EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Appointment Brief | February 2022
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BPNA | Executive Director
WELCOME Thank you for your interest in the role of Executive Director for the British Paediatric Neurology Association. We are a friendly and well managed organisation, supporting professionals working to help children with neurological disorders. We have had great success over the last 20-years in meeting our strategic aims and growing. In particular, we have developed a highly successful portfolio of educational courses for paediatric doctors and nurses, which are in demand in the UK and internationally. In addition to Education we have also developed professional support services and research, as well as specialist interest groups dealing with most neurological disorders. Surprisingly, the pandemic has strengthened our financial position and our rapid conversion to be fully remote has allowed us to be light footed in the coming years, deciding what should be face-to-face, and what should be remote activity depending on the needs of the professionals and the children we care for. We have a well organised management structure, with clear lines of responsibility between the executive and the secretariat special interest groups dealing with the areas of neurological disease. Our great success has mainly been driven by our previous Executive Director. We are looking for somebody to consolidate her excellent progress and steer us towards our longer-term aims.
The Executive Director manages the Secretariat, a small team of staff based at the London and Bolton offices. The staff are committed, hard-working, effective and function extremely well as a team. We have a policy of providing career development for our staff and rewarding their commitment with promotion. We are keen that the Executive Director embraces this ethos and manages the team well. A large number of different professionals volunteer their time to the organisation, across all areas of our work. It is only with their valuable commitment that we can achieve what we do. The Executive Director oversees the communication between the leads in these areas and the Secretariat allowing realistic support/achievement of realistic aims. We receive a number of contacts each week from outside organisations including very senior members of the government/media. The Executive Director manages these communications and engages the relevant association member to reply, interacting with the relevant body to explain process and timeline. The Executive Director produces and manages the organisation’s annual operational plan and budget, working with the Treasurer and other Trustees. This is a critically important role. The Executive Director needs to be a good team player, with the ability to communicate with professionals from a number of different disciplines/ geographical areas.
Appointment Brief | 2022
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WHO WE ARE The British Paediatric Neurology Association is a registered charity and is the professional organisation for doctors who specialise in the care of children with neurological disorders. We have carefully and continually supported families/children affected by neurological disorders through the support we supply to our members. Our members (currently around 500) are doctors and allied health professionals (specialist nurses, physiotherapists, speech therapists etc) working in paediatric neurology and related disciplines.
Our ethics values and principles:
Everyone involved with BPNA projects are responsible for ensuring their activities are run in accordance with the BPNA’s ethics, values and principles. As members and staff of the BPNA, we aim to: •
Place patients and their families at the heart of our activities.
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Promote an ethos of multidisciplinary working with fellow healthcare and related professionals.
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Demonstrate through our actions that we place a high value on education and training.
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Expect integrity and honesty in all our conduct.
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Empower individuals to bring about positive change.
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Seek excellence in all our endeavours.
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The improvement of knowledge of professionals, the public and patients and their families through scientific and educational meetings.
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The provision of professional support to members to facilitate the delivery of the above objectives and work with health service planners and providers to achieve this aim.
Our main activities include: •
Education, which comprises a portfolio of 1 and 2-day courses in a range of topics (epilepsy, headache, movement disorders etc) for UK and international paediatricians and allied health professionals. Online distance learning programme, accessed worldwide. Annual scientific meeting, our flagship event.
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Professional Support, including a mentoring programme, recruitment to paediatric neurology, invited reviews and the development of clinical guidance.
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Research, through provision of training research fellowships with Action Medical Research.
Our Charitable Aims:
To promote the health and well-being of children with neurological disorders through: •
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The training and education of professionals working in the field of paediatric neurosciences. The promotion of research into the causes, effects and treatments of neurological disorders affecting children and young people.
BPNA | Executive Director
Key Achievements
OUR STRATEGY Our vision is to improve the care of children with neurological disorders in the UK and worldwide through the provision of excellent, appropriate and accessible education to the doctors and nurses who come into contact with them. To provide professional support to UK doctors and nurses so that they can provide the very best care. To train the next generations of UK paediatric neurologists to the highest standard. Ensure equity of provision of paediatric neurology services in the UK. Our 5-year (2022-2026) strategic goals build on our achievements to 2021. Education - ensure sustainability of existing courses and ensure sufficient human resources are employed to support the workload. Establish the balance between face-to-face and virtual courses. Develop new courses as resources allow.
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Professional support - develop mentoring provision, embed the invited review process and engage healthcare providers in the service, ensure access to up to date paediatric neurology workforce data, continue to contribute to clinical governance at the highest level
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Research - maintain research training fellowships and develop additional fellowships subject to funding
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Public Patient Involvement to be developed to underpin all workstreams
The pandemic has had a significant impact on BPNA with lots of positives and a few negatives. Understanding and adjusting to the ‘new normal’ will be very important.
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FINANCES 2020-2021 Total income: £724,379 Donations and legacies: £351,105 The BPNA raises funds mainly through payments received for its educational activities, which include short-courses, annual conference, online distancelearning courses; membership subscriptions; and sponsorship. We have also raised money through the voluntary contributions of members. Total incoming resources for the year 2020-21 have decreased to £724,379 (2020 - £958,667). This decrease has arisen mainly from the decrease in short courses to £82,111 (2020 - £313,020). This is directly attributable to the cancellation of courses due to coronavirus restrictions.
Donations and legacies have increased in the year to £351,105 (2020 - £326,807). In particular the charity obtained significant grant funding in the year amounting to £128,970 (2020 - £63,575), sponsors of its annual conference symposiums generating funds of £60,000 (2020 - £30,000), and generating annual conference sponsorship income of £42,000 (2020 - £83,000).
OUR ORGANISATION The Trustee Board is called Executive and is the decision making body. Trustees are all Consultant Paediatric Neurologists working in the NHS who are elected by the membership to serve for 3-years. Each Trustee is responsible for a specific area of work and relates to a Secretariat manager to achieve the annual operational objectives.
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BPNA | Executive Director
Our Council is a larger body that meets twice per year (January and June). During 2018-19, Council was expanded to include representation from every UK paediatric neurology tertiary centre and the Chairs of the special interest groups together with the representatives coopted from related organisations. The purpose of Council is to ensure a good exchange of information and ideas related to the care of children and young people with neurological conditions and paediatric neurology education and training between Centres and other key organisations.
BPNA EXECUTIVE CHART 2022
President
Treasurer
Secretary
Executive Director
Professional Support
Mentoring Group, Invited Reviews, Recruitment Working Group
Key
Elected from January 2020 to AGM 2023
President Elect
Training
Education Q&S
CSAC
PET, CHat, NeoNATE, Movement, ACT, Acute, Fetal
Secretariat Structure 2022
Elected from January 2021 to AGM 2024
International
Distance Learning
Research
DL Steering Committee
Research Committe, Conference, RCPCH Meeting, BPNSU
Executive Director
Elected from January 2022 to AGM 2025 UK Education Manager UK Short Course Assistant
Accounts Manager
International Development Manager
Accounts Assistant
International Programme Assistant
Membership Engagement Manager Prof Support Administrator
Distance Learning Manager
Key
Bolton Office London Office
ROLE DESCRIPTION Job Title: Salary: Location: Reporting to:
Executive Director £65,072–£75,375 Regent’s Park, London BPNA President
Leadership and Management • • • • •
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Develop BPNA’s corporate strategy with Trustees Oversee development of business strategies to ensure corporate goals are reached. Draft annual Business & Operation plan for approval by Trustees. Produce annual budgets for approval by Trustees Identify and develop new opportunities to fulfil our charitable aims within strategic goals for all activity areas (Education, Professional Support, Research). Encourage and enable members to access and contribute to BPNA activities and services. Produce quarterly reports for the executive.
Governance • •
Promote BPNA’s governance policy and oversee compliance. Provide accurate and timely reports to the Trustees and Charity Commission.
External Relations and Marketing • • • • • •
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Develop relations with BPNA members, external organisations and key stakeholders. Motivate and negotiate with professionals in order to ensure strategies are implemented. Liaise and negotiate with BPNA members and external organisations to ensure smooth running of BPNA events and services. Represent the BPNA at meetings and conferences. Interact knowledgeably and enthusiastically with a wide range of people about BPNA programmes and paediatric neurology training. Develop marketing strategy and oversee implementation. BPNA | Executive Director
Financial Management • • •
Financial management of the organisation Work with the Trustees to ensure the ongoing financial stability and sustainability of the organisation. Explore and develop new sources of income.
People Management • •
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Ensure Secretariat ethos is understood and adhered to by staff. Provide guidance, support, training/ development and monitor individual and team performance ensuring strategies and policies are implemented and standards achieved. Support and check communication between the Secretariat and special interest groups/ research/educational and professional support activities. Negotiate contracts for subcontracted staff. Oversee HR management, ensure appropriate HR policies are in place and regularly reviewed and updated. Negotiate access to external HR support when required.
Operations Management • • • • • •
Develop and steer strategic direction of operations. Oversee the planning of future resource requirements organisation wide. Drive for continual improvements in effectiveness of services and efficiency of processes and systems. Negotiate provision of programmes and services to international partners. Develop new initiatives and projects at the direction of Trustees, in line with corporate strategy. Perform detailed analysis of information/data to present results, making recommendations via briefings, presentations and written reports.
PERSON SPECIFICATION Experience, Knowledge, Skills •
Experienced leader with a proven track record successfully managing the financial and operational activities of an organisation.
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Demonstrable experience influencing and developing relationships with a wide range of diverse stakeholders to develop excellent working relationships, through a collaborative approach.
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An understanding and/or knowledge of the charity sector including how to best support good governance.
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Experienced people manager, able to lead all HR responsibilities and drive a positive and inclusive working culture.
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Experience of turning visions into workable plans and efficient services.
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Good IT skills with an ability to oversee and ensure good data/systems process and procedures.
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Strong analytical skills and good project management experience.
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Excellent written and oral communication skills.
Abilities, Personal Qualities and Attitudes •
Able to work collaboratively with a wide range of people and organisations.
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Good personal credibility to act as an ambassador for the organisation.
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Ability to process a large quantity of information and to communicate effectively with all stakeholders.
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Diplomacy and excellent interpersonal skills
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An entrepreneurial approach.
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Ability to develop innovative solutions to problems.
Appointment Brief | 2022
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Benefits:
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Annual leave starts at 25 days and increases to 30 days (1 additional day every 2-years service).
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Pension is with NEST. Employer contributions are 6%.
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Season ticket loan.
BPNA | Executive Director
HOW TO APPLY
To apply for the role please upload your CV together with a supporting statement (maximum four pages of A4 in total) on the Prospectus website at the link below. Please ensure that you have included mobile, work and home telephone numbers, as well as any dates when you will not be available or might have difficulty with the recruitment timetable. At Prospectus we believe passionately that a truly inclusive workplace leads to increased social impact. We are committed to supporting our clients build more inclusive teams. To understand how we are performing, we ask that you kindly complete the brief equal opportunities questionnaire when you submit your application via our website. Please be assured that your responses are kept confidential, separate from your candidate record, are not part of any application you make, and that the consultants never see individual responses to the questionnaire. Applications should be made via the Prospectus website at: https://jobs.prospect-us.co.uk/jobs/details/hq00180013
Queries
Recruitment Timetable
If you wish to have an informal discussion about the opportunity, please contact our retained advisor Linda Griffiths at Prospectus on 020 7691 1920, or email:
Deadline for applications: Monday 21st February (midnight)
linda.griffiths@prospect-us.co.uk
Interviews with Prospectus: 28th February - 10th March Interviews with BPNA: 18 March - 30 March
If you require this document in an alternative format, please contact Prospectus on 020 7691 1920 or email: executive.admin@prospect-us.co.uk
Appointment Brief | 2022
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BPNA | Executive Director