Ochil View Housing Association Ltd. is an ambitious social landlord committed to providing good quality affordable housing and high standards of customer service to over 1460 households in Clackmannanshire and West Fife.

We wish to recruit to our Housing Services Team a suitably qualified, skilled, and enthusiastic individual for the Assistant Housing Services Officer (Maternity cover) post.

• To assist the Housing Services Officers with the delivery of a generic housing management service with responsibility for a range of Housing Management Services within a defined area of operation and assist with other areas as required.
• To contribute to achieving the targets and performance measures set for the Association, the Housing Services department and the post.
• To promote resident participation and community involvement.
• To contribute to establishing, operating and reviewing the Policies and Procedures of the Association that are relevant to the delivery of Housing Services, particularly Income Management, Void Management, Tenancy Management & Anti-Social Behaviour, Tenancy Sustainment and Allocations.

To share the Board’s collective responsibility for the effective governance of St Joseph’s Services, setting its strategic direction and major policies in accordance with the charities objects, vision, mission and Vincentian Values. To be fully engaged with the ethos of St Joseph’s Services and support the development and future growth and sustainability of the organisation.

Specific Duties:

Leadership and Strategic Direction

• To ensure St Joseph’s Services strategic direction, policies and objectives are clearly established and kept under review, maintaining effective communication with the Chief Executive and senior staff
• To discuss and approve the charity’s annual plan and budget, ensuring that these are formulated within a sound and viable financial framework
• To consider the organisation as a whole and the people we support in all discussion of planning, strategic direction and activity
• To work collaboratively with the Board of Advisors ensuring inclusion and representation of the people we support in our strategic direction
• To bring fresh thinking and ideas to the Trustees discussion, enhancing the boards effectiveness and St Joseph’s ability to deliver its charitable services.

Ensuring Policies and Procedures are in keeping with St Joseph’s aims and objectives

• To ensure robust and comprehensive policies and procedures are in place which meet the charity objectives and safeguard the people we support, staff and the organisation.

Safeguarding Ethos and Values

• Safeguarding and promotion of the Vincentian Ethos and the particular Vincentian Values of the organisation.

Ensuring Best Practice

• To fulfil the Trustee’s legal and financial responsibilities – ensuring risk and compliance is appropriately managed
• To maintain partnership and good relations with the Chief Executive, Senior Leadership Team, the wider staff team and the people we support.
• To be an active member of the Board and as appropriate, any of its Sub-Committees and Working Groups
• To ensure St Joseph’s Services complies with all appropriate regulatory and statutory bodies: Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR), Companies House, The Care Inspectorate (SCWIS), Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC)
• To monitor Health and Safety compliance and ensure staff members, volunteers and People we support live and work in a safe and healthy environment.

Commitment:

Four Trustee meetings are held annually plus one development day. Trustees may also be asked to chair / sit on organisational sub-committees. An average time commitment of one day per month is expected.

Meetings are held in St Joseph’s Services Head Office, in Rosewell, Midlothian.

Person Specification:

• A commitment to support services to Adults with a Learning Disability
• A strong commitment to the vision and mission of St Joseph’s Services
• Support the upholding of St Joseph’s Services Christian Principles and Vincentian Philosophy and Values.
• Ability to think and act strategically, using your expertise, skills and knowledge to help our own team deliver this growth.
• Good independent judgement and the ability to communicate effectively with others
• Ability to forge effective relationships with stakeholders internally and externally to further the organisations strategy.
• Knowledge / Experience of the Third Sector
• Ability to devote sufficient time to St Joseph’s Services
• Willingness to attend events in support of St Joseph’s Services
• An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, liabilities and responsibilities of trusteeship.

About us

Established in 1924, we provide high quality person-centred care and support services to adults with learning disabilities in a variety of locations in Midlothian and Edinburgh. The flexibility we offer means people have individualised care and support plans which are tailored around their current lifestyle. Our large and experienced organisation is set up in models of ‘Circles of Best Practice’ to ensure that all we do focuses on connection, friendship, inclusion and belonging.

Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) are Scotland’s leading advice charity. They support a network of Citizens Advice Bureaux, all operating as independent charities, to deliver frontline advice services in almost 300 locations.

The charity is driven by the strong belief that every person in Scotland should have access to free, impartial and confidential advice to help them make well-informed decisions. CAS looks at the problems we can all face at times and campaign for change where it is needed most. Their support and advice is available to all and is of particularly benefit to some of the most vulnerable people in our communities.

The Chair of the Board will lead a team of trustees dedicated to making a positive difference to the lives of people across Scotland. Crucial to ensuring the organisation fulfils its purpose by providing strategic leadership, the Chair leads the Board in offering support and constructive challenge to the Executive team, enabling CAS to successfully achieve its ambitions.

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing leadership to the Board ensuring trustees fulfill their governance responsibilities.

• Inspiring and supporting the CEO and Executive team to deliver on strategic priorities.

• Fostering excellent relationships with members, Scotland’s network of 58 Citizens Advice Bureaux, at a governance level.

• Working closely with the CEO and Executive team to ensure that this network remains at all times well-positioned and forward looking in a challenging political and economic environment.

• Fulfilling a highly visible ambassadorial role for CAS, helping to further develop its profile and representation with government, other organisations and multiple stakeholders.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a highly experienced leader with a background in public, corporate and/or the charity sector, to drive impact at scale. Providing stewardship in the implementation of the CAS Strategy 2025- 2030 will make a real difference to so many peoples lives.

The Chair will gain unique insight into the social and economic issues in society and play an extremely fulfilling role in addressing these. A structured training programme will be provided to support development and enable the CAS Chair to excel in this role.

This is a voluntary, non-remunerated position and will require a time commitment of approximately two to four days per month.

Are you looking for a new challenge and an opportunity to shape the next phase of Ark’s ambitious strategy ?

Ark’s mission to create the best possible customer outcomes through our highly skilled people, the provision of high-quality affordable homes and excellent care will be achieved through creating inclusive communities where quality of housing and care enable people to thrive and live a good life.

Established in 1977 Ark provides 450 tenancies and supports over 400 people through our dedicated and highly skilled workforce of 700+ staff. We operate in 12 Local Authority areas in the North and East of Scotland, and we also have services in The Western Isles.

The Ark Group is made up of three companies:

1. Ark is a registered charity and registered social landlord (RSL) that provides housing and care and is the parent company within the group structure.

2. Ark Services Limited is a private company limited by guarantee and a wholly owned subsidiary of Ark.

3. Ark Commercial Investment Limited (ACIL) is a private limited share company and wholly owned subsidiary of Ark.

Although a housing association, the majority of Ark’s activity relates to the provision of care and support for people with long term and enduring conditions such as learning disability, mental health issues, dementia and autism. Our aim is to ensure that those who use our services receive the very best support from Ark to enable them to live a good life. For further information see Ark’s website: arkha.org.uk.

We currently have vacancies for Non-Executive Board members on both the main board as well as the group subsidiary board, at a very exciting time for Ark. We are about to launch a stakeholder engagement exercise across the business to consult on our new corporate strategy as well as celebrate our 50th anniversary. As a new Board Member, you will play a key part in developing and enabling the delivery of the strategy for the next 5-10 years and improving the governance framework to effectively monitor performance. This will be clearly focussed upon delivery of high-quality Housing and Care & Support services.

Ark Group Board

We are seeking 2-3 recruits to fill non-exec positions on Ark’s parent Board: Ark Housing Association.

This Board meets 6-7 times per year in a hybrid approach and will require some attendance face to face. We welcome applications from people with experience in Care & Support, Housing/Asset, Finance or Digital Improvement, and understanding of governance in an RSL would be an advantage, however not essential.

Ark Subsidiary Board

We are seeking to strengthen our governance by appointing non-executive directors to our Subsidiary Board and separate from the Ark Group Board to ensure independence. This Board is completely independent from the parent Board. Your role will be to serve both subsidiary companies with meetings being held consecutively, 4 times per year. This board meets on a remote basis and will be the perfect opportunity for people seeking their first Board role, with the opportunity for exposure to two very different businesses; one a commercial/private company and one a registered Charity. We will provide you with a full induction and an opportunity to be mentored by an experienced Board member and we do not expect you to have any previous board experience. Overall, we are looking for dynamic, forward-thinking and enthusiastic people from a variety of backgrounds to contribute to Ark’s emerging future.