July 2012

Rewarding in a different way

Chair of the Board Candidate recruitment pack

Olympic Office Centre, 8 Fulton Road HA9 0NU

Telephone 020 8830 6777 Fax 020 8450 9777

info@campbelltickell.com www.campbelltickell.com

Campbell Tickell Ltd Incorporated in Cardiff (England & Wales) Registration number 4713939

Registered office 14 Accommodation Road, London NW11 8EP VAT number 743 6943 08

July 2012 Dear Applicant Peter Bedford Housing Association – recruitment of Chair of the Board Thank you for your interest in this position. Enclosed is the information you will require to assist you in completing your application. To apply please can you:

Provide an up-to-date CV which shows your full career history with any breaks explained, please include details of all executive and non-executive roles that are currently held – we recommend that this is no longer than three pages;

Write a supporting statement detailing how you are a good candidate for this post and how you fulfil the person specification, and highlight any potential conflicts of interest – we recommend that this should be a maximum of around three pages;

Complete the compliance form;

Indicate if you cannot attend the interview dates (Friday 20th July in the afternoon or Thursday 26th July 2012 in the morning).

Please note that applications can only be considered if all the documentation is completed. However, it is not mandatory to complete the equalities section within the compliance form. The information requested is purely for monitoring purposes in line with our commitment to equality and diversity, and will not affect the outcome of your application.

Once complete, please send your application, preferably in MS Word format, by email to pbha@campbelltickell.com or by post to: Campbell Tickell Recruitment, Olympic Office Centre, 8 Fulton Road, Wembley, HA9 0NU. Due to postal unreliability we recommend you e-mail your application to us wherever possible to avoid missing the deadline.

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Applications must be received by Monday 16th July 2012 at 12 noon. It is your responsibility to ensure that we have received your application. If you do not receive confirmation of receipt of your application from us within 24 hours, please call 020 3434 0990 to ensure it has arrived. You should also ensure that you use a secure email address from which to send your application, as our system will filter out emails if it believes them to have been sent from unsecured sites that are often used to send spam emails. In order to avoid last-minute IT issues, we also strongly recommend that you allow yourself ample time to submit your application in advance of the deadline. For an informal discussion about the role, or If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me on 020 3434 0990 or pbha@campbelltickell.com We look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely

Gera Patel Senior Consultant

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CONTENTS

Page

Welcome letter 5

About Peter Bedford Housing Association 6

Role profile and person specification 9

Organisational structure 12

Compliance form

- attached separately to download from www.campbelltickell.com

The following supplementary information can also be downloaded from www.campbelltickell.com:

Annual report

April-May 2012 newsletter

Further information on the Peter Bedford Housing Association can be found at:

www.peterbedford.org.uk

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Welcome letter Now over 40 years old, Peter Bedford is a unique housing association - we are one of the few housing providers that is able to provide a truly integrated support package to a wide range of people. And our services have never been more needed. We work with people who face long term exclusion from society through a variety and often inter-related needs such as homelessness, substance misuse, enduring mental health problems and learning difficulties. The landscape for supported housing providers is demanding. The pressure to deliver services for the most vulnerable in our communities while ensuring quality and value for money – has never been greater. But these are also exciting times as we consider new opportunities and partnerships, and consider ways of working with greater creativity and innovation. We are looking for a special individual to help lead our organisation through these extraordinary times. This is an opportunity to be at the forefront of a locally focused organisation (operating in Hackney and Islington) that makes a big impact. The role is especially exciting as our new Chair will also be leading the search for our new Chief Executive later in the summer. If you are interested in leading on change and shaping a team around you - getting them contributing to a compelling vision for the future, then this could be the role for you. Non-executive experience and skills in strategic planning are essential – but we are placing equal weight on the passion and drive that you will need for this role. I am sad to be leaving this role, (due to a family move in Autumn 2012), but remain confident that this is an organisation with lots of potential and an exciting future. I will of course ensure that I am available for a handover with the successful candidate. Thank you for your interest in joining our team at Peter Bedford as Chair of the Board. I hope that the information in this pack will give you all the information that you require, but don’t hesitate to contact our retained consultants, Campbell Tickell for any further information (please contact Gera Patel on 020 3434 0990 or pbha@campbelltickell.com). We look forward to receiving your application. Kind regards

Bob Warner, Chair

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About Peter Bedford Housing Association Peter Bedford Housing Association has been successfully shaping brighter futures for vulnerable and socially excluded adults for over forty years. A pioneer of supported housing, today we offer security alongside a range of innovative vocational and community services for homeless people and those with mental health problems or multiple needs. We were originally established in 1969 to provide work for ex-offenders on a self-help mutual support basis and pioneered the concept of supported housing. We are now an Industrial and Provident Society and Registered Social Landlord with charitable status that works alongside people who have faced long term exclusion from society through homelessness, enduring mental health problems, substance misuse, learning difficulties or multiple needs.

We offer more than housing: by providing a combination of supported housing, training, work experience and community activities we are supporting vulnerable adults to actively take part in society, enabling them to take control of their lives and shape brighter futures. Our services are provided across North East London in some of the most deprived local authority areas in England -mainly Islington and Hackney where we are based - but also Camden, Tower Hamlets and parts of neighbouring boroughs. Hackney is the second most deprived local authority in England. Our

catchment area has high levels of unemployment and poverty, ethnic diversity, low educational achievement, and poor physical and mental health compared to other parts of the country. Our work with homeless people (60 per cent of service users) and people with mental health problems (51 per cent) is especially reflected in local strategies to tackle homelessness and the under-representation of people with mental health problems in education, training and employment.

Our future

Like all small specialist associations, PBHA faces financial revenue challenges. Cuts in Supporting People grants, welfare reform and the difficulties in competing against large

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providers for contracts made the association think hard about its future viability. It has had a challenging couple of years with some grants and contracts for training and community projects coming to an end. In 2011/2012, the Association looked very closely at the benefits-and disadvantages of merging to ensure the continuation of services to its clients in the longer term. However, at the end of a long process of deliberation, the Association decided to remain independent, to reshape its service delivery and to refresh its “offer”. The Board is working on the new strategy. This includes a review of assets as well as services. The strategy and the five year business plan underpinning it will be reviewed by the HCA later in the year.

Although times are challenging, there is a real appetite and need for the small scale personal offer which PBHA makes to its tenants and participants. This is recognised by funders and commissioners. This year has already seen some great successes such as a major grant from the Big Lottery Fund for the “Plot to Plate” horticulture and catering project, and a further grant from the Flexible Support Fund for employment development.

Our vision:

That every tenant and participant at Peter Bedford Housing Association realises their aspirations and achieves true independence and social inclusion through the best supported housing and training programme available.

Our mission:

To provide individualised support to people who have faced social exclusion through homelessness, offending, mental health problems, learning difficulties, drug and alcohol misuse or multiple needs.

Our values (P.R.I.D.E)

Participation: We call people tenants and participants to emphasise ownership and taking part. We support people to take the risks associated with independence. We ensure everyone is at the centre of their own planning and development.

Respect: We respect everybody for who they are and for what they can contribute to community and society. We respect and celebrate difference and diversity. We are representative of, and enriched by, all the communities and groups we serve.

Inclusion: We believe that everyone should be able to benefit from the opportunities, experiences and rewards that society offers. We ensure that everyone has an opportunity to

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get involved at Peter Bedford: supporting people to leave the house, take part in our community activities, learning to read and write, use computers, understand budgeting and bank accounts, learn catering, retail, textiles or joinery, get a qualification and get a paid job.

Diversity: We celebrate difference and diversity and are committed to equal opportunities. We believe that respecting difference means treating people equally, but it does not mean treating everyone the same. We celebrate World Mental Health Day, Black History Month, International Women's Day and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride.

Empowerment: We support people to take as much control over their lives as possible. We support people to build their confidence and self-esteem, develop aspirations for the future and achieve their goals.

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Role profile – PBHA CHAIR

Purpose of role:

To lead the Board of Peter Bedford HA in its responsibilities for setting the strategic vision and direction of the organisation, and maintaining its unique local approach to supporting people with complex needs.

Key role relationships

External: To maintain and develop good relationships with residents, shareholders, partners, the regulators, our lenders and other agencies involved in the work of the Board.

Internal: To maintain good relationships with other members of the board, the shareholders, the chief executive and other key members of senior staff.

Core tasks and responsibilities

Leading the organisation and the Board:

1. Play an active leadership role in developing, approving and ensuring implementation of PBHA’s values, strategies, objectives and policies.

Good governance:

2. Oversee governance of the organisation, ensuring:

Compliance with the Group’s financial regulations, standing orders, delegated authorities and the regulatory frameworks;

That the association follows the recommendations of the National Housing Federation Code, ‘Excellence in Governance’ and successor codes as appropriate;

The Board is comprised of suitably skilled and experienced members who understand their roles and responsibilities;

Board members make effective contributions and work as a team;

Appropriate Board member appraisal, development and support arrangements;

Key issues are discussed by the Board in a timely manner with appropriate information available; and

The Board receives professional advice when it is needed, either from its senior staff or from external sources.

Performance management:

3. Oversee the performance of the Board, ensuring:

The Board’s business is conducted efficiently and effectively through a framework of delegation and systems of internal control;

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Implementation of frameworks for effective financial control and identification and management of risk; and

Delegation of authority to enable the business of the organisation to be carried on effectively between meetings of the Board.

Chairing meetings:

4. Chair Board meetings, participating in other committees and groups as required, ensuring:

Agendas are agreed for Board meetings in consultation with the Chief Executive and/or other senior staff to whom this task has been delegated;

All members are given the opportunity to express their views and that appropriate standards of behaviour are maintained in line with an agreed code of conduct; and

Undertake the lead on specific functions as approved by the Board, including Chair’s action.

Maintaining good relationships with staff:

5. Build and maintain effective and constructive working relationships with the Chief Executive and other senior staff.

6. Line manage the group Chief Executive, providing advice, support and challenge as required.

7. Annually appraise the performance of the Chief Executive.

8. In conjunction with the Board, determine Chief Executive remuneration and ensure, when necessary, that the Chief Executive is replaced in a timely and orderly fashion.

Representing PBHA:

9. Act as an ambassador and representative for the organisation, upholding the reputation of PBHA and its values and objectives.

10. Network and promote the achievements, purposes and benefits of PBHA.

Adding value:

11. Apply personal expertise with regard to both the business and social aspects of the business.

12. Be familiar and keep up to date with sector issues.

13. Role model good governance practices and behaviours.

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Person specification – PBHA CHAIR Core competencies

Able to lead and inspire the Board, building confidence in the governance arrangements.

Strong communication and interpersonal skills, able to liaise effectively with a wide range of stakeholders and audiences.

Strategic thinking, able to analyse complex information, demonstrate clear analytical intellect and guide rational decision making.

Able to lead the organisation through periods of change.

Support the values, ethos and social housing objectives of PBHA.

Knowledge and experience

Experience of operating at a senior level (either executive or non executive) within a customer focused service organisation.

Governance experience, member or Chair of a Board or similar, with knowledge of good governance practice.

Comprehensive knowledge of commercial issues, with strong business acumen.

Skills and abilities

Strong strategic planning skills, able to develop strategic vision, encourage others to contribute.

Able to assess risk and promote risk awareness without being risk averse.

Able to challenge appropriately and hold the Board and senior staff to account; with a wider vision to raise standards across the organisation.

Skilled at bringing people together to generate a strong team spirit, able to work collaboratively, building consensus and encouraging ‘cabinet style’ decision making.

IT literate, comfortable with using MS Office and email.

Personal behaviour and style

Actively role models the professional conduct expected of the Board.

Proactively demonstrates strong commitment to equality and diversity.

Passionate about service improvements; strongly champions the right of residents and customers to have influence, and access to excellent services.

Listens to others and provides decisive decision making when it is required.

Enabling and supportive management style that motivates staff to deliver the best.

Demonstrates credibility and integrity.

Open to learning and development, for self, staff, and the Board; fosters a learning culture throughout the organisation.

Has the time and commitment to effectively discharge the responsibilities of the post of Chair.

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The PBHA Board

Debby Ounsted Chief Executive

(interim)

Gloria Lewis Head of Resources

Andrew Tyers Deputy CE

Nicole Smith Property Team Leader

Priya Dey-Ghatak UFM Manager

Keith Forder Executive Asst. To CE

Brian Jones Fundraising Manager

Dennis Adeyinka Hackney Housing

Team Leader

Emma Robinson Islington Housing

Team Leader

Pam Frost Head of Vocational & Community Services

Organisational structure