CEO

For more than 30 years the Birchall Trust has supported survivors of rape and sexual abuse across Cumbria and Lancashire. Our services are designed to reflect the needs of people of all genders and sexual orientation providing support to them and their friends and family who may also have been impacted by the sexual abuse. At the core of our work has been our counselling service recently enhanced to work with people in a more holistic way, introducing trauma informed wellbeing practitioners, education and training opportunities along with group activities. In May 2024 we launched our new 5-year strategy with ambitious targets and a passion to challenge myths and reduce the stigma of sexual abuse. We are audacious in our desire not just to help create safe and supportive environments for people to seek help but critically to also develop informed and confident communities who are able to change behaviours aiming to reduce the incidence of sexual abuse and its damaging impact for individuals.
- Dr Paula Cook Chair of Trustees _

**Key Purpose of the job**:
Work with our broad team and the Trustee Board to set strategic direction and objectives and achieve these through strong operational management of the service underpinned by efficient and effective income generation, financial and risk management and delivery of business plans.

Provide the Board with timely, high quality, appropriate information to allow it to fulfil its governance responsibilities.

Lead and ensure effective management of the charity in compliance with legal frameworks and the Charities Commission guidance.

Promote and develop Birchall Trust’s profile and build strong and informed relationships with key stakeholders.

**Main Duties and Responsibilities: Developing our People and Culture**:
Lead and engage the broad Birchall team of staff, volunteers, and ambassadors promoting a culture of inclusion, good communication and empowered working relationships.

Guide development of our culture ensuring we live by our values and build an accessible, barrier free, safe working environment that enables everyone contributing to Birchall to thrive.

Ensure compliance in law and spirit with legal, regulatory, social, and ethical responsibilities, including all aspects of equal opportunities and employee legislation.

Reflect in daily behaviour, policy development and relationships with stakeholders the principles of our trauma informed approach to organisations, people and those who use our services.

**Service Delivery**:
Ensure the provision of high quality, timely and accessible services that help those who use them in their journey through recovery and reflect our trauma informed approach.

Monitor and evaluate services for accessibility, best practice contractual requirements and opportunities to create informed and achievable annual plans and budgets.

Create a culture that seeks and responds to opportunities for growth and service improvement with a balanced approach to articulated risk and informs a rolling strategy and robust business plan.

**External Affairs and Relations**:
Foster positive, enabling and open relationships with a range of stakeholders, reflecting both funders and those who use our services.

Enhance and promote our reputation as a leading service provider in wider communities.

Work collegiately with other stakeholders, government bodies and professional organisations to reduce stigma linked to sexual abuse, understand its implications and secure funding for services that help support those affected.

Facilitate our work on education and development in schools, workplaces and communities to help change behaviour and over longer term reduce the incidence of sexual abuse.

**Income Generation and Business Development**:
Create an informed long-term approach to funding balancing operational needs and risks underpinned by robust financial stewardship and reflecting Charity Commission requirements.

Deliver a financial service that reports in a timely, focused and appropriate manner to The Trustees, is fair and transparent for all stakeholders and meets statutory audit and accounting good practice.

Deploy professional curiosity for new sources of service diversity and income generation in line with our strategic objectives.

Create clear recommendations and funding bids to support these work programmes to the Trustees and other parties.

**Our Trauma Informed Behaviours - How the role will be delivered**

**I do what matters**:
I ensure that I work to trauma informed principles and best practice in all aspects of my work.

I take action to build and nature trusted relationship, to understand, support and guide others always.

**I am always myself**:
I ring the best version of myself to work. I contribute to the difference Birchall make to people’s lives.

I act as a role model in terms of trauma informed principle, inspiring others to engage and trust me.

**I focus on succeeding together**

Collaboration is what makes us di