OXPIP - The Oxford Parent Infant Project
Chair Of Trustees
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Chair of the Board of Trustees
About OXPIP
Oxford Parent-Infant Project (OXPIP) is one of the UK's leading charities specialising in parent-infant relationships.
We believe every baby deserves the opportunity to develop a secure, loving relationship with the people who care for them. Through specialist parent-infant psychotherapy, workforce training and system leadership, we help families overcome trauma, parental mental health difficulties, domestic abuse, poverty and other adversity, giving babies the strongest possible start in life.
As we enter an exciting new phase of growth and influence, we are looking for an exceptional Chair to help lead our Board and shape the future of the charity.
For more details contact recruitment@oxpip.org.uk
Safeguarding
OXPIP is fully committed to safeguarding and protecting the welfare of all children and taking all reasonable steps to promote safe practice and protect children from harm, abuse and neglect. OXPIP recognises its duty of care to safeguard children as detailed under the Children Acts’ 1989 and 2004 and Working Together to Safeguard Children 2015. OXPIP acknowledges its duty to act appropriately with regards to any allegations towards anyone working on its behalf, or towards any disclosures or suspicion of abuse. OXPIP supports and adheres to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of A Child (UNCRC).
We adopt and apply safer recruitment practices for all staff, trustees and volunteers. Please refer to OXPIP’s Safeguarding Policies for more details by clicking here.
Equality and Diversity
OXPIP is committed to eliminating prejudice and discrimination in all its work, including in recruiting, promoting and developing staff. We are committed to ensuring equal opportunities, fairness of treatment, dignity, work-life balance and the elimination of all forms of discrimination in the workplace for all staff and job applicants. We aim to create a working environment in which all individuals are able to make best use of their skills, free from prejudice, discrimination or harassment, and in which all decisions are based on merit. OXPIP will recruit the person who best matches the requirements of a vacant post.
Please refer to OXPIP’s Employment and Diversity Policy for more details by clicking here.
Main Purpose of the Role
The Chair provides inspiring leadership to the Board of Trustees, ensuring the charity is well governed, strategically focused and true to its mission.
Working in close partnership with the Chief Executive, the Chair creates an inclusive and high-performing Board where trustees contribute effectively, constructive challenge is welcomed and decisions are made in the best interests of babies, families and the charity.
The Chair also acts as an ambassador for OXPIP, helping to build relationships, strengthen partnerships and raise the charity's profile.
Approximately 2 days per month, including:
- Four board meetings each year
- Regular meetings with the Chief Executive
- Attendance at occasional committee meetings
- Participation in key events, stakeholder meetings and trustee recruitment when required
Role Description
Strategic leadership
- Lead the Board in setting and reviewing OXPIP's long-term strategy.
- Support the charity through its next phase of development and growth.
- Help identify emerging opportunities, risks and challenges.
- Ensure the Board remains focused on delivering meaningful impact for babies and families.
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Governance and leadership
- Chair Board meetings effectively, ensuring discussions are inclusive, focused and productive.
- Promote the highest standards of governance, accountability and decision making.
- Ensure trustees understand and fulfil their legal and regulatory responsibilities.
- Work closely with the Chief Executive to develop agendas and ensure the Board receives timely, high-quality information.
- Ensure decisions are implemented and progress is monitored.
Building an effective Board
- Foster a positive, collaborative and inclusive Board culture.
- Make the best use of trustees' diverse skills, knowledge and experience.
- Encourage open discussion, respectful challenge and consensus building.
- Ensure every trustee has the opportunity to contribute fully.
- Support trustee recruitment, induction, development and succession planning.
Supporting the Chief Executive
- Build a strong and trusted relationship with the Chief Executive.
- Provide encouragement, advice and constructive challenge.
- Conduct the Chief Executive's annual appraisal.
- Act as a sounding board on strategic opportunities and organisational challenges.
External leadership
- Represent OXPIP with credibility and enthusiasm.
- Build productive relationships with partners, funders and stakeholders.
- Use personal networks to create opportunities for the charity.
- Support fundraising and advocacy where appropriate.
General Responsibilities of All Trustees
- Ensure the charity operates within its legal and regulatory framework and complies with its governing document.
- Act in the best interests of the charity, its beneficiaries and future beneficiaries.
- Contribute to the strategic direction and development of the organisation.
- Maintain sound financial stewardship of the charity’s resources.
- Ensure effective and efficient administration of the charity.
- Act as a counter‑signatory on payments and funding applications as required.
- Maintain absolute confidentiality regarding sensitive information.
- Use personal skills and experience to support the Board in making well‑informed decisions.
Safeguarding
Whilst OXPIP’s Board has a nominated Safeguarding Trustee, all trustees must ensure that OXPIP has robust safeguarding policies, follows statutory guidance, and creates a culture where concerns are recognised and acted on. This includes strong safeguarding governance which ensures people and practice are safe, risks are managed and concerns are addressed properly. Ultimately, they hold collective legal accountability for keeping children safe throughout the charity’s work.
Data protection/GDPR responsibilities
Trustees must ensure the charity handles personal data lawfully, securely and transparently, in line with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. They also have a responsibility to support the Board in maintaining appropriate financial data controls, ensuring that any personal or sensitive financial information is stored, accessed and processed safely and only for legitimate charitable purposes.
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EDI responsibilities
Trustees must actively promote and uphold equality, diversity and inclusion by ensuring that financial decisions, policies and governance practices support fair treatment, remove barriers, and enable full participation for people from all backgrounds across the charity’s work.
Person Specification
Experience
- Previous experience as a Chair, Vice Chair or Trustee. Essential
- Experience of operating at a senior strategic or executive level. Essential
- A strong track record of providing strategic leadership. Essential
- Experience of leading teams, Boards or complex organisations. Essential
- Experience of building consensus and facilitating effective decision making. Essential
- Experience within children's services, mental health, health, social care or the voluntary sector. Desirable
- Experience of fundraising, income generation, business development or building strategic partnerships, and a willingness to use your networks and influence to support OXPIP's growth. Knowledge of workforce development and professional training. Desirable
- Fundraising or income generation. Desirable
- Experience of organisational growth or transformation. Desirable
- Lived experience of parent-infant relationships or infant mental health challenges. Desirable
Knowledge and Understanding
- A sound understanding of charity governance and the responsibilities of trustees. Essential
- An awareness of the importance of infant mental health, parent-infant relationships and services for babies, young children and families. Essential
- A genuine appreciation of the importance and impact of specialist parent-infant psychotherapy. Essential
- A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. Essential
Leadership Skills
- Strategic thinking and sound judgement. Essential
- Ability to inspire confidence and bring people together. Essential
- Clear and thoughtful decision making. Essential
Board Leadership Skills
- Excellent meeting chairing skills. Essential
- Ability to draw out the strengths of individual trustees. Essential
- Skilled at facilitating discussion and building consensus. Essential
- Comfortable providing both support and constructive challenge. Essential
- Ability to hold people accountable in a positive and respectful way. Essential
Communication and relationships
- Outstanding listening skills. Essential
- High levels of emotional intelligence. Essential
- Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills. Essential
- Ability to build trusted relationships across the Board, executive team and external partners. Essential
- Strong networking and ambassadorial skills. Essential
Personal qualities
- Compassion and empathy. Essential
- Integrity and sound judgement. Essential
- Commitment to equality of opportunity and inclusive leadership. Essential
- Openness to new ideas and different perspectives. Essential
- Passion for OXPIP's mission and values. Essential
- The time, enthusiasm and commitment to make a meaningful contribution. Essential
Other
- Living within Oxfordshire or within easy travelling distance. Desirable
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