safety of colleagues, clients and properties.
- Confidence to provide challenge and escalate concerns where quality, safety, dignity or values may be compromised.
- Commitment to amplifying the voices of people supported and frontline staff within governance structures.