RRecruitmentecruitment pack Pack Chief Executive SWeavereptember 20 Vale16 Housing Trust Board Members
July 2018
Contents
Information letter 3
Welcome to Weaver Vale 4
Meet our Chief Executive & Directors 5
Meet our Board Members 7
Role profile 10
Person Specification 12
Terms and conditions 14
Key Dates & Selection Process 15
Media advertisement 16
You can download the following documents from the jobs page:
▪ Corporate Plan 2018 -2023 ▪ Annual Report and Financial Statements 2016 – 2017 ▪ Weaver Vale Core Competencies ▪ Weaver Vale Values
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Information Letter
Dear Applicant
Weaver Vale Housing Trust – Board Members
Thank you very much for your interest in this position. On the following pages you will find information about Weaver Vale Housing Trust, the role of Board Members and details of the selection process, to assist you in completing and tailoring your application. In order to apply you should submit:
• An up-to-date CV which shows your career history – we recommend that this is no longer than three pages;
• A supporting statement explaining why you are interested in this role and organisation, and detailing how you are a good candidate for this post and fulfil the person specification – we recommend that this is no longer than three pages;
• The declaration form – shown separately on the Campbell Tickell job page – but completion of the equalities section is not mandatory, this is requested for monitoring purposes in line with our commitment to equality and diversity; and
• Indicate on the declaration form if you cannot attend any of the interview dates.
Please note that applications can only be considered if all the documentation is complete. Please send your application, preferably in MS Word format, by email to: [email protected]
Applications must be received by 12 noon on Tuesday 7th August 2018
Please ensure we receive your application in good time. If you do not receive confirmation of receipt within 24 hours of sending, please call us on 020 3434 0990. To help avoid your submission being treated as spam, please use a secure email address from which to send your application, and refer to the role and organisation in the header.
Weaver Vale are particularly keen to attract skilled and passionate people to the Board. Women candidates will be especially welcome as they remain committed to ensuring diversity across their leadership teams.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards
Bill Barkworth Senior Associate Consultant 07706 369273
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Welcome to Weaver Vale
Dear Applicant, Thank you for your interest in joining Weaver Vale Housing Trust as a Board Member. We are very pleased that you are interested in this important role at Weaver Vale Housing Trust. The Trust has more than 6,000 homes based in Northwich, Winsford, Helsby and outlying rural areas and we hold a strong commitment to our Vision of ‘Transforming Neighbourhoods, Homes and Services to Improve the Quality of Life for Our Customers’. Board Members play a critical role in helping the Trust achieve its vision and ambition set out in our new 5-year Corporate Plan, ‘Our Future’, so it is vital that we appoint the right people with the right skills, values and behaviours. Our sector continues to undergo significant change, and this will continue to present substantial challenges, as well as opportunities for all Housing Associations and our customers. Our sector continues to undergo significant change, and this will continue to present substantial challenges, as well as opportunities for all Housing Associations and our customers. As a Board Member, you will play a key part in ensuring that we are equipped to meet these challenges and capitalise on opportunities presented, in order that we can deliver against our objectives, whilst ensuring our customers remain involved, engaged and at the heart of all we do. Engaged and motivated staff are key to our success and we recently gained 2 stars in the Sunday Times Best Companies 2018 Top 100 Not for Profit list and achieved 25th place overall. We are very proud of this achievement and it is a testament to the dedication and commitment of our staff. Our customers also agree, hence the Trust achieving a 90% overall satisfaction rate over the last 4 years. Despite these past successes, we are not complacent and recognise the need to be agile and responsive to change. Our Board Members play an integral role in governing and setting the strategic direction for the Trust, evaluating our progress against objectives and modelling our values of fairness, openness, respect, enthusiasm, collaboration, commitment and customer focus. They bring a diverse set of skills, knowledge and experience from a range of professional backgrounds and we are now keen to strengthen further by attracting three new members to the Board with expertise in the following areas: • Customer Services: in recognition of our ambitions to transform our service offer and support our ‘Customer Voice’. • Technology and Transformation: in recognition of the importance technology has in our new corporate change management project ‘Fit for the Future’. • Sales & Marketing, in Property / Development: in recognition of our ambitions to increase our development programme, including homeownership products. If you believe in ‘Our Future’, live and breathe our values and have the experience, ability and enthusiasm for one of these roles, please speak to our consultant, Bill Barkworth of Campbell Tickell.
We look forward to receiving your application.
Jim Bolton Wayne Gales Chairman Chief Executive Page | 4
Meet our Chief Executive & Directors
Our Executive Management team is responsible for implementing and directing our 2020 Vision. Our 2020 Vision gives us a clear direction for our future. There are many changes ahead, but we will continue to be a landlord of choice, with a greater focus on affordable energy for our homes, helping customers into work and creating self-reliant communities. The Executive Management Team consists of: Wayne Gales - Chief Executive Wayne oversees the organisation which encompasses: • Managing the affairs of the Trust in accordance with the vision, values and corporate objectives • Liaison with the Chairman and Members of the Board of Management • Strategic development of corporate policies and objectives • Corporate Assessment & Assurance Andrew White - Director of Finance & Business Services • Financial Strategies • Business Planning • Liaison with Funders • Financial Services • Legal Services • Information Communication Technology • Internal Audit • Income Collection • Management of Transformation Team Gareth Rigby - Director of Property • Asset Management • Responsive Repairs • Planned Maintenance • Modernisations and Improvements • Adaptations and Tenants' Alterations • Health and Safety • Contracts and Tender • Affordable Warmth Programmes • Development and Regeneration Judith Burbidge - Director of Neighbourhoods & Customer Services • New Customer Allocations • Tenancy Services and Enforcement • Specialist Housing Services • Services for Older and Vulnerable Customers • Resident Involvement • Grounds Maintenance Services including caretaking • Neighbourhood Development and Community Projects • Customer Service Desks • Partnership Working
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Andrew Rafferty – Director of Technology & Business Improvement • Technology • Business Improvement • Data analysis • Data Management & compliance • Business Continuity & disaster recovery • Performance Management reporting
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Meet Our Board Members
Our Board is made up of representatives from three groups: tenants, council nominees, and independent people. Their role is to set our strategic direction and monitor our progress towards achieving our 2020 Vision and Strategies.
Jim Bolton - Chair of the Board, Member of the Group Governance & Remuneration Committee. Jim is a retired Housing Consultant. He has worked as Head of Service in a local authority and as a Housing Manager, Director and Interim Chief Executive for housing associations and as a Managing Director in the private sector.
Rachael Radway - Deputy Chair of the Board, Chair of Group Governance & Remuneration Committee. Rachael is an accountant (CIPFA), having qualified with Ernst & Young and subsequently working at Pricewaterhouse Coopers. Rachael has over 17 years of experience in external and internal audit, strategic planning, performance reporting, business risk management and corporate governance and is currently Assistant Director of Finance for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).Rachael was previously Head of Internal Audit for Vale Royal Borough Council.
Paul Waring - Chair of the Group Audit & Assurance Committee, Member of the Complaints Panel. Paul is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountant, with an honours degree in Civil and Structural Engineering. He has over 30 years’ experience in audit and risk, gained across a wide range of sectors and businesses. For the last ten years Paul has worked primarily in social housing, initially as an external provider of risk and internal audit services to a range of housing associations in the North West and as Director of Assurance at one of the largest providers of social housing in the UK. Paul is currently working as a Risk & Assurance Consultant. Paul also sits on the Audit Committees of two Universities in Manchester and York. For the last fifteen years, Paul has lived in the Vale Royal area and takes a keen interest in local issues.
Jacqui Chatwood - Member of the Group Governance & Remuneration Committee, Chair of Weaver Horizons. Jacqui is a qualified Chartered Accountant, and has spent over 15 years in accountancy practice, working her way up from graduate trainee to partner before moving into industry. She has been Managing Director for the past 10 years of a management consultancy which provides learning and development services to multinational blue chip companies, public sector entities and large SMEs. She is also a Governor and Finance Committee member at a further education college in Lancashire. Jacqui brings her broad range of financial expertise, strategic planning and leadership skills and is known for her passion for people development and helping build businesses.
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Barbara Dean - Chair of the Development/Tender Panel & Chair of the Complaints Panel Barbara has been self employed most of her working life and then went on to work in credit control within the Winsford, Northwich and Crewe areas for 6 years prior to her retirement. After retirement Barbara found she missed being part of a business and wanted to be involved with something she cared very much about. Barbara became a volunteer member of our Tenant Consultative Committee for two years prior to her joining the Board.
Peter Shaw - Member of the Development/Tender Panel, Member of the Group Audit & Assurance Committee, Member of the Complaints Panel. Peter has held a number of senior executive positions with several registered housing providers throughout his 26 year career in the housing sector. As a qualified accountant (CIPFA), he has been Group Finance Director for Signpost Housing Group, Dane Housing Group and more recently with Plus Dane Group. During his time with Dane Housing Group, he also held directorships overseeing the New Development team, the Housing and Supported Housing teams as well as the repair and maintenance team. Having recently retired from his latest position with Plus Dane Group as Managing Director with responsibility for managing a £100m Housing management contract with Cheshire West and Chester Council, Peter brings a wide range of housing and financial experience and knowledge.
Andy Stafford - Member of the Development/Tender Panel, Member of Weaver Horizons, Member of the Complaints Panel. Andy has recently retired after working in the Construction Industry for over 40 years having started as an Apprentice Joiner and moving up the ranks. He has held Managing Director and Executive positions since 2002 within the Housing Sector. His specialisms are directly employed Building Companies, Asset Management and New Build Development. Andy has also been appointed a Trustee of Age UK in his local area.
Don Beckett - Board Member Don has been a Councillor for over 20 years representing the Over and Verdin Ward in Winsford at both Cheshire West and the Winsford Town Council levels. He has previously served as a member of the Weaver Vale Board from year 2000 until 2007. During this time he helped to champion the training and development of young people to become skilled trained construction employees in the housing sector.
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Mike Gaskell – Board Member Mike is a solicitor with 35 years’ experience working in and with the housing sector. He is currently the managing partner of Trowers & Hamlins' LLP’s Manchester office, where he has led its extensive team since 2006. Mike is currently also the Chair of Leeds & Yorkshire Housing Association and Chair of the Old Trafford based charity TLC: Talk, Listen, Change which works to support people have safe, healthy and happy relationships. He has previously been Chair of Trafford Housing Trust and a Board Member of Manchester Care & Repair.
Patrick McCarthy - Group Audit & Assurance Committee Co-Optee Patrick has worked in social housing for over 30 years, having worked for four housing associations, all of whom were stock transfer. He previously worked in the private sector in the engineering and iron and steel industries, and is a qualified accountant (CIPFA and CIMA).
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Role Profile
Purpose: The Board is collectively responsible for ensuring the success of Weaver Housing Trust and ensuring its compliance with all legal and regulatory obligations by setting and monitoring the strategic direction of the organisation. Board Members are expected to add value to Weaver Vale’s business by contributing experience, expertise and insight in determining the vision, strategy, and direction of the Trust in the interests of its customers and service users. Key relationships Internal – Board members play a lead role in contributing to effective relationships with the Chair, other members of the Board, the wider governance structure, the Chief Executive, other members of the Executive Team and our customers. External – Board members play a key role in maintaining good relationships with stakeholder partners, the regulator, our lenders and other agencies involved in the work of the Board.
Main responsibilities Strategic leadership • Provide leadership for both the direction and control of Weaver Vale Housing Trust. • Set the vision and values and ensure that obligations to our customers and stakeholders are understood and reflected in strategy and policies. • Agree the Business Plan and objectives for the Trust and to determine the strategic aims and required outcomes. • Promote continuous improvement, setting challenging targets for improving services. • Contribute to the effective governance of the Trust through membership of Trust committees, panels or subsidiary Boards. Effective Governance • Ensure compliance with the Trust’s financial regulations, standing orders, delegated authorities, the Homes England regulatory framework and the Group Code of Governance. Risk Management • Evaluate present and future opportunities, threats and risks across the external environment and strengths and weaknesses in the internal environment, to ensure effective strategic decision-making. • Review the Risk Management Framework and obtain assurance the Trust has a robust and prudent approach to business planning, risk identification and control.
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Board Performance • Ensure the Board’s business is conducted economically, efficiently and effectively through a framework of delegation and systems of internal control. • Monitor organisational performance and continuous improvement, ensuring the organisation is managed efficiently and effectively. • Scrutinise and review performance against agreed targets and budgets. • Read and digest reports prepared by staff and advisors and contribute to appropriate debate of key issues amongst Board members. Relationships • Build and maintain effective and constructive working relationships with the Trust Chair, other Board members, Chief Executive, senior staff, and engage effectively with our customers. • Participate in the Board appraisal process and where appropriate in the appraisal of the Chief Executive, Executive Directors and other Board members.
Representing the Group • Act as an ambassador and representative for the organisation, promoting and upholding the reputation of the Trust and its values, objectives and principles. • Network and promote the achievements, purposes and benefits of the organisation. • Support the building and maintenance of good relationships with key stakeholders, including our customers, the regulator, key local authorities, and funders. Adding Value • Apply personal expertise, skills and knowledge with due regard to both the business and social purpose of the business. • Develop knowledge and understanding of, and keep up to date with, sector issues • Role model values, good governance practices and behaviours. • Attend and provide constructive challenge in Board meetings. • Actively participate in Board events and training.
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Person specification
Knowledge and experience • Experience of working within an organisation of similar complexity to Weaver Vale, preferably at a senior level. • An understanding and knowledge of good governance. • Good knowledge of management and/or commercial issues. • Awareness of and interest in issues affecting the housing sector. • Experience within one or more of these areas: o Customer services – reflecting our ambition to transform the services offer and customer experience; o Technology and transformation – linked to the importance of technology in modernising and driving change in our services; o Sales and marketing within property and development – aligned to our ambitions to develop more homes including homeownership products.
Skills and abilities • Strategic planning skills, able to develop strategic vision, working with others. • Financial reasoning and an ability to assess risk and promote risk awareness without being risk averse. • Able to challenge appropriately and hold senior staff to account; with a wider vision to raise standards across the organisation. • Able to work collaboratively, building consensus, and taking collective responsibility for decisions made. • Negotiating and influencing skills, able to work intuitively and liaise effectively with a wide range of people and stakeholders. • Effective IT skills.
Style and behaviour • Inclusive, acts with integrity, actively promotes and support the values, ethos and aims of Weaver Vale Housing Trust and the services it provides. • Ability to create a culture of collective responsibility, encouraging debate and consensual decision making. • Demonstrates the values of accountability, openness, and transparency. • Committed to transforming the lives of others and champions resident involvement across the activities of the organisation. • Demonstrates strong commitment to equality and diversity. • Possesses excellent communication and decision making skills.
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• Embraces learning and development and promotes this with the Board, the executive and the organisation as a whole. • An open, engaging and enthusing style, with the gravitas for an ambassadorial role. • Personal and professional credibility that will command confidence across Weaver Vale Housing Trust and with our wide range of stakeholders. • Well-organised, manages time well and able to assimilate and comment on complex information and reports. • Commitment to attend Board and Committee meetings and attend appropriate training events.
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Terms and conditions
Position Independent Board Member
Remuneration £3,800 per annum
1 to 2 days per month – this includes 5 Board meetings, committee meetings, 2 strategic Board events, training and induction, reading and preparation for Board meetings, and attendance at our engaged customer and other stakeholder events. Commitment You may be required to devote additional time to the Association from time to time, particularly when the Association is undergoing a period of increased activity. At certain times it may be necessary to convene additional Board, Committee or general meetings which will be done in accordance with the Constitution.
3 years, renewable for a further 3 years’ subject to performance. After the Term 6th year renewable on an annual basis up to a maximum of 9 years.
Unless otherwise informed all meetings will be held at Gadbrook Point, Location Rudheath Way, Northwich, CW9 7LL.
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Key Dates & Selection Process
Activity Timetable
Tuesday 7th August 2018 at 12 Closing date for all applications: noon
Longlist agreed: Thursday 9th August 2018
Tuesday 14th August and First interviews: Wednesday 15th August 2018
Wednesday 29th August and Final interviews: Thursday 30th August 2018
If you are likely to be unavailable for any of the relevant interview dates specified above, please contact Bill Barkworth, Senior Associate at Campbell Tickell– mobile: 07706 369273, email: [email protected]
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Telephone 020 8830 6777
Recruitment 020 3434 0990
[email protected] www.campbelltickell.com
@CampbellTickel1
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