1. Eligibility of trustees
No-one under the age of 18 can be a trustee.
Anyone described in sections 178 to 180 of the Charities Act 2011 are disqualified to act as a trustee. This includes:
- anyone with an unspent conviction for an offence involving deception or dishonesty.
- anyone who is an undischarged bankrupt.
- anyone who has been removed from trusteeship of a charity by the Court or the commission for misconduct or mismanagement.
- anyone under a disqualification order under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986.
- anyone who has entered into a composition or arrangement with their creditors which includes an involuntary arrangement (IVA) and is currently on the Insolvency Service Register.
2. Trustee Values
Roseland Surgeries Patient Group (RSPG) Trustees should accept the following principles:
- Selflessness – They must act in the best interests of RSPG. They must not act to gain financial or other material benefit for themselves, family or friends.
- Integrity – Trustees should not place themselves under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organisations that might influence them in the performance of their role. Trustees should avoid any impropriety or any appearance of improper business. Trustee should avoid accepting gifts and hospitality that might reasonably be thought to influence their judgement.
- Objectivity – In carrying out their role: including masking appointments, awarding contracts, recommending individuals for rewards and benefits or transacting other business, Trustees must ensure that choices are made solely on merit.
- Accountability – Trustees have a duty to comply with the law on all occasions in accordance with the trust paced in them in such a way as to preserve public confidence in RSPG. Trustees are accountable for their decisions and actions to the public, funders and users of RSPG. They must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate for their role.
- Openness – Trustee should be as open as possible about all decisions and actions they take. They should give reasons for their decisions and restrict information only when the wider public interest clearly demands. Trustees should take care that confidential material is handled appropriately and with due care.
- Honesty – Trustees have a duty to declare any interests relating to their role and to take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in a way that protects the RSPG. Where private interests of a trustee conflict with their trustee duties they must resolve this matter in favour of the trustee role or withdraw from any discussions and decision making.
- Leadership – Trustees should promote and support these principles by leadership and example. Trustees must respect the role of the Chairperson as elected leader of the Committee.
General Conduct – All Trustees will:
- Work as a team at all times and respect that decisions are made as a collective, often be means of a vote.
- Once a decision is made it becomes the decision of the whole Committee and trustees are not expected to speak out against majority decisions in public or private.
- Only to act on behalf of the Committee when they have specifically been asked to do so.
- Work within any agreed policies and regulations, including financial regulations.
- Trustees will always be mindful of their responsibility to maintain the reputation of the Committee.
- Behave professionally and courteously to their fellow Trustees at all times and treat each other with respect.
- Raise any potentially contentious issues with the Chairperson in advance so that they can be placed on the agenda. When called to make a decision the trustees must have all the facts they need and have had the opportunity to consider them before the meeting.
Dated: October 2025
Review date: October 2027