Homes Committee Member

Job Description

Committee Member for Homes Committee

Background

The Riverside Group Limited (TRGL) is looking to recruit someone who has the knowledge and experience set out in the person specification. The successful candidate will take up a place on the Committee for an initial three-year term with the possibility of a second three-year term.

About Riverside Governance

The TRGL Board is the senior governance body within Riverside and sets the mission, strategy, corporate and business plans and policy for the Group as well as overseeing performance against these.

The work of the Board is supported by seven committees. The powers of committees are delegated by the Board and set out in the Terms of Reference of the committees.

About Riverside

Riverside is a group of complementary businesses driven by a clear social purpose, with a not-for-profit charitable housing association at its core.

Established over 95 years ago, we remain driven by a deep sense of social purpose, providing a range of homes and wider support services for a diverse community of people across England and Scotland.

The Riverside Group is a sector-leading national housing association group:

owning over 75,000 homes, putting us in the top ten English housing association groups by size.
operating across a national footprint, with ‘weight’ in London, the North-West, the East Midlands, the East Coast and Scotland.
being the nation’s largest housing association provider of supported housing.
with secure financial foundations: £680 million annual turnover, £5.2 billion assets.

Our Corporate Plan for 2023-2026 entitled Forward Together, sets out our three-year strategy. The Plan follows our merger with One Housing Group and comes at a time of stronger regulation across our sector. There is an increased emphasis on consumer regulation through a refocused Regulator of Social Housing and a more muscular Housing Ombudsman, a new regime for building safety and the strengthening of the CQC and Ofsted regimes applying to some of our care and support services.

The key objectives under our Corporate Plan are:

Warm and safe, decent homes
Trusted customer services
Support through the cost-of-living crisis
Leadership in care and support
New homes, better places.

We are currently developing a new Corporate Plan for 2026-2031.

The successful candidate joining the Committee will provide leadership and help to shape how Riverside delivers on those objectives, whilst also expanding their own skills and experiences.

About the Role

We are looking for a non-executive Committee Member to join our Homes Committee. As a Housing Association, it is essential that our governance community promote and champion Riverside’s values, vision and social purpose. Customers are at the heart of everything that we do, and Committee members must be committed to work in the best interests of our current and future residents and customers.

Terms and Conditions

The total time commitment is estimated at 7 days per year which includes four formal Committee meetings per year (variously in person nationwide, and via Microsoft Teams), members will be invited to join a Committee Strategy Day and Group Strategy Day once per year. This is a national role with most in person meetings in the North West and London as well as meeting on Teams.

Other activities include induction, appraisal and training/development activities and other ad-hoc meetings for urgent matters. The successful candidate will also be encouraged to visit Riverside schemes and services, which are organised by Riverside, to allow Board and Committee members to gain a better understanding of the activities of the Group.

The remuneration for the role of Committee member is £3,250 per annum.

The role of a Committee Member

Committee members will:

Apply their skills, knowledge, and experience to actively contribute to the committee’s work in discharging its responsibilities as set out in the Terms of Reference for the committee.
Support and constructively challenge the Group’s Executive Team and other officers.
Attend functions, away days and other meetings as required from time to time.
Undertake induction and appraisal activity in line with the Board’s agreed programme.
Keep their knowledge and skills up to date, taking part in appropriate learning and development activities that aim to maintain and develop competence and improve performance.
Promote and champion the organisation’s values.
Establish and maintain constructive working relationships with non-executive colleagues, executives, and officers.
Attend, prepare for and participate in Committee meetings.
Comply with the Group’s Code of Conduct and the Committee Member Agreement for Services.
Display passion, energy, and enthusiasm for the role and for Riverside’s vision and values.
Be committed to working in the best interests of current and future residents.
Be a strong leader with personal and professional credibility.
Be confident in making independent and critical judgments and in facilitating debate to ensure risks and alternative courses of action are properly considered.
Possess a high degree of probity and integrity.
Work in a collaborative, open and engaging style.
Be committed to accountability, transparency, and equality of opportunity.
Be self-aware and open to feedback and personal development.
Be able to commit the time necessary to undertake the role to a high standard.

Key responsibilities of Committee Members

Build and maintain effective and constructive working relationships with other members of the Committee, the Chief Executive, Executive Director (Customer Service/Care and Support Services) and other senior staff.
Prepare adequately for meetings by reading and accessing all relevant papers and reports, seeking clarification from authors as required (preferably in advance of the meeting).
Act as an ambassador and representative for the organisation, upholding the reputation of TRGL and its values, objectives and principles.
Act in accordance with TRGL’s adopted Code of Governance and Code of Conduct for individuals.
Apply personal expertise with due regard to both the business and social aspects of the business.
Have awareness of, and keep up to date with, sector issues.

Personal behaviour and style for Committee Members

Displays passion, energy and enthusiasm for the role and for Riverside’s vision and values.
Is committed to working in the best interests of current and future residents and customers.
Is a strong leader with personal and professional credibility.
Skilled at developing and maintaining relationships with others.
An assured influencer who is able to question and challenge with independence and integrity and who does not cross over the line of operational management.
Pragmatic, with the maturity and sensitivity to analyse complex issues and deliver sound judgment.
Possesses a high degree of probity and integrity.
Works in a collaborative, open and engaging style.
Is committed to accountability, transparency and equality of opportunity.
Is self-aware and open to feedback and personal development.
Can commit the time necessary to the role.
Is able to generate new ideas and bring new perspectives.
Be confident in making independent and critical judgements and in facilitating debate to ensure risks and alternative courses of action are properly considered.
Keep their knowledge and skills up to date, taking part in appropriate learning and development activities that aim to maintain and develop competence and improve performance.

Person Specification for Committee Members

Ability to manage key organisational risks in a complex environment and analyse large volumes of information to identify fundamental issues.
An understanding, or willingness to develop knowledge, of governance and how committees operate and add value.
An understanding, or willingness to develop knowledge, of how a Registered Social Housing Provider operates.
Demonstrate a willingness to make recommendations to support business growth aspirations while protecting the fundamental core objectives of the charitable nature of Riverside.
A strong awareness of and commitment to embedding equality and diversity principles.
Non-Executive experience is preferred but not essential.

If you require any further information please contact Jennifer.quayle@riverside.org.uk

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