Treasurer – Newbury, Berkshire

Use your financial skills to help guide a charity supplying good quality well-managed housing for rent to households of working age, providing them with the stability and reassurance necessary as the foundation for productive living.

What will you be doing?

We are looking for a Treasurer who will enjoy using financial skills to improve the life chances of low-income families in the Newbury area.

We are a small volunteer Board, currently 7 Directors, with a wide range of skills and experience, so we look to all Directors to pitch in as required. Living in or near Newbury is important so you can visit the site, meet residents and contractors and so on. We are supported by a part-time Clerk but there is much to do – dealing with resident issues, filling vacancies, arranging repairs and servicing. We employ local trades for maintenance and repair work, gardening and window cleaning. We do not provide support beyond housing but can direct residents to Council services and other local organisations that can help.

The Board meets formally every 6 weeks or so, in person. Every Director also sits on at least one of the three Board Committees covering residents, property and finance, which meet infrequently as needed, often using Zoom. We may also set up smaller temporary groups: one such has just finished reviewing our website, shortly to be re-launched.

You will use your professional and technical skills to construct the annual budget and to present quarterly management accounts to the Board; and to develop draft statutory annual accounts for presentation to our Independent Examiner. We employ a Clerk for 10 hours per week, dealing with administration and day-to-day bookkeeping, using Quickbooks.

You would need to have the necessary accounting expertise to oversee all finance matters and dealings with banks – we have a substantial mortgage and significant funds on deposit – and insurances. The Treasurer is the Board lead on GDPR.

Our reserves of cash are vital. We have developed a planned maintenance schedule for the years ahead – covering kitchen appliance and boiler replacement, re-decoration and longer-term issues like roof replacement – and need to ensure we are putting enough by and making the most of our reserve funds.

What are we looking for?

You will need accounting experience, of course, but the Charity’s accounts are basic: total annual income is around £140k with a single income source (Weekly Maintenance Charges, the almshouse term for rent), and costs before mortgage interest of about half that.

Some experience of the charitable or social housing sectors would be advantageous. The accounts are similar to those of any small housing rental company but we operate in a tightly-regulated environment as a Registered Provider in receipt of substantial public grant funding during the 2017/18 re-development of our estate.

Our part-time Clerk uses Quickbooks, so producing a draft set of management accounts is straightforward; you will probably want to develop report formats. The Clerk has a debit card for the Charity’s current account, so is able to pay suppliers herself after authorisation from the Chair and subject to our financial delegations schedule. 

Experience of developing budgets is important, though ours are pretty straightforward. When the Charity re-opened in 2018 after the re-development, its financial position was strong but the recent increases in base rate, set to continue, have led to hefty rises in mortgage interest (our loan balance at Charity Bank is currently £1.1 million) and have tightened our finances considerably. You will be key to ensuring accurate and prudent budgets; that we keep spending under control; and that the Bank is kept on-side.

We also need to make the most of our cash reserves, currently on deposit.

You will deal with arrears and other payment issues arising: several households are on Universal Credit and the make-up of their Weekly Maintenance Charge payments may vary between UC and their own earnings. The Treasurer also deals with the Charity’s insurances and will be Board lead on GDPR compliance.

Our Board has a reasonable mix of gender and age but lacks ethnic diversity, which we are keen to improve. One director is disabled. Our Treasurer stood down at the end of 2022 to focus on her young family so we would particularly welcome female and non-white applicants so that the Board composition better reflects the characteristics of our residents, several of whom are from ethnic minority communities or are single parents.

Board experience, particularly with a charity or non-profit, would be an advantage, though certainly not essential.

What difference will you make?

Every organisation needs to balance its books and put something by for the future. A board needs to be confident that whatever its activities and plans, it will have enough in the bank to carry them through.

As Treasurer, your expertise would be key to our financial survival and our ability to continue to provide these much-needed homes to Newbury households in need of good quality housing. And we need to keep Weekly Maintenance Charges as low as possible.

As for many in the UK at present, life is increasingly challenging for the households in Mabel Luke Place. We have permanently employed, intermittently employed, self-employed and unemployed households, many accessing Universal Credit or other benefits, some with fluctuating incomes. We don’t directly provide support beyond the provision of good quality housing but we can help by directing residents to local organisations that can provide support.

Inevitably, some households fall into arrears from time to time. We manage this pro-actively. Residents are not helped by us allowing arrears to run up to levels that become unsustainable for them. So the finance role is key here too – spotting problems early on and collaborating with other directors to help residents through.

The bottom line is: we need to make sure our housing is managed and maintained to a high standard. That gives our residents one less important thing to worry about.

Before you apply

Please email our Chair, John Gatward, at the address below, in the first instance with your details, enclosing a CV and a covering letter setting out why you are interested in this position and what you consider you have to offer by way of experience. If all seems positive the Chair will arrange an initial informal meeting to discuss the role, the nature of the work and to elaborate details of the applicant’s experience. A second meeting with the Chair and another director will follow. If all goes well, the applicant will be invited to attend a Board meeting as an observer and after the applicant has left the Board will agree whether to offer the post of Treasurer. The Chair will take it from there.

Email: john.gatward@mabelluke.co.uk


Resident Part Time Warden – Halifax

Joseph Crossley’s Almshouses, Arden Road Halifax HX1 3AA

Joseph Crossley’s Almshouses are seeking to appoint a resident part-time Warden (30 hours per week, usually Monday to Friday) for this community, starting as soon as possible.

The salary for 30 hrs pw is £17,300 pa.  This is reviewed annually. The job has 4 weeks annual leave and public holidays.  The post also comes with a 2 bedroomed house on site.

The successful applicant will:

                be committed to working with elderly people;

                be sympathetic to the Christian faith;

                have good communication & IT skills;

                be confident in managing all on-site visitors & routine issues;

                be in good health;

                work closely with the Trustees to provide a safe environment for the residents. 

Job Description

The job of the Warden is to:

  1. support residents in general in maintaining and/or developing an independent lifestyle;
  2. support the organisation of social events for residents, on and off site;
  3. undertake minor maintenance as appropriate;
  4. support residents individually by offering a supportive relationship which makes them feel that the warden is someone they can rely on;
  5. the warden should visit each Resident regularly as appropriate, at least once weekly and up to daily if required;
  6. report any comments or complaints raised by the residents or maintenance issues, such as faulty lighting, to the officers and/or the Trustees and taking appropriate action in an emergency;
  7. summon the appropriate help, doctor, ambulance, relatives etc., should this be necessary and attend to the resident until the help of local services or relatives can be obtained;
  8. meet new residents with their Pastoral Trustee before arrival;
  9. maintain a list of up to date contact details for residents and next of kin for use when appropriate;
  10. liaise with residents’ families and friends insofar as is necessary to support residents in this.

Trustees and officers

The Warden will:

  1. meet their supervising Trustee as set out in the Guidance on Warden Induction and Guidance on Warden Line Management;
  2. report to their supervising Trustee about the circumstances of the residents and the almshouses in general and in relation to specific issues or, in their absence, another suitable Trustee;
  3. report resident related issues to the resident’s Pastoral Trustee or, in their absence, another suitable Pastoral Trustee;
  4. produce a written report in general and in relation to specific issues for the Pastoral Committee and attend Pastoral Committees;
  5. report relevant issues to the officers of the charity.

Liaison

It is expected that liaison will involve, among other things:

  1. liaising as necessary with Social Services, doctors, Nursing Services and Home Care Services and any other relevant parties relating to Resident wellbeing;
  2. liaising with tradespeople and, where appropriate, managing them on behalf of the Trustees.

Maintaining the site

The Warden will help to maintain the site by, among other things:

  1. helping to keep the grounds clear of litter as appropriate;     
  2. cleaning the community room and chapel weekly, before the weekly service;
  3. locking/unlocking and switching heating on/off as required in the meeting room for chapel and other uses.
  4. weekly tests of all stairlifts not regularly in use;
  5. ensuring that meters are read, mail collected or redirected as appropriate and boilers set to the frost, or an equivalent low, setting when a flat is unoccupied;
  6. assist Residents with setting up keysafes, and maintain the log of keysafe numbers.

Recording

  1. It is expected that the Warden will, among other things, keep a record of events, happenings and actions taken affecting the site, and the residents;
  2. The Warden may also be asked to carry out any other reasonable duty by mutual consent.

Contact Details

A letter of application, outlining suitability for the role, together with the names & addresses of 2 referees, should be sent by Friday 6th October 2023 to the Clerk to the Trustees:

                Mrs Gill Brooke, 12 South Royd Avenue, Halifax HX3 0BL

Interviews will be held on site on Wednesday 18th October 2023.


Clerk to the Trustees – Hereford

About The Role

18 – 20 hours per week (with flexibility on working days)

Salary: Circa £20,000 (dependant on working hours and experience)

Location: Hereford

Hereford Municipal Charities is seeking a Clerk to the Trustees, due to the forthcoming retirement of their long standing clerk.

Hereford Municipal Charities provides:

  • Accommodation
  • Education and training
  • The prevention or relief of poverty by way of a grant system
  • Services to elderly residents of Hereford

A key part of the work of the charity is to provide a range of low cost social housing to people of Hereford that are over 65 and in need of somewhere to live, in the form of the Almshouses.

Almshouses are a charitable form of self-sufficient, low cost community housing that is held in trust for local people in housing need.

Today, across the UK there are 36,000 people are living full and independent lives in almshouses, finding friendships, wellbeing, safety and security inside their walls and within their communities.

The role of the Clerk is key to the Charitable Trust and has financial and operational responsibility for ensuring the smooth running of the Trust affairs. 

As Clerk you would be responsible for budgets, overall strategy, operational management, expenditure and income.  You will oversee the management of 90 buildings, which are a variety of listed, character and more modern dwellings, located across 3 sites in Herefordshire.  This will include liaising with contractors and conservation officers in relation to building related matters, including necessary refurbishments and to ensure compliance with the necessary regulations and governance.  You would be required to maintain close contact with the residents, dealing with any enquiries and being positioned as the main point of contact with Almshouses Association.

A number of board meetings are scheduled throughout the year and you would be required to prepare and issue agendas and documents for meetings and take minutes.

To fulfil this varied, interesting and rewarding require a candidate that is an effective communicator; works with integrity, has attention to detail, good IT skills and has good financial acumen.  You will have the ability to manage events, organise maintenance arrangements and administration tasks for the Trust and the ability to manage a number of tasks simultaneously. 

For further details please contact Hoople Recruitment recruitment@hoopleltd.co.uk or 01432 383788

Closing date:  1st October 2023


CLERK TO THE TRUSTEES

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a motivated person to lead a small team looking after the residents, buildings and estate of a charity providing sheltered housing in Barnet, Hertfordshire, comprising 30 units. The Thomas Watson Cottage Homes is a delightful place to live and work enjoying a large semi-rural position on the northernmost edge of London.

The team includes a Sheltered Housing Manager, Financial Accountant and Maintenance Supervisor.

The successful candidate for this part time post of 18 hours per week, will  combine an empathetic approach to dealing with the varying needs of  residents with sound business management, computer literacy and interpersonal skills. Further information about the Charity and a Job Description/Person Specification can be obtained from clerk@thomaswatsonch.co.uk.

If you possess the skills, knowledge, and experience to take up this challenge, please send a full CV together with a covering letter, supporting statement and the names of two referees, one of whom must be your current or most recent manager.

Interviews will take place in November. It is hoped that the successful candidate will take up the post in January 2024.

Closing date: 31st  October 2023

Salary in the region of £50k pro rata.


Egremont Almhouses, Somerset Hospital and Thompson Hospital

Job Title: Warden

Hours: Part-time – 4 Hours per day usually 9am to 1pm, Monday to Friday, but on 24 Hour emergency call out

Salary: £Competitive Salary based on experience and onsite accommodation  

Location: Petworth, West Sussex

Following the retirement of our Warden of the past 18 years, the Trustees are looking for an enthusiastic, energetic, caring and experienced person to deliver a range of services to the residents of the two Almshouse charities providing 20 self-contained residential units in Petworth West Sussex.

The Almshouses are located over 3 sites and provide homes for local residents who can live independently, with priority given to inhabitants of the Petworth area. Applications are processed by the trustees and their managing agents, and the selection of suitable applicants is based on criteria of local connection, financial, medical, and social need.    The friendly environment across the three sites aims to reduce loneliness and isolation by fostering a supportive community spirit, facilitated and encouraged by the Warden.

Accommodation is made up of the

  • Egremont Almshouses, originally known as the Lower Hospital, and built in 1836, comprising of 4 self-contained one and two bedroomed single storey cottages located off the Horsham Road.
  • Somerset Hospital, closer to the town centre, in North Street, Petworth.  Somerset Hospital was originally built as a private residence in the early 17th Century.  Converted into Almshouses in 1746.  The has accommodation 10 residents with a communal lounge. The Resident Warden, lives in the maisonette at the rear of the main Somerset Hospital building. 
  • Thompson Hospital was founded in 1618 and now consists of seven self-contained flats. 

The Warden will need to be a positive, sincere, empathetic, and approachable individual. 

The key role for this position is to be a friendly neighbour, having a good understanding of the residents health, wellbeing, mental state and ensure they are well looked after and supported by family and/ or carers. It is important that you develop and maintain good relationships with all residents.  You will also oversee the running of the three sites and ensure that the residents homes are safe, secure and well maintained

There is no typical day, but you could be helping a new resident move in, undertaking health and safety checks, meeting residents, liaising with the hospital to ensure safe return of residents to their home, speaking to an anxious relative, responding to an emergency, changing over the guest accommodation, arrange events or organising a trip for the residents.

You’ll bring:

•   excellent people skills, with empathy and patience and the ability to build trust with a wide range of people

•   an understanding of the needs and concerns of older people and the desire to make a difference to their wellbeing

•   the ability to work proactively and independently using your own initiative

•   a positive, flexible and professional approach

•   a strong commitment to safeguarding

If this interests you please contact Louise Collis on 01798 342502 for an informal discussion or for a copy of the full role profile please email louise.collis@leconfieldestates.co.uk

To apply send an up to date CV (no more than 2 sides) and a supporting statement setting out how you meet the requirements of the post (no more than 2 sides of A4). You should also include details of 2 referees (one work related).


 Trustee Vacancy –  Charity of Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough – St Albans, Hertfordshire

Nearly 300 years ago the Duchess of Marlborough funded the building of an alms house in St Albans, Hertfordshire. The almshouse became a charity in 1736 with the object of providing accommodation for residents of St Albans who found themselves in need.

Today the Charity of Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough runs the almshouse and still provides accommodation for 35 residents in a grade II listed building. Residents should have a connection with St Albans and be unable to access the commercial housing or rental sector.

The charity now needs a trustee with experience of property maintenance, and if possible, dealing with listed property.  The minimum time commitment is four board meetings and four committee meetings per year.

Candidates should have a connection with St Albans to be considered.

If you are interested in this position please send your CV and a letter outlining your motivation and relevant experience to the Clerk to the trustees at admin@csdom.org.uk


Scheme Manager – The Mercers’ Company, (London based with travel across our sites nationally)

London based with travel across our sites nationally

Competitive salary & generous benefits package

Fixed term Contract for six months

The Mercers’ Company is a livery company focused on being a philanthropic force for good. We have a rich history dating back over 700 years with philanthropy as the common thread between our past, present and future.

The Company is looking to recruit an experienced Scheme Manager for one of its housing schemes based in Central London.  This is a dual role; part of your time will be the Scheme Manager playing a key part in maintaining our tenants’ independence, you will deliver all aspects of support and housing management, enabling them to stay in their own homes for as long as possible.

Your duties will include visiting tenants, assessing their needs, producing support plans to help them achieve their goals and organising social events. You will also liaise with support services, facilitate social activities and ensure that access to services is exactly as it should be.

On average two days a week you will be based in our central London head office or visiting our other schemes, supporting the Housing team with Health and safety requirements, compliance, resident queries, organising meetings, agendas, papers, and general work across all schemes. 

You will have strong listening and observational skills, as well as high standards of professionalism. You will be the first point of contact for visitors to the Scheme and will be responsible for overseeing, inspecting and reporting any health and safety issues and managing the risk management system for the Scheme. The ideal candidate will have a passion and understanding of the needs of older people.

Excellent communication and IT skills are required, as is experience of undertaking a similar role. An enhanced DBS check is required and part of the role involves being on-call on a rostered basis.

This is an exciting opportunity to work for an ancient but ambitious city organisation, investing in opportunities to create positive change and make a real difference to people’s lives. 

If you would like to have an informal conversation before applying please contact, Human Resources on 020 7776 7211.

To apply please email a CV and a brief covering letter outlining why you are suitable for the role to recruitment@mercers.co.uk  by close of business on Thursday 7 September 2023.


Residential Scheme Manager – The Mercers’ Company

East Grinstead

Competitive salary & generous benefits package

The Mercers’ Company is a livery company focused on being a philanthropic force for good. We have a rich history dating back over 700 years with philanthropy as the common thread between our past, present and future.

The Company is looking to recruit an experienced Residential Scheme Manager for one of its housing schemes based in East Grinstead. 

The Scheme Manager will play a key part in maintaining our tenants’ independence, you will deliver all aspects of support and housing management, enabling them to stay in their own homes for as long as possible. You will ensure the delivery of all aspects of support management functions and oversee the extensive grounds.

Your duties will include visiting tenants, assessing their needs, producing support plans to help them achieve their goals and organising social events. You will also liaise with support services, facilitate social activities and ensure that access to services is exactly as it should be. You will manage and motive a small team to deliver a successful Scheme service.

You will  have strong listening and observational skills, as well as high standards of professionalism, you will be the first point of contact for visitors to the Scheme and will be responsible for overseeing, inspecting and reporting any health and safety issues and managing the risk management system for the Scheme. The ideal candidate will have a passion and understanding of the needs of older people.

Excellent communication and people management skills are required, as is experience of undertaking a similar role. An enhanced DBS check is required.

Non-residential candidates may be considered if they live close to the Scheme, however due to the size of the Scheme a residential scheme manager is preferred, and part of the role involves being on-call on a rostered basis.

This is an exciting opportunity to work for an ancient but ambitious city organisation, investing in opportunities to create positive change and make a real difference to people’s lives. 

If you would like to have an informal conversation before applying please contact, Human Resources on 020 7776 7211.

To apply please email a CV and a brief covering letter outlining why you are suitable for the role to recruitment@mercers.co.uk  by close of business on Thursday 7 September 2023.


Site/Supervisor Gardener – The Methodist Homestead – Northampton

£ Negotiable, depending on experience.

Part-time, c 20 hours per week, 28 days leave (including bank holidays) pro-rated.

The Methodist Homestead.

Location: Northampton.

The Methodist Homestead is a Charity specialising in the provision of high-quality independent living accommodation for elderly persons. They are searching for a Site Supervisor / Gardner who can help in the maintenance and smooth running of their site.

The post provides an exciting opportunity to join a close-knit team and contribute directly to the success of the organisation.  The portfolio of property under management comprises 24 semi-detached cottages, a communal hall, office and a flat for the Warden.  The scheme is set in its own private grounds.

To be successful you will have good practical experience and knowledge of gardening and general maintenance work.  Ideally you will be able to identify and resolve simple maintenance problems and undertake routine gardening tasks such as mowing and hedge cutting. The Charity will provide training and full professional support. You will have a genuine interest in making a positive contribution to the charity and team.  

Key Responsibilities:   

  • Managing your own day-to-day work schedule to support the buildings, gardens, grounds and hedges.
  • Maintaining the grounds and gardens and keep them well presented free of leaves and weeds.
  • Ensuring the upkeep, maintenance and safe storage of gardening equipment and maintenance equipment.
  • Preparing communal rooms for meetings and external areas for outdoor events.
  • Organising the disposal of garden waste, residents’ bins and refuse collections.
  • Inspecting and diagnosing general maintenance issues reporting these to the Trustees.
  • Undertaking simple repairs on agreed items, overseeing contractors appointed by the Trustees as required.
  • Ensuring health & safety policies are followed on site.
  • Following required regulatory and compliance policies.
  • Delivering excellent customer service standards for residents.
  • Reporting on any required health, safety or maintenance matters.
  • Undertaking any other reasonable task requested

Person Specification:

  • Able to work to agreed schedules and deadlines.
  • Flexible with a “can do” attitude and an eye for detail.
  • Computer literate (Microsoft word and email).
  • Articulate, able to communicate at all levels with strong English and excellent customer service skills.
  • Knowledgeable about general repairs and gardening.
  • A team player.

To apply or for further details please forward your CV to:  adrian.nisbet@argonaut-hr.com

No agency candidates accepted


Warden – The Methodist Homestead – Northampton

Warden with flexibility to Be resident or non-resident.

£15 – 17,000.00 Depending on experience and accommodation arrangements.

Part-time, 24 hours per week, 28 days leave (including bank holidays) pro-rated.

The Methodist Homestead

Location: Northampton

The Methodist Homestead is a Charity specialising in the provision of high-quality independent living Almshouse accommodation for elderly persons. They are searching for a resident warden who can help manage the housing scheme and provide support and assistance to the residents.

The post provides an exciting opportunity to join a close-knit team and contribute directly to the success of the organisation. 

To be successful you will have a proven track record as a warden or in provision of care for others. A first floor 2-bedroom flat is available to the successful applicant. Local applicants who wish to remain in their own property, within a short journey time are welcome to apply. The Charity will provide training and full professional support. You will have a genuine interest in making a positive contribution to the charity and team.

 

Key Responsibilities:

  • Monitoring the wellbeing of residents and manage the organisation of activities.
  • Reporting any issues with residents and the property to the Trustees on a weekly basis.
  • Responding to emergency calls when on duty immediately.
  • Providing assistance to residents and keep their family members updated on residents welfare.
  • Ensuring all residents have access to a wide range of social activities and encouraging their active participation in these.
  • Showing prospective residents around the property.
  • Producing a monthly news sheet for residents and Trustees.
  • Maintaining required documents, files and records.
  • Being responsible for the security of the buildings, site and managing resources and people to assist with this.
  • Managing on site facilities, meeting rooms, keep them clean and tidy.
  • Overseeing the activities of the site supervisor/gardener
  • Arranging any emergency repairs that are required from properties within permitted budgets, managing a petty cash float.
  • Working with the site supervisor/ gardener to report on the state and condition of the buildings.
  • Providing refreshments (such as tea, coffee, light snacks) for required activities.
  • Carrying out any other reasonable task as directed.

Person Specification:

  • Ideally you should have a good understanding of warden’s responsibilities and be knowledgeable about safeguarding.
  • Be able to demonstrate good IT, numeracy and literacy skills.
  • Have experience and a track record of working in sheltered accommodation or care services.
  • Have a “can-do” attitude and be personally flexible and enjoy working with other people and the elderly and be smartly presented.
  • Have a clean driving license.

To apply or for further details please forward your CV to:  adrian.nisbet@argonaut-hr.com

No agency candidates accepted.