Constitution

The name of the organisation shall be "Vocational Rehabilitation Association", hereinafter called "VRA"

• The Aims of the VRA
• Classes of VRA Membership
• Membership Rules
• Subscriptions
• The Board of Trustees
• Annual General Meeting
• Board of Trustees Meeting
• Conduct of Members
• Disciplinary Matters and Termination of Membership

THE AIMS OF THE VRA SHALL BE:

• To promote the professional knowledge, attitudes and skills of people practising in the field of vocational rehabilitation.
• To provide a vehicle for the exchange of ideas and experience across the UK.
• To contribute towards the development of quality standards and training in vocational rehabilitation practice.
• To promote equal opportunities within the field of vocational rehabilitation.
• To increase awareness and recognition of vocational rehabilitation.

CLASSES OF VRA MEMBERSHIP:

• Full Individual Membership, open to all individuals with an interest in the aims and objectives of the VRA.
• Corporate Membership, (subject to further development and agreement by Trustees - January 2006). It is proposed that Corporate Membership should be open to organisations that wish to support the aims and objectives of the VRA. Examples of categories of organisations eligible for corporate membership include:
  • Employer organisations.
  • Insurance and Reinsurance organisations.
  • Medical and Rehabilitation Providers.
  • Claims Management Services.
  • Legal Services.
  • Employment Consultants.
  • Disability Charities.
• Student Membership, open to any individual able to provide documentary evidence upon application that they are enrolled on a relevant programme of training, leading to employment as a vocational rehabilitation practitioner.

MEMBERSHIP RULES:

All members of the VRA are required to adhere to the following rules.

• Members are required to undertake never to advertise membership of the VRA in order to promote services or for any other reason.
• Membership does not authorise or allow access to a list of VRA members for mailing or marketing purposes.
• Corporate members are ineligible to vote or be represented as a Trustee of the VRA.
• Student members are ineligible to vote or become Trustees.
• Membership of the VRA is subject to review by the Board of Trustees and in the event of proven breach of the member may be terminated without notice.
• Membership of the VRA does not imply that the VRA or its Board of Trustees recommends or endorses any member as a service provider and neither the VRA nor its Board of Trustees accepts any responsibility or liability in this regard.

SUBSCRIPTIONS:

• Each individual member or organisation will pay an annual subscription due on the anniversary date of being admitted as a member or as agreed by the membership administrator.
• The amount of the subscription will be proposed by the Board of Trustees and ratified at the Annual General Meeting.
• The membership for individuals or organisations that fail to pay their subscriptions within three calendar months of the due date will automatically lapse.
• Applications for reinstatement of lapsed membership shall be at the discretion of the Board of Trustees and subject to payment of outstanding subscriptions upon application.

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES:

• The Board of Trustee´s shall comprise of a minimum of four members, who unless otherwise agreed undertake the following roles: - Chair - Vice Chair - Treasurer - Membership Secretary
• As far as possible, the Board of Trustees will represent public, private and voluntary sector rehabilitation provision.
• Trustees will be elected individually at each Annual General Meeting by a majority vote of all Members present or by proxy.
• The Chair shall be elected annually by a majority vote of Trustees at the first meeting of the Board of Trustees following the Annual General Meeting.
• Where the Chair either resigns before the Annual General Meeting, or in seeking re-election, at the first meeting of the Board of Trustees, following the Annual General Meeting does not receive a majority vote in favour of his or her re-election, the current Vice Chair will become Chair subject to having served a minimum period of 2 years continuous service as a Trustee, and having been endorsed by a majority vote of all Trustees.
• Trustees will then be required to elect a new Vice Chair by a majority vote of all Trustees.
• Trustees wishing to stand down must give at least 6 weeks notice of their intention to do so.
• When a vacancy for a Trustee arises, anyone who has a minimum of one year´s continuous membership of the NVRA / VRA and who wishes to apply for consideration must put their name forward in writing to the Chairman of the Board of Trustees together with the name of a Member representative who will propose their election.
• The application will be considered at the next meeting of the Board of Trustees, and the applicant notified of the outcome. If approved by the majority of Trustees the Members nomination will be submitted for consideration by members at the following AGM.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE VRA:

• The VRA´s Annual General Meeting will be held within 14 months of the previous Annual General Meeting.
• Members will be given a minimum of four weeks notice in writing of the Annual General Meeting.
• Each full member will be entitled to be represented at the Annual General Meeting. Eight or more Members present will form a quorum.
• Decisions will be made by a majority vote on a show of hands. In the event of a stalemate, the Chairman will have the deciding vote.
• The Annual General Meeting will: - Receive a report from the Chairman on the activities of the VRA in the preceding year and consider adoption of the report. - Receive a report from the Secretary/Treasurer on the financial position of the VRA and consider the adoption of the accounts for the preceding financial year. - Agree the subscription for the following year. - Elect the Board of Trustees for the following year. - Consider proposed revisions and / or alteration of rules. - Consider such other business as shall be specified in the notice convening the meeting.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETINGS

• The Board of Trustees will meet at least four times a year including the AGM or more frequently at their discretion.
• The Board of Trustees will consider applications for vacant Trustee posts as set out in 6 above.
• Board of Trustees will consider disciplinary matters in accordance with 10 below.
• The Board of Trustees will set up sub groups to carry forward appropriate initiatives on behalf of the VRA.
• The Board of Trustees will organise meetings of the VRA and arrange other events.
• The Board of Trustees will liaise with relevant organisations in the furtherance of the VRA´s Aims and Objectives.

CONDUCT OF MEMBERS

• Members are expected to behave in accordance with the VRA Code of Ethics.
• To respect the privacy of other Members to ensure that procedures are in force to protect privacy and to prevent inadvertent disclosure of private information.
• To comply with the rules as Associate Members.

DISCIPLINARY MATTERS & TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP.

• All Members of the VRA are expected to behave in an ethical and professional manner at all times. The Board of Trustees will have the power to expel from membership any Member proved to have acted unethically or unprofessionally or whose actions have been injurious to the reputation or interests of the VRA and to people with disability.
• The member will be informed in writing of the Board of Trustees decision and the reasons for the decision. Members so informed will have the right to appeal through the Chair against the decision to a full meeting of Trustees.