Established in 2017, the CareTech Charitable Foundation is an independent grant-making corporate foundation. Funded and founded by CareTech, the Foundation has an independent Board of Trustees responsible for delivering its charitable purposes.

The CareTech Foundation delivers meaningful impact to communities in the UK and overseas by supporting and championing the social care sector, care workers and those living in care. The Foundation’s work is focused on the following three key objectives:

1. Physical and learning disabilities and mental health — supporting disabled people and those with long-term health difficulties, including those with mental health conditions and complex physical and learning disabilities
2. Skills development for the care sector — skills development for those from deprived and disadvantaged backgrounds for careers in the care sector
3. Supporting communities — Supporting local communities and the family and friends of CareTech employees facing significant financial challenges

The Foundation measures its success in achieving the above objectives by measuring the extent to which it:

• Increases employment prospects of its beneficiaries
• Reduces the skills gap in the social care sector
• Increases the health and wellbeing of our beneficiaries
• Inspires charitable endeavour and supports communities
• Builds the capacity of the charity sector

The Foundation has four vehicles by which it seeks to deliver its key priorities:

• Partnership Grant-Giving: A small number of significant partnerships with credible and high-quality charities and social enterprises consistent with its three key objectives. Two examples are below:
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• Match-Funding: Match-funding to CareTech staff and service users’ individual fundraising efforts for charitable causes in line with the Foundation’s charitable objects
• Community Grants: A small grants programme to support issues affecting local communities in which CareTech operates and the family and friends of CareTech staff facing significant financial hardship
• Staff Hardship Fund: Funded by a restricted donation from CareTech, small grants to current and former employees of the corporation who find themselves in significant financial hardship or at serious risk of becoming in significant financial hardship

The Foundation also hosts the cross-social care sector Championing Social Care initiative, of which it is a Founder Patron, and its CEO acts as Vice-Chair. Established by a volunteer group of dedicated and passionate leaders from across the social care sector, Championing Social Care‘s vision is to ensure a wider and deeper public understanding, appreciation and respect for social care.

The Foundation's Board of Trustees comprises representation from CareTech, including its staff, Board and founders, as well as external, Independent Trustees. The Board was recognised with the Charity Times Awards 2021 Trustee Board of the Year Award. Its responsibilities are to:

• Provide leadership and direction to the Foundation, ensuring strong governance and strategic direction
• Ensure that the Foundation pursues its Objects as defined in its governing document, charity law, company law and other relevant legislation / regulations
• Work in partnership with the Chief Executive and supports the employees, helping them achieve the aims of the Foundation, and to optimise the relationship between the Board of Trustees and the staff
• Engage effectively as a Board to stimulate excellent, well-rounded and carefully considered strategic decision-making

In addition to the above, each Trustee uses any specific skills, knowledge or experience they have to help the Board reach sound decisions. This may involve scrutinising Board papers, leading discussions, focusing on key issues, providing advice and guidance on new initiatives, or other issues in which the Trustee has special expertise.

The CareTech Foundation is looking for two new Independent Trustees, ideally with experience in social care, disabilities or mental health and / or with legal / governance expertise.

Candidates will be able to act as an effective, independent voice on the Board, ensuring that there are strong governance structures in place which enable the Foundation to fulfil its duties and drive its impact. They will be able to provide both scrutiny and support as appropriate.

While not required, an understanding of issues related to social care would be welcome.

This role is unremunerated, and reasonable, pre-agreed domestic travel expenses will be reimbursed. The Board meets four times per year, normally in-person for two hours between 3-5pm. Trustees are also normally expected to join one Board committee, which meet between two and four times per year. The appointment is for a three-year term, which can be renewed once at the discretion of the Board.

This organisation is based in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, and meetings will take mostly place in person, although remote access is used regularly. Candidates will therefore be UK-based.