Become a Trustee?
Intercountry Adoption Centre seeks the appointment of new Trustees
The last 12 months have proven to be a most exciting time in the development of Intercountry Adoption Centre (IAC). We are now unique in being the only adoption agency in the UK dedicated exclusively to specialist intercountry adoption services and intermediary services for adopted adults and birth relatives where the adoption has an international element.
Services include pre-adoption information, support and preparation for those contemplating intercountry adoption; assessment of prospective adopters; intermediary services for adopted adults and birth relatives; advice, information and training for adoption professionals; and services to the 80 local authorities and Voluntary Adoption Agencies who subscribe to the charity. IAC is currently awaiting the outcome of its applications for accreditation as a foreign partner in selected States of origin.
At this stage in our development, IAC is seeking to reinforce its existing Board of four members through the recruitment of new Trustees who are passionate about IAC’s mission, become committed to the agency and who will use their own professional and other networks to raise the charity’s profile and extend the understanding of its work.
The Trustee’s role
Trustees play a crucial role in the agency. Meetings of the Board of Trustees are held a minimum of four times per year normally in central London. Trustees are consulted on key issues between meetings as the need arises.
A Trustee’s key responsibilities are to:
- contribute actively to the board of trustees' role in giving firm strategic direction to the agency, setting overall policy, defining goals and setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets;
- ensure that the agency complies with its governing document, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations;
- ensure that the agency pursues its objects as defined in its Memorandum and Articles of Association and Statement of Purpose;
- ensure the agency uses its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objects;
- safeguard the good name and values of the agency;
- ensure the effective and efficient administration of the agency;
- ensure the financial stability of the agency;
- protect and manage the property of the charity and to ensure the proper investment of the charity's funds;
- appoint the chief executive officer and monitor his/her performance
- agree the appointments to the agency’s Adoption Panel.
In addition to the above statutory duties, each trustee uses any specific skills, knowledge or experience they have to help the Board of Trustees reach sound decisions.
Much contact between the Trustees, Director and the management team is achieved through email and phone. However some visits to the Barnet office are essential outside the Board’s annual meeting cycle – to meet the staff and sessional workers and to become familiar with the services the agency delivers.
The positions of Trustees of Intercountry Adoption Centre are voluntary roles for which there is no remuneration except for re-imbursement of reasonable and exceptional expenses.
Additional information
The Intercountry Adoption Centre website provides a full description of the services which the charity currently provides.
Intercountry Adoption Centre was registered as charity No. 1067313 in 1998; is a company limited by guarantee (No. 3344762) and is registered with Ofsted as a Voluntary Adoption Agency
Intercountry Adoption Centre’s report and accounts can be viewed online at the Charity Commission website, by entering charity number 1067313, or by clicking the following link:
If you are interested in becoming a Trustee of Intercountry Adoption Centre, wish to have an informal discussion about the opportunity or simply to find out more about the work of the charity, please contact the Company Secretary, Jeremy Muller at
71-73 High Street
Barnet
Herts
EN5 5UR
or via the IAC office on 0208 449 2562
or by email at jeremy@icacentre.org.uk
April 2010