Trustee Vacancies

Who we are

We have been here for Scotland’s mental health for more than a century. Around since 1923, SAMH is Scotland’s national mental health charity. We’ve grown to employ around 550 colleagues and operate more than 70 services across Scotland providing community-based mental health support, social care, psychological wellbeing services, employment services and much more. Together with national programme work in SeeMe (anti-stigma and discrimination), respectme (anti-bullying), suicide prevention, and physical activity and sport, our work informs SAMH’s policy and campaign work to influence positive social change.

The SAMH vision is of a society where people are able to live their lives fully, regardless of present or past circumstances. People are at the heart of everything we do. We are here for people every day; we listen, we are compassionate and we inspire hope.

It is an exciting time to join us as we implement our “We Won’t Wait” strategy, be part of shaping our future strategy, prepare to launch a major appeal, significant further strategic development with requisite ambition and large scale investment and asset decisions. We are committed to ensuring our service provision and broader work is relevant to everyone in Scotland and we also wish to strengthen the diversity of voices around our board table to enhance the nature and quality of our decision making and ensure our services are relevant to all.

About the Vice-Chair role

As Vice-Chair you will support the Chair to lead the Trustee Board; including acting as a deputy to the Chair where required. You will provide senior strategic leadership in line with the Charity’s articles of association; and use your knowledge and skills and experience to ensure that SAMH achieves its charitable objectives.

The Vice-Chair role also has the general duties of a SAMH Trustee; ensuring compliance with the legal obligations of Charities and Charity Trustees and overseeing the SAMH strategy and governance to ensure the Charity is run in the interests of the people it serves.

Further information on the Vice-Chair responsibilities can be found on the role profile below.

If this Vice-Chair position is not for you but you are still interested in becoming a Trustee, you can register your interest in a Trustee position by emailing recruitment@samh.org.uk and we’ll update you once this recruitment is live.

What we are looking for as Vice-Chair

We are looking to recruit an experienced trustee or non-executive director which is likely to include acting as Chair, Vice-Chair or Committee Chair within a board capacity. This is an essential requirement for this voluntary position.

As well as considerable trustee or non-executive director experience, we are looking for someone who shares our passion for the mental health cause and who has the commitment and passion to help us achieve our ambitious strategy, develop our future strategy, and serve and improve the lives of people with mental health problems.

Other essential criteria for this voluntary position is outlined in the role profile - see below.

More broadly we are keen to attract people with experience in one of the following areas, although desirable this is not essential for this Vice-Chair position:

• Mental illness and psychiatry
• Social care sector
• Championing diversity and inclusion

As an organisation, SAMH are committed to promoting equality and diversity throughout the organisation and aim to represent the communities we are here to support. We would like to have a truly diverse organisation – diversity of thought, background, experience and of all protected characteristics. In line with our core purpose, we would like to increase the representation of the mental health inequalities that exist for communities of all ethnicities. We therefore particularly welcome applications from minoritised individuals and also from people who may have experience of mental health difficulties directly or indirectly. SAMH is a Disability Confident Employer and we encourage disabled applicants to apply. Disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria will be guaranteed an interview.

What we will provide for you

We will support you with induction and development opportunities. This includes helping you gain an understanding of SAMH, mental illness and mental health, ongoing development as a Charity Trustee, and opportunities to visit SAMH workplaces to meet with colleagues, volunteers and people we support. We will also reimburse your travel costs.

Interested in Applying?

Closing date for applications: 1st April 2024.

Although still to be confirmed, we anticipate:

• First stage interviews may be between Monday 15th April and Thursday 18th April.
• Second stage interviews may be week commencing 22nd April or week commencing 10th May.

Please use the download links below to review the full role profile and application form. Completed application forms can be emailed to recruitment@samh.org.uk

Please be aware that membership of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme is required for this trustee position. Upon appointment, SAMH will assist in the process for this with Disclosure Scotland.

If you have a confidential enquiry or would like to hear more about the position please contact us at: recruitment@samh.org.uk