Appointment of the Trustee (Chair of Housing Committee)

United Response

Welcome

Dear Candidate

Thank you for your interest in United Response and the prospect of joining our Board as a Trustee, together with the opportunity to Chair our Housing Committee.

This role comes at a critical time in the future development of our charity. In response to the financial challenges which face charities operating in the adult social care sector, we have taken the bold and ambitious step of positioning our charity to be fit for the future.  Over the past six months, we have made significant strides in progressing our transformation, by restructuring from a conglomeration of disparate service units into functional centres of excellence, whilst at the same time adopting new ways working and investing for our future.

One aspect that has undergone radical restructuring is our activities in relation to housing. We have pooled our innovative approach to bespoke new build with the management our leased properties that support delivery of our care services and our use of commercial properties for income generation. It is a broad and exciting development for the charity, one which offers the opportunity to scale up and complement our care services, which are well regarded for their quality and impact.

In line with these organisational changes, we are seeking to strengthen our Board oversight with relevant experience in housing, starting with someone to be the Chair of our Housing Committee. We are eager to secure an individual with housing experience and insights, who also feels committed to enabling the people we support to live their lives to the full. We want to find an individual that shares our ambitions for the future and will help drive our agenda forward.

I hope that you will find all the information that you require and that you will be enticed to put your name forward for consideration.

Kind regards

Malcolm McCaig
Chair of the Board of Trustees

About us

Since our humble beginnings in 1972, our mission has always been to enable people with learning disabilities, mental health needs and physical disabilities to live the best lives they can.

We provide everything from 24-hour care to a few hours of support a week for over 2000 people. We are community based, working in many localities across England and in Wales.

We know that no two people are the same and so our support is always tailored to each person we work with. We work with people and their families to develop an individual support plan that includes both what is important to help people to fulfil their potential, and keep them happy, healthy and safe.

Here’s four big reasons that we think you’ll find life at United Response very different:

  1. You’ll be backed by the resources of a national organisation. This means great quality training and ways of working, and almost unlimited opportunities to progress, learn new skills or find opportunities that suit your passions.
  2. Providing the basics of ‘care’ is just the start. We’re all about finding ways to help people explore new opportunities, find independence and connect with their local communities so they live happy, healthy lives. This is great for people we support, but you’ll find it makes for a great atmosphere to work in too!
  3. We’re investing in technology to make life easier and more efficient to provide brilliant support – if you’ve ever handwritten names and dates dozens of times a day, you’ll know what we mean!
  4. We believe in social action. So if you like to make a noise to fight for respect, rights and opportunities for people with disabilities, you’ll fit right in.

Our values

At United Response, we aim for a work environment that reflects our commitment to excellence and compassion.

Our values serve as the foundation of our organisation, guiding every decision and action we take. As you explore the heart of who we are, you’ll discover the pillars that define us: Creative, Responsive, United, Strong and Honest.

  • Creative: We are fuelled with motivation and inspiration to innovate, discover and put into action more efficient methods, while also demonstrating resourcefulness in our roles.
  • Responsive: We understand the significance of our work and willingly go the extra mile for people we support, driven by a strong sense of purpose.
  • United: We value our people, enabling them to excel for their own growth, the well-being of people we support, and the unity of United Response.
  • Strong: We are well-equipped with essential tools and support to excel in our roles. We recognise and appreciate the commitment to helping individuals reach their goals and stand up against injustice.
  • Honest: We embrace a culture of openness and honesty, valuing diverse perspectives by actively listening.

You encounter individuals who see things differently to you and appreciate their willingness to experience the world with you. It teaches you more than any other job.

Diversity Statement

United Response values and celebrates the diversity of its staff, the people we support and their families. We are committed to achieving a fully inclusive environment that is free from discrimination to ensure that everyone feels safe, supported and has their voice heard.

We have set up a forum and specialist interest groups on diversity so that all staff can have their say.

Our aim is to strengthen our commitment to diversity further by making sure that the demographics profile and characteristics of people who work at United Response are reflective of the communities we work within.

United Response is proud to be a part of the Disability Confident and Mindful Employer scheme.

The role

Trustee (Chair of Housing Committee) (AQ2923)

Apply now

Terms of appointment

A voluntary position, United Response will pay expenses.

You will be expected to attend four Board meetings and one off-site meeting. In addition, the Housing Committee meets four times per year.

Including preparation time, United Response estimates the time commitment for this role to be 1 to 1.5  days per month.

 

How to apply

Anderson Quigley is acting as an advisor to United Response, an executive search process is being carried out by Anderson Quigley in addition to the public advertisement.

The closing date for applications is November 15th, 2024

Applications should consist of:

  • A full CV.
  • A covering letter (ideally two pages) outlining how you meet the criteria of the person specification (in particular the breadth and depth of your property experience) and your motivations in joining United Response.
  • Please include details of two referees in either your CV or covering letter, though please note that we will not approach your referees without your prior consent and only should you be shortlisted.
  • Please also include details of how you will meet the time commitment required.

Should you wish to discuss the role in strict confidence, please contact Aino Betts on +44 (0)7743 934 723 or aino.betts@andersonquigley.com or Helene Usherwood on helene.usherwood@andersonquigley.com or +44 (0) 7719 322 669

Timetable

Closing date Friday 15 November
AQ preliminary interviews via teams 25-29 November
Final panel interviews Friday 06 December