SSRG Publications - SSRG Constitution

1. Name

The name of the organisation will be SSRG (Social Services Research Group).

2. Definition

It is a network for research, information, planning and evaluation in social care and health services.

3. Objectives

The objectives of the Group will be pursued in accordance with the principles set out in its Equal Opportunities policy. These objectives are to:

• provide a network of mutual support and a forum for the exchange of ideas and information on social, housing and health services - open to members of social, housing and health services, academia, and the private and voluntary sectors;
• promote high standards in social, housing and health services research, information, planning and evaluation;
• encourage collaboration in social, housing and health services activities;
• develop an informed body of opinion of social, housing and health services activities;
• provide a channel of communication for the collective views of the Group to central and local government, other professional bodies and the public;
• sponsor relevant research and identify neglected areas of research;
• encourage and, where appropriate, sponsor high quality training in research techniques.

4. Membership

• a)Membership shall be open to any person, who subscribes to the objectives of the Group.
• b)Membership shall require payment of subscription in a manner and form agreed from time to time by the Annual General Meeting.
• c)The rate of subscription shall be determined annually by the NEC, on the recommendation of the Treasurer, and ratified by the Annual General Meeting.

5. Executive Committee

The affairs of the Group, between Annual General Meetings, shall be conducted by the NEC which shall consist of:

• a) The Elected Officers (as specified in 7 below);
• b) Two Selected Officers: Journal Editor and Newsletter Editor, which are selected by the NEC;
• c) The Immediate Past Chair (for the 12 months following his/her relinquishing of the Chair);
• d) One representative from each of the Regions, which may from time to time exist. This representative to be elected by the Region;
• e) 3 members elected by the membership at the Annual General Meeting;
• f) Not more than 3 co-opted members (to be co-opted by the NEC as it sees fit).

The NEC shall decide its own quorum which shall be not less than 5 (five).

Vacancies occurring between Annual General Meetings shall be filled as follows:

• a) above: by the NEC as soon as possible: to be confirmed at the next AGM;
• b) above: by the NEC as soon as possible: to be confirmed at the next AGM;
• c) above: left vacant;
• d) above: by the Region as soon as possible: to be confirmed at the next Regional AGM;
• e) above: left vacant until the next AGM;
• f) above: by the NEC as it sees fit.

6. Organisation

• a) The NEC shall from time to time determine regional groupings of the membership in a manner which recognises the local authority boundaries current at the time;
• b) Each Regional AGM may elect officers as it sees fit and may co-opt other members as it sees fit;

7. Officers

The National Officers of the Group shall be elected annually under the rules of election described in para. 8 below by the Annual General Meeting and must be members of the Group. They shall consist of:

• Chair Vice Chair(s)
• Secretary Treasurer
• Membership Secretary Publicity Officer
• Press Officer

The Annual General Meeting may from time to time elect other officers.

8. Elections

• a) National Officers shall be elected by the Annual General Meeting by a simple majority of those voting, plus those voting by proxy;
• b) Regional Officers shall be elected by the Annual General Meeting of the Region by a simple majority of those voting;
• c) Other Elected Officers shall be elected by the Annual General Meeting by a simple majority of those voting, plus those voting by proxy;
• d) All candidates for elected posts must be nominated and seconded by current members; the nominee must agree to the nomination;
• e) Proxy votes shall be invited for 8(a) and (c) from those unable to attend the Annual General Meeting.

9. Accounts

• a) The Treasurer shall keep the accounts of the Group which shall be professionally audited by an auditor appointed by the NEC;
• b) The accounting year shall be the calendar year;
• c) The Treasurer shall submit the audited accounts for the previous calendar year to the Annual General Meeting for approval;
• d) These audited accounts shall be provided in sufficient time to be circulated in advance of the Annual General Meeting;
• e) The Treasurer shall submit a summary statement of the accounts to each meeting of the NEC.

10. Annual General Meetings

a) National

• (i) The Annual General Meeting of the Group shall be held during the Annual Workshop (if there is no Annual Workshop, the AGM shall be held in March);
• (ii) Six weeks notice of the AGM will be provided to members;
• (iii) Members only may attend the AGM;
• (iv) Members only may vote at the AGM;
• (v) Resolutions for consideration at the AGM must be proposed by either the NEC or a Region and must be notified to the Secretary of the NEC at least 8 weeks prior to the AGM;
• (vi) The Chair may decide to accept late Resolutions at the AGM; (vii) The Secretary shall provide the AGM with an Annual Report which will contain Officers' reports and Regional Annual Reports.

a) Regional

• (i) The Annual General Meeting of a Region shall be held in the month preceding the National Annual General Meeting;

11. General Meetings

A General Meeting shall be called by the Chair at the written request of 25 members and the Secretary shall provide at least 28 days written notice to all members of a General Meeting.

12. Amendments to the Constitution

• a) Amendments to the Constitution may be sought by the NEC or by 25 members;
• b) Amendments to the Constitution shall be approved by a simple majority of those voting in a postal ballot of the full membership;
• c) A ballot shall be initiated by the Secretary within 4 weeks of the request and shall close six weeks later.

13. Standing Orders

Subject to Standing Orders not conflicting with the Constitution as declared above, the various levels of the Group shall decide on standing orders as follows:

• a) AGM: The AGM shall decide its own standing orders;
• b) NEC: The NEC shall decide its own standing orders;
• c) Regions: Regions shall decide their own standing orders.

Last updated May 2002