Newcastle Safeguarding Adults Board

Newcastle Safeguarding Adults Board Learning and Development Committee

Voluntary and community sector representative

1. Partnership working in Newcastle Partnership working is an important feature of public life in Newcastle. Arrangements for multi sector partnership working have changed in recent years and continue to do so. However formal partnerships continue to function, setting priorities and overseeing the delivery of services, particularly in the areas of wellbeing and health, children and young people and community safety. Within these arrangements the voluntary and community sector continues to be seen as valuable partner able to bring expertise and challenge.

Newcastle CVS has a key role in supporting voluntary and community sector involvement in partnership working. NCVS directly support voluntary and community representatives so that they can fulfil their role in providing an informed and influential voice on behalf of the sector. Through networks and forums NCVS ensure representatives are accountable to peers and we work with representatives and statutory agencies to ensure that the voluntary and community sector both benefits from the city’s partnerships and can fully contribute to them achieving their objectives.

2. A definition of representation Representation is the act of speaking on behalf of others who have chosen, usually through an election or formal selection process, an individual or organisation to act on their behalf. To be effective the representative must have a clear mandate from those on whose behalf they are acting but also a means to engage with and report back to those she or he is representing.

As a voluntary and community sector representative you will effectively be an ambassador of the sector. It is to you that other public and private sector partners will look to, to be the voice of the voluntary and community sector in Newcastle. You will be expected to be able to express and explain the values and ideas of the sector, providing a lead on how the sector can (or in some cases cannot) contribute to new strategies and plans.

Voluntary and community sector representatives have a significant leadership role, however don’t worry. Support will be available to you from Newcastle CVS Policy Officers to enable you to meet all the expectations of you as a representative.

3. What will the role involve? You will have good understanding of the voluntary and community sector in Newcastle and able to talk confidently about the sector. You will need to be able to contribute to strategic development and have an awareness of public policy both local and national. It is likely that you will hold a senior or specialist position in your organisation. There are a number of key responsibilities for voluntary and community sector representatives however you will receive support from Newcastle CVS in relation to these.

Being a voluntary and community sector representative demands a level of commitment. It is important that representatives make reasonable attempts to attend partnership meetings. Representatives must be accountable to the wider sector and able to reflect its views, opinions and concerns of the sector. As a representative you will be expected to participate and take a lead in forums and networks supported by Newcastle CVS.

Key responsibilities for voluntary and community sector representatives on the NSAB L&D committee include:

1. Giving sufficient time, consideration and effort to carrying out the role of representative; this will include reading meeting papers, attendance at the NSAB L&D Committee and voluntary and community sector events and active participation in voluntary and community sector networks. 2. Contributing to the meetings, by asking questions, providing knowledge from your perspective as a community and voluntary organisation and challenging other Board members. 3. Advocating on behalf of the voluntary and community sector in Newcastle and ensuring there is a two-way flow of information so that voluntary and community organisations’ ideas, concerns, issues or priorities, where they relate to safeguarding vulnerable adults, are raised. 4. Being accountable to the voluntary and community sector in Newcastle using the support provided Newcastle CVS. 5. Promoting the Newcastle Compact. 6. Taking an active role in the Wellbeing and Health Open Forum and other Newcastle CVS organised meetings and events, including task and finish groups or policy/strategy development work. 7. Promoting the expertise and the value of the voluntary and community sector in strategic development and in service provision. 8. Engaging with the wider community and voluntary sector organisations so that they can fulfill their safeguarding responsibilities.

4. Who is eligible to stand? Expressions of interest are invited from any person who:  Is involved in a community or voluntary organisation that operates within the City of Newcastle upon Tyne and are members of Newcastle CVS. If you are interested in becoming a representative but your organisation is not a member of Newcastle CVS joining is easy and free and you can download a membership form at www.cvsnewcastle.org.uk/aboutus/membership  Has a proven understanding of safeguarding vulnerable adults through involvement in a community or voluntary sector organisation that works with vulnerable adults aged 18 or over  Is able to facilitate the inclusion of the diversity of communities within Newcastle upon Tyne in the work of NSAB Where expressions of interest come from voluntary and community sector organisations, they must have the approval for their nomination by that organisation.

8. How will members be chosen? Newcastle CVS will advertise for one voluntary and community sector representative and invite expressions of interest on behalf of the NSAB L&D committee. The committee aims to ensure that there is a range of interests represented on its committee by the community and voluntary sector members. It will therefore seek through its selection process to ensure that no one section of the community or area of interest is under or overrepresented. Selection will be by short listing and interviews..

9. What support will I receive? Voluntary and community sector representatives will receive support from the Learning and Development Officer for Safeguarding Adults. This will include  Induction support concerning workings of the NSAB and the committee

Support is also offered from Newcastle CVS. This includes:  Policy officers will be able to work with you on writing reports and briefing papers  You will be invited to the quarterly Strategic Partnership VCS Representative Group

10. How long is the term of office? The appointment will be for two years initially and then be reviewed.

11. What should I do if I want to stand? You should complete the expression of interest form and return it no later than 9 June 2014 to:

Jaz Nagra, Newcastle Council for Voluntary Service Higham House, Higham Place Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8AF

Or email it to [email protected]

If you are interested in this position or would like to find out more then please contact James Steward (NSAB Learning and Development Officer) on 0191 2788192 [email protected]

If you would like an informal discussion about support available to representatives contact: Martin Gollan, telephone 0191 235 7023, email: [email protected]