TRUSTEE LEAD: DIGITAL RESILIENCE in Watford

Carers in Hertfordshire provides advice, information and support to unpaid carers - people looking after someone who is elderly, disabled, has a physical or mental illness or who misuses drugs or alcohol.

Purpose of the Role

We are seeking a Trustee to lead on providing Board-level leadership and assurance that Carers in Hertfordshire remains a safe, secure and resilient organisation - with strong cyber security, protected data and systems, and robust continuity arrangements that support unpaid carers, staff and volunteers.

How This Role Supports Our Mission

Unpaid carers trust us with sensitive information and rely on our services every day. This role helps protect that trust by ensuring our systems and data are secure and resilient, while also providing strategic insight on how digital developments can improve how we support carers. As part of the Board, the postholder contributes to strong governance and strategic leadership that keeps the charity effective, sustainable and carer-led.

Person Specification

• We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and lived experiences.
• Commitment to inclusive, values-driven governance.
• Commitment to improving the lives of unpaid carers.
• Strategic mindset with the ability to simplify complex digital or risk-related issues.
• Understanding of cyber, information security, digital governance or organisational resilience.
• Strong judgement, independence of thought and willingness to challenge.
• Ability to collaborate constructively with trustees and the executive team.
• Ability to apply skills with reasonable care.
• Lived experience of caring is welcomed.

Core Responsibilities (All Trustees)

• Contribute to strategy, priorities, and impact evaluation.
• Ensure robust governance, compliance, and ethical conduct.
• Oversee financial health, budgets, and resource stewardship.
• Monitor key risks and seek assurance on mitigations.
• Participate fully in Board/committee meetings and collective decisions.
• Act as an ambassador for the charity and carers’ voices.
• Act in the best interests of the charity and its beneficiaries.
• Ensure the charity remains accountable to beneficiaries, funders, regulators and the public.
• Use charitable resources responsibly and protect the charity’s assets.
• Identify, declare and manage conflicts of interest.
• Ensure all actions comply with the governing document and charity law.
• Support and constructively challenge the CEO.

Core Responsibilities - Digital Resilience

• Oversight of Cyber & Information Security: Provide strategic challenge and assurance that appropriate policies, controls and risk mitigations are in place to protect sensitive data and digital systems.
• Business Continuity & Organisational Resilience: Ensure the charity maintains effective continuity, disaster recovery and incident-response arrangements, including testing and learning from disruptions.
• Digital Governance & Compliance: Monitor compliance with relevant standards (e.g., data protection, information governance) and ensure risks are escalated appropriately through the Board and subcommittees.
• Technology Risk Insight: Offer constructive scrutiny on major technology changes, digital investments or system upgrades, ensuring they support operational effectiveness and reduce vulnerabilities.
• Culture of Security & Awareness: Champion a culture of digital safety and resilience across the organisation, supporting leadership to embed good practice in staff and volunteer behaviours.

Time Commitment

Approximately 6-10 hours per month - including meetings, preparation, training and events to champion the charity. We look to hold 4-6 Board/Strategy meetings a year in person. Occasional input between meetings on relevant risks or decision points.

Next Step:

• Stage 1: Conversation with Chair
• Stage 2: Trustee Discovery Session 2nd February (online)
• Stage 3: Observe our Trustee meetings on 13th and 25th March.

Our Board will then vote to co-opt any new Trustee appointments. Deadline for applications: Monday 26th January. Contact Laura McGrath for an application form.

Ensuring Hertfordshire's carers are identified, supported and stay well, is at the heart of our work. We give carers a voice with opportunities to meet other carers. We also enable carers to share their views or experiences with those providing or planning health and social care services in Hertfordshire. We support carers of all ages - children and adults - if they live, work or care in Hertfordshire. Our services are provided free to carers.

We also have a Care Service in Hertsmere, Three Rivers and Watford, which involves professional Care Support Workers providing individual packages of care to people with care needs through domiciliary care or Carers' Breaks.