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Chief Executive

September 2013

Olympic Office Centre, 8 Fulton Road HA9 0NU

Telephone 020 8830 6777 Fax 020 8450 9777

[email protected] 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

September 2013 Dear Applicant Merlin Housing Society – Chief Executive 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 – 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 – we recommend that this should be a maximum of around three pages;

Complete the combined compliance and equal opportunities form; and

Indicate on the compliance form if you cannot attend any of the interview dates.

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 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 [email protected] 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.

mailto:[email protected]

Merlin Housing Society Recruitment to the role of Chief Executive

September 2013 Page 3 of 24

Applications must be received by Monday 21 October 2013 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 of sending, 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 ask that you allow yourself ample time to submit your application in advance of the deadline. Details of the selection process can be found on page 23. Please do contact me if you wish to have an informal discussion about the role or if you have any questions on 020 3434 0990. I look forward to hearing from you. Kind regards

James Tickell Director



Page

Welcome letter from the Chairman 5

About Merlin Housing Society 6

The Merlin Housing Society Board 7

The Merlin Housing Society Directors 13

Job description 16

Person specification 18

Organisation structure chart 21

Principal terms and conditions of service 22

Key dates and the selection process 23

The media advertisement 24

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

Business Plan 2013 - 17

Annual report and financial statements 2012-13

To find out more please also visit the Merlin Housing Society website: www.merlinhs.co.uk

Contents

http://www.campbelltickell.com/



Building 1 | Riverside Court | Bowling Hill | Chipping Sodbury | Bristol | BS37 6JX

General enquiries: 01454 821100

www.merlinhs.co.uk

Dear Applicant

Thank you for your interest in the post of Chief Executive at Merlin Housing Society.

Our organisation owns or manages more than 8,500 homes in the south west, stretching from the edge of the Cotswolds in the north to the urban fringe of Bristol in the south, from the banks of the River Severn in the east to rural Wiltshire in the west. Our vision is: "Quality homes, excellent services and strong communities, with customers at the heart of all that we do." We deliver homes that people can afford and are proud to say that our properties are home to more than 16,000 people.

We invest in the communities we serve. Since stock transfer in 2007, we’ve fundamentally changed the way we deliver housing and supported housing services. We know though, that these are challenging times for both ourselves and our customers. We’re determined to support them through these difficult economic times but in doing so realise it will mean significant change for us.

We’re shaping our own future by robustly tackling welfare reform and by delivering a programme of growth and improvement that will help to deliver services in a faster and more efficient way. In our new leader, the Board and I are looking for someone who can direct and shape our ambitious plans; in the process ensuring that we continue to build new homes and support our neighbourhoods.

We want our new Chief Executive to be able to campaign at the highest levels on the social policy issues that affect our organisation and its customer base. The successful applicant will have a passion for delivering the high quality standards that our residents deserve and should expect, as well as assuring our future financial viability. We are looking for a strong and effective leader who can build on the success that has already been achieved.

The role of Chief Executive is varied, demanding, but very rewarding. If all this appeals to you and you want to find out more, please speak to our retained consultant – James Tickell of Campbell Tickell. I trust your conversation with him and the accompanying information will encourage you to submit a formal application. I look forward to receiving your details.

Yours sincerely

Andrew Frayling - Chairman

Merlin Housing Society is an Industrial and Provident Society registered with the Financial Services

Authority, registration 30012R.

Registered address: Building 1, Riverside Court, Bowling Hill, Chipping Sodbury, Bristol, BS37 6JX



We are a medium-sized social landlord, owning or managing 8,500 homes in the south west. Most of our properties are in South Gloucestershire but we also have homes in Bath and North East Somerset and Bristol. We employ 425 staff to deliver our services. Our vision is: "Quality homes, excellent services and strong communities, with customers at the heart of all that we do." Our mission is to meet housing needs and contribute to the development of sustainable communities. We want our customers to be proud of the services they receive, our staff to be proud that they work for us and our stakeholders to be proud to work with us. Our Values guide and influence our work: Promote: We will recognise and respond to the rights, interests and values of everyone we work with. Respond: We will listen to our customers, our colleagues and the communities we serve and ensure they have real influence over what we do and how we do it. Include: We will work to ensure everyone who needs them have the opportunity to use our services. Deliver: We will constantly look for ways to improve things for our customers, our colleagues and the communities we serve. Empower: We will encourage a culture where our customers, our colleagues and the communities we serve can achieve their full potential. As well as providing homes, we also have 42 commercial property units in South Gloucestershire. They are predominantly small independent retailers, mainly sole traders such as chemists, bakers, butchers and laundries. Our service standards

We want to put residents at the heart of all that we do. The services we provide need to be focused on the outcomes residents say they want - that's why we've produced new service

About Merlin Housing Society



standards that will allow us to show that we can deliver. Our service standards were developed in consultation with residents and set out the level of service they can expect from us. Development

We have exciting plans to increase our housing stock by building new homes, and acquiring existing homes from other housing associations.

We're going to develop houses, bungalows and flatted accommodation for a wide range of customers who are in housing need or seeking suitable housing. At least 65% of these new properties will be for rent and almost three quarters of these will be for affordable rent. These new homes will be built within a 20 mile radius of our head office in Chipping Sodbury. We aim to have 200 new homes either built or in the early stages of development by 2015 and 300 by 2017. You can find out more about our exciting new projects by visiting our website: www.merlinhs.co.uk/About-us/Our-development-plans.aspx Equality and diversity

We work hard to ensure that we deal with everyone in a fair and consistent manner, regardless of their age, gender, colour, ethnicity, sexuality or other reason. We do this in all our activities and for everyone in our employment. We are committed to the development and promotion of equal opportunities for all, which includes dealing firmly with inequality wherever necessary. We recognise and value the differences between people, whatever they are based on. We believe that the characteristics that make people different bring social, cultural and economic benefits to individuals and to communities and contribute to the success of our business. Valuing diversity is:

Recognising that our customers have different needs

Allocating resources fairly on the basis of need

Giving everyone the opportunity to achieve their full potential

Taking positive action to put right any discrimination

Promoting good race relations.

http://www.merlinhs.co.uk/About-us/Our-development-plans.aspx



To make sure we treat all our customers fairly we:

take action against tenants who commit domestic violence or racial harassment

carry out adaptations to our properties to enable tenants who are disabled to remain in their home

offer translation of our documents into other languages for those who need it

offer an interpretation service for people who do not speak English as their first language for phone calls or interviews

will make sure our buildings are accessible for wheelchair users

train our staff to recognise and deal with all types of harassment, by whatever means



The Merlin Housing Society Board

Andrew Frayling – Chair of the Board

Andrew is a Managing Director of his own international engineering software company and is a founding board member of Tor Homes. Previously Andrew was European Liaison for one of the largest ‘Telework’ or outsourced telecoms placement projects for the European Commission, organised across cultures, languages and work patterns. He also worked for a number of years with Native Americans on housing in northern Canada.

Siân Walker-McAllister – Vice Chair Siân has previously worked as a director of 2 housing associations – one in London and one in the south-west where she had strategic and operational responsibility for sheltered and supported housing as well as a range of care and support services.

Siân’s particular interest is in ensuring that all our services are customer-focussed, and that in particular Merlin ensures that supported and sheltered housing services enable people to be supported to live as independently as they wish in our communities.

Richard Penska – Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee Richard is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Certified Accountants. Richard is currently Assistant Director, Corporate Services at North Somerset Council, his previous roles within North Somerset Council have been, Head of Audit, Revenues and benefits and Chief Internal Auditor.

Before joining North Somerset Council, Richard held a variety of positions within the Electricity Supply Industry and the Department of Health and Social Security.



Mike Drew

Mike Drew is a councillor for the Yate West ward of South Gloucestershire Council. He has been a member of the council and its predecessors Northavon District Council and Avon County Council since 1983. He is also a Yate Town Councillor. He is the Academic Computer Manager at the School of Law at the University of Bristol.

John O'Neill

John is the South Gloucestershire councillor for the Charfield ward which comprises the villages of Charfield, Cromhall, Tortworth and Falfield. A former general manager in the hotel and catering industry he is a member of the Institute of Hospitality. He now owns and runs Charfield Post Office and stores with his wife Sandra. As a subposmaster and a councillor he is at the heart of the community trying to help with the issues that will make a difference to people’s lives.

Loretta O'Driscoll

Loretta O'Driscoll has been a social housing tenant for over 20 years. She has been a member of a residents committee group which worked with Magna Housing during a redevelopment programme of properties to ensure effective communication with residents during this time. Loretta managed teams and offices in the Adult Learning Difficulties, Adult Care and Mental Health Teams. Previous roles have included Business Manager Adult Community Learning at South Glos, and in the private sector, Financial Director for a small manufacturing company and Group Accounts Manager managing the day to day operation of the central accounting function in a multinational business. Loretta has been involved in fundraising and developing community groups in support of a special school for children with disabilities. Loretta brings to the Board strong financial and accounting skills, an understanding of resident involvement and community action and a background in the service requirements of adults and children with special needs.



Pat Rooney

Pat Rooney is a councillor for Woodstock Ward in Kingswood. She is in full time employment for the Ministry of Defence. She has dealt with many social housing problems within her council work and believes strongly that the tenants' voice must be heard and that our objective is to enhance and improve the quality of services provided for tenants.

Guy Reid-Bailey

Guy is a founder member of United Housing Association which is the largest (BME) Black and Minority Ethnic housing Association in the West of England. He was Chair of the Housing Association for over ten years and is still an active board member.

Guy has been a School governor for over 25 years and now a councillor at Bristol Metropolitan Academy. Guy is also a Vice Chair of Avon and Somerset Police independent Advisory Group (IAG) and a member of the South Gloucestershire Advisory Group.

John Moloney I have been a South Gloucestershire resident all my life, except for my 24 years Army service in The Royal Artillery, rank achieved Warrant Officer 2nd class. My specialities were in, Communications, Radio, Telegraph. Management of Stores and Equipment of £4m plus. I worked for Avon Army Cadets for 3 years looking at the interests of young people of 13 to 18 years of age. Management skills, and training are my interest, and I am a member of the Royal British Legion and a case worker for the legion.

Janet Biggin Janet Biggin is a Conservative councillor, representing the Downend ward on South Gloucestershire Council.



Sylvia Young Sylvia Young has been an active tenant since taking up her tenancy in March 2005, having served on the Voids Inspection Team and the Frome Valley Community Action Group. She also has had experience as a school governor. Her areas of expertise include finance, performance monitoring and human resources.

Vivienne Horton Vivienne is currently a Director- Head of Public Sector team at Kennedy Cater. Vivienne leads the public sector team in ensuring that organisations get best value for their legal services. The company provides consulting services to a range of public sector bodies including local authorities and housing authorities.

Ian Hanstead – Co-optee Ian is currently working for Southampton City Council heading up the estate maintenance service. Formerly, he has previously worked as a housing consultant and was Director of Housing Operations for Raglan Housing Association based in Dorset with departmental responsibility for 300 staff delivering a wide range of customer services – housing management, maintenance and technical services, supported housing, resident involvement, call centre and service improvements.

He has been in housing for over 36 years and was vice chair of Keniston Housing Association for 7 years.



Roy Irwin - Chief Executive Roy was appointed in September 2012 following the retirement of previous chief executive Ian Matthews. Roy has a wealth of experience and expertise in housing. His most recent role was that of Director of Housing, Sustainability and Economic Development at the Audit Commission, a post held since April 2009. He was responsible for all the Commission’s work within these three policy areas. This role followed on from his previous position at the Commission of Chief Inspector of Housing, a role he took up in October 1999. Roy led on the development, implementation and review of the Commission’s activity in the housing sector. This included the establishment of the Housing Inspectorate, as part of the Commission, as the statutory inspector for the whole of the social housing industry in England (and originally Wales). Prior to this, Roy was Bristol City Council’s Director of Housing Services, a position held from April 1991 until October 1999. Roy was responsible for the provision of all housing services to the city with more than 1,100 staff, an annual turnover in excess of £100m and an annual capital programme of £50m.

Sue O'Neill (Finance & Resources Director) Sue joined Merlin as Finance Director in October 2006, just prior to the transfer of South Gloucestershire Council’s housing stock to Merlin to put the funding arrangements in place and to shape finance and ICT systems and processes. In October 2011 she was appointed to the role of Finance & Resources Director, which has seen her remit increase, and now includes Finance & Procurement, ICT, HR & Communications and Business Improvement & Assurance. Sue has a wealth of experience and broad expertise having worked in finance for over 25 years within a variety of private and not for profit businesses. Sue began her career working for Hazlewoods, a Gloucestershire accountancy firm and after qualifying as a Chartered Accountant, moved in to the private sector working as the Financial

The Merlin Housing Society Directors



Controller for Pennant International. With over 15 years of senior management and housing experience, Sue’s career in housing started in 1997, first joining Housing 21, a national housing and care provider for older people, as their South West Finance & Systems Manager.

Following this, Sue joined Cambridge Housing Society as their Finance Director, where she was actively involved for five years as part of the Executive team in delivering substantial growth within the organisation and in developing and delivering strategies to increase its financial capacity.

Amanda Meanwell - Operations Director Amanda became Operations Director at Merlin in June 2010 and is responsible for the delivery of front line services to our customers, covering housing, supported housing, asset management and development. She previously worked for the Aster Group as Housing Director with Sarsen Housing Association and prior to that, Director of Housing & Neighbourhood Services at Flourish Homes (formerly Mendip Housing). Amanda was a key member of the executive team that transformed Flourish Homes from a zero star, uncertain prospects organisation achieving one star, promising prospects within 18 months. Amanda has worked in social housing for almost 25 years, with over 10 years senior management experience. She began her housing career working with and supporting homeless people at the London Boroughs of Tower Hamlets and Greenwich, before moving to take up a role as Housing Manager with Islington and Shoreditch Housing Association. In 1996, Amanda moved to the south west and has worked for housing organisations based in Bristol, B&NES, Somerset and Wiltshire. Her background and expertise is primarily in housing management, resident involvement, community development and regeneration, working for a period of time as an Independent Tenant Advisor, and has a strong customer centric ethos. Other areas of expertise include: supported housing, asset management, business improvement and development. Amanda is Secretary of the South West Regional Committee of the Chartered Institute of Housing and she plays an active role at both branch and regional level. More recently Amanda was involved in establishing the South West Branch of Women in Social Housing (WISH) and was appointed as Secretary in 2011. Amanda is a Board member of Selwood Housing, a Wiltshire-based housing association.



Winston Williams - Works Director Winston joined Merlin in May 2011 as the new Managing Director of Merlin Works. Before joining Merlin Winston worked in the north east of England as Group Director of Property Services for the Vela Group and prior to that as Director of Property Services at Tristar Homes Ltd. Winston was part of the successful executive management team that was brought in to turn around the failing ALMO that was Tristar Homes, audit commission rated as poor performing one star organisation with poor prospects for improvement and within twelve months achieved an Audit Commission two star rating with promising prospects for improvement. With Winston’s continued input and influence Tristar later became the first social housing organisation in England to achieve the coveted ‘Customer Services Excellence Award’ and went on to successfully lead Tristar through the transition leading to stock transfer and then on to the successful creation of the Vela Group now to include Housing Hartlepool. Prior to his time in the North East Winston worked at A2 Housing Group based in Middlesex as Head of Property Services. He was part of the senior management team that lead the successful merging of Apex Housing Group and Airways Housing Society to form A2 Housing Group. Before that Winston worked for Bristol City Council as Technical and Investment Manager, heading up the award-winning Easton Renewal regeneration project. Winston has more than 20 years wide ranging senior management experience having worked for a council, housing associations, an ALMO and in the private sector to include regeneration, procurement, asset management, development, private sector housing, maintenance and environmental health housing.



Responsible to: The Board

Responsible for: Directors and other direct reports

Job Purpose:

To support the Board in positioning Merlin Housing Society as the premier

housing and service provider in its area of operation.

To provide the Company with clear and innovative executive leadership to

deliver the Company’s Business Plan

To take overall responsibility for the Company’s day to day operations in

accordance with our Values and formal governance requirements.

To lead and develop the Executive Team and the organisation as a whole.

To ensure the Company’s on going financial stability and viability

Responsibilities:

Manage the Company effectively through clear and innovative leadership in

delivering, developing and continually improving services in line with the

Business Plan, agreed performance targets and budgetary parameters.

Advise the Board on strategy, business and policy development and ensure

implementation including reporting on financial and operational performance.

Lead the preparation and review of the Business Plan as the framework for

strategic and operational objectives, activities, services and the efficient

utilisation of resources.

Maintain and enhance monitoring, control and reporting systems which provide

the Board assurance that the Company, and all of its functions and services, is

being managed effectively.

Ensure on going compliance with Standing Orders, Scheme of Delegation and

Financial Regulations, including arranging for their regular review.

Ensure that the organisational arrangements are appropriate to deliver and

develop the business and meet external and internal required standards.

Job Description – Chief Executive



Ensure that the Company is a good employer with sound employment policies

and practices which are conducive to job satisfaction, productivity and personal

development.

Work productively with the Chair to ensure that the business of the Board is

properly conducted and that there is an effective relationship between the Board

and the executive.

Ensure compliance with all applicable statutory requirements as well as pursuing

the achievement of professional and ethical standards across the business.

Establish personal objectives and appraise the performance of members of the

Executive Team and other direct reports.

Ensure the full operation of equality of opportunity and a positive approach to

diversity throughout the Company’s operations.

Take overall responsibility for the establishment of, and compliance with, a

Companywide Health and Safety Management System which covers all of the

Company’s health and safety responsibilities.

Develop and sustain effective business relationships on local, regional and

national bases which promote the Company and seek to enhance its impact,

reach and reputation.



Selection Criteria Essential Desirable

Education and Qualifications

Educated to degree level and/or relevant managerial or professional qualification

MBA or relevant Masters Degree

Experience

Significant and successful experience of being a very senior leader in an organisation which has high levels of accountability to its customers. Experience of successfully leading, managing and motivating multi - disciplinary teams to deliver a wide range of strategic objectives and targets Practiced financial skills leading to good judgement and appraisal of, and management of risk at a strategic level. Securing Value for Money and minimising waste Experience of performance managing an organisation and developing a supporting performance management culture. A track record of utilising effective networking skills to source business opportunities for the organisation.

Experience of successful stakeholder management in a complex political environment.

This experience gained at least in in part in a public service environment This experience to be gained in more than one setting

Knowledge and Skills

Capable to work effectively and productively with a very active, engaged and knowledgeable board of governance. Excellent business acumen with strong

Person Specification – Chief Executive



entrepreneurial awareness. Excellent presentational, verbal and written communication skills. A clear ability to understand and develop a productive organisational culture. Confident in establishing strong relationships and focused on communicating effectively with key external and internal stakeholders. Ability to lead, manage and motivate staff at all levels and an ability to develop a culture focused on quality and productivity. Ability to undertake a thorough and robust approach to strategic risk identification and its mitigation This to include a high degree of knowledge and understanding of statutory regulatory requirements. This to include Health and Safety requirements for a multi- disciplinary organisation. Ability to think strategically to engender step change in the development and delivery of the business. Skilled at utilising PR and marketing in the underpinning and development of an organisations reach. Has a strong commitment to the pursuit of equality and diversity in a business setting.

Exposure to live television and radio interviews

Motivation Highly motivated to achieve high performance for self and the organisation. Committed to modelling appropriate



behaviour. Although comfortable in making tough calls a preponderant style of working with others and creating highly effective teams

Other Requirements

Willingness to work flexibly and to attend to the business as required including at early morning and/or evening meetings, external conferences and other events.



Our structure



1. Position Chief Executive 2. Salary and benefits

Fair and competitive

3. Holiday entitlement

30 working days plus all bank holidays.

4. Working hours Normal hours of work are 37 hours per week based around the usual business

working week. However, due to the seniority of this post there is a requirement for flexibility in meeting the full responsibilities of the post and this will include occasional evening and weekend work.

5. Location

Your normal place of work will be the Merlin HS offices located at Riverside Court, Chipping Sodbury. You may also be required to work at or relocate to other locations depending upon the nature of the work and development of Merlin HS from time to time.

6. Pension

You will be enrolled into Merlin Housing Society’s pension scheme.

Principal terms and conditions (for information purposes only)



Closing date: Monday 21 October 2013 at 12 noon

First interviews: Wednesday 6 and Thursday 7 November 2013 (London)

Board networking event, assessment centre and final interviews:

Week commencing 18 November 2013 (Chipping Sodbury)

Key dates and the selection process



Media advertisement

Documents

Chief Executive - Amazon S3s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com › 24jobs-recruiters › 5... · Richard is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Certified Accountants. Richard is currently