Volunteer Trustees (Clinical)

What will you be doing?

Designability is a national charity who for over 50 years have created equality of opportunity for disabled people, by removing barriers to independence, enabling them to live the life they choose. Following a person-centred design approach, and by including disabled people at each point of the design process, we ensure their ideas and lived experiences are taken onboard and that what we create reflects people’s needs as well as products and services they want to use. We are best known for the iconic Wizzybug powered wheelchairs for very young disabled children. To date, they have been loaned to over 1,400 children, typically aged between 14 months and 5 years, across the UK completed free of charge thanks to the support of our generous donors.    Having reviewed the skills, experience and diversity of current trustees, we would welcome candidates with experience in the following area:   Clinical expertise with experience of working with disabled people. This could include experience gained through a senior position in occupational therapy, physiotherapy or rehabilitation engineering or rehabilitation medicine. You will be joining an independent, national charity based in Bath. Our creative and inspiring team includes engineers, technicians, product designers, occupational therapists, fundraisers and administrators. We are led by strong values: we are creative, inclusive and practical, with our vision being to create a future where every disabled person has the products they want to live the life they choose.   For an informal conversation about this role, please contact us via Reach.

What are we looking for?

Knowledge and Experience (general)

Experience of operating at a senior level. An empathy and understanding of the challenges faced by disabled people, ideally by having lived experience either personally, or as a family member or carer. An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship and a willingness to devote the necessary time to the role.

Skills and Abilities

Able to work effectively in a team and take decisions for the good of the charity. Strategic thinking as well as the ability to understand performance reports. The ability to think creatively and challenge constructively. The ability to probe facts, challenge assumptions and identify the advantages and disadvantages of proposals. Able to meet the Charity Commission’s eligibility requirements for being a trustee. This post will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Behaviours

Independent judgement and willingness to speak their mind. High level of personal integrity and honesty, acting openly, fairly and impartially at all times. Commitment to Designability’s vision, mission and values, taking the time to understand the work of the organisation. A sense of joint responsibility for the organisation’s successes and failures Self-aware, with the ability to evaluate own performance and identify strengths and weaknesses. Champion diversity, equality and inclusion and committed to respect confidential information about individuals.

What difference will you make?

Becoming a trustee can be rewarding in many ways – being part of a talented and committed team, sharing the responsibility of ensuring the charity is well run and making a difference to the lives of people with disabilities. Working as a team, trustees have three main responsibilities:

To set a clear direction for Designability. To make sure that the charity’s plans are being carried out appropriately. To ensure that the charity meets its legal responsibilities. 

All new trustees take part in an induction programme with the Chief Executive and Directors of each department and are offered ongoing training and support.