Trustee code of conduct

Trustee Code of Conduct Policy

Policy statement

Values and principles

All trustees are jointly responsible for the management of the charity, St Andrews Playgroup. There are expectations of trustees in carrying out your role.

You must

·        Act in the best interest of St Andrews, the children and the families who access our service

·        Commit to achieving the aims of St Andrews and to act in accordance with our charity’s governing document, policies and procedures to fulfil its objective.

·        Act with integrity when managing the finances and resources of St Andrews, ensuring that our charity provides quality childcare based on equality of opportunity and valuing diversity for all children and families.

Points of Law

·        Understand your legal responsibilities and to keep up to date with good practice; in order to ensure that our charity meets relevant statutory and legal requirements

·        Contribute to ensuring that all policies and procedures comply with relevant legislation

·        Ensure that St Andrews childcare provision is operating within the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework

Safeguarding and child protection

·        Support St Andrews commitment to safeguarding children

·        Follow St Andrews safeguarding children and child protection policies and procedures, to ensure that all children in the care of our setting are protected from harm

Procedures

Meetings

·        Aim to attend all trustee meetings, sending apologies in advance where possible.

·        Play an active part in discussions and decision making, exercising your own independent judgement, but understanding that decisions are collective

·        Ensure that any matters raised individually are brought to the attention of all trustees and staff, avoiding disagreements, expressing your own ideas, perspectives and opinions and in return respecting fellow trustees and staff views and experiences.

Conflicts of interest

·        Avoid any potential conflicts between personal interests or loyalties and trustees’ responsibilities. Where identified, to bring these to the attention of the trustees and withdraw from taking part in any discussions or decisions in relation to these matters

·        Not misuse the role of trustee to gain preferential benefits of treatment

·        Not accept any gifts, hospitality, payments or financial benefit for being a trustee, except for reasonable expenses that have been approved by the trustees

·        Ensure permission is provided by the charity’s governing document or the Charity Commission before receiving any payment for another role within the charity

·        Where another role is carried out for the charity, agree to keep the two roles separate, and to withdraw from taking part in any trustee discussions or decisions relating to another role

·        Trustees must sign the Trustees Declaration form stating they have read, understood and agree to abide by the policy

Confidentiality

·        Respect the privacy of children, their families, employees and other trustees of the charity

·        Abide by the settings confidentiality and information sharing policies and to only share information appropriately and when required

·        Trustees must sign a confidentiality agreement.

Spokesperson

·        As a spokesperson for the charity, to act professionally and only communicate information as agreed by the trustees

Support

·        Seek information, advice and guidance from relevant people or organisations as required

·        Where necessary, to undertake learning to ensure trustee duties are carried out effectively

·        Actively support the employees of the setting

·        Ensure that suitable inductions are arranged for all new trustees and employees

Leaving the committee

·        Give notice in writing to the trustees on wishing to resign. Where resignation would leave the charity unable to reach the minimum number of trustees, to remain on the committee until a suitable replacement is found

·        Understand that any trustee that brings the charity into disrepute provides fellow trustees with the power to pass a resolution to remove them as a trustee and a member of the charity

The charity’s obligations to trustees

·        To be kept informed of the finances and any business activities relating to the charity and to be involved in the discussions and decision making on these matters

·        To be informed in advance and given an agenda for all meetings

·        To have your views and opinions respected by fellow trustees