Board Member with Experience of the Disability Sector

The Organisation:

Established in 1951, the Central Remedial Clinic (CRC) is a voluntary organisation and national charity working with children and adults with disabilities.

We provide general disability services along with, and in partnership with, the HSE and the wider disability sector, and we also provide highly specialist national services not replicated elsewhere in the sector.

Our national specialist services team supports the provision of innovative medical and surgical interventions, therapeutic and assistive technology services to children and adults with complex disabilities and rare conditions. These innovative medical and surgical interventions and evidence-based therapies support children and adults to achieve their maximum potential.

Our adult services are based in the Dublin region, and we operate from several multiple locations in line with the principles of New Directions. We support individuals to live a life of their choosing including supporting education and employment opportunities.

We are the lead agency for five Children’s Disability Network Teams (CDNTs) located in Balbriggan, Swords, Clontarf, Clondalkin, and Waterford. These teams provide essential services to children aged from birth to 18 years with complex needs.

The CDNTs are part of the Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People Programme (PDS), which aims to provide equitable access to services for children with disabilities, regardless of their diagnosis or location. This aligns with the Slaintecare vision of delivering integrated care, ensuring that children receive the necessary support to reach their full potential in a coordinated manner.

We are the trustees for two special schools in Clontarf and Clondalkin which are responsible for the education of 161 children with physical and other complex disabilities.

We are funded through several HSE and other state grants and we also rely on donations and fundraising to support our work.  While registered as a charity, the CRC is incorporated as a Section 38 Organisation under the Health Act. 

We employ an average of 400 people and are supported by a network of volunteers.

For more information, please visit www.crc.ie .

As a Section 38 Organisation focusing on Disability, we are on a strategic journey to improve our delivery services and support an ever-growing number of families. Our five year plan recognises :

Purpose, Ambition & Values

We recognise that every person, regardless of ability, has the right to the right support, at the right time.

Our Purpose:  is to deliver the services that make this real for people with complex disabilities.

Our Ambition:  is to change perceptions and experiences, so that disability is recognised as a difference that enriches society.  Together with individuals, families and our partners, we are shaping a world where everyone is valued and supported to live the life they choose.

Our Values:  Purpose, Ambition & Values | Central Remedial Clinic

Board of Directors:            Board of Directors | Central Remedial Clinic (crc.ie)

Executive Team:                   Senior Management Team and Operational Management Team | Central Remedial Clinic (crc.ie)

The Role:

CRC is seeking a board member with significant experience of the disability sector in Ireland.   The successful candidate will operate as an ordinary board member to provide fiduciary oversight, including ensuring the organisation delivers on agreed strategy, has adequate resources, is managed soundly through an appropriate risk appetite statement, and operates within a compliant governance framework.

As a member of the Board, contribute to the following:

• Provide oversight and accountability, acting with care, loyalty, and obedience to the law and the organisation's constitution. This includes managing risk and ensuring all organisational actions align with its mission as a Section 38 organisation with a clear compliance statement set out by the HSE, and as a registered charity.
• Work collaboratively between the Board and Executive Management in setting the strategy for the organisation to fulfil the needs of clients and their families, and track successful delivery within an agreed risk framework.
• Ensure that the organisation has the financial resources to meet its goals and that finances are managed properly and transparently.
• Oversee the performance of senior executive in delivering day to day requirements.
• Specifically, bring a level of expertise and experience of the disability sector to provide a clear direction on strategic decisions, and represent the voice of the client base.

Essential Experience Required:

• Experience of the disability sector or Section 38 or Section 39 organisations, either as a practitioner or as a board member.
• A strong track record of board membership.

Desirable Experience:

• Specific skills in relation to understanding complex disability needs, including autism.
• A level of governance training or understanding.

Board Meetings:

There are six formally scheduled board meetings a year: January, March, May, June, September and December.  The board meetings are from 8.00am to 12.30 pm and take place in person at the CRC offices in Clontarf, Dublin 3.  

Board Committees:

Board members are expected to participate as a member of at least one board committee, of which there are four – Audit; Quality, Service, Safety & Risk (QSSR); People, Change and Transformation (PCT) and Investment & Fund Raising.  Each board committee meets a minimum of four times a year.  Whether the meeting is held remotely or in-person is at the discretion of the committee chair.

The successful candidate will be a member of the Quality, Service, Safety and Risk Committee.