NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AUDIT FINANCE AND RISK COMMITTEE CHAIR

APPLICANT PACK JULY 2026

For people who want to live more independently to regard ability as their first-choice provider of housing, care or support services.

Dear applicant

Thank you for your interest in this role within Ability’s Board as Chair of the Audit Finance and Risk Committee.
In this pack you will see we have included information about Ability, our customers and the roles we are looking for.

This is an exciting time to be joining Ability Housing Association. Ability HA is passionate about championing inclusion for people with disabilities providing accessible homes and personalised Care and Support maximising the independence, control and choice our customers have over their lives. We provide housing, care and support services for people who want to live more independently. We have two operating departments – Ability Housing and Ability Care and Support, these provide housing, care or support to more than 1,000 people with learning disabilities, mental health needs, physical or sensory impairments, in 32 Local Authorities in London and Southern England.

We are financially secure, our board are ambitious for the future having taken the decision to remain independent and are looking to grow our services, focusing on our mission to support people with disabilities to live independent lives. Ability is an organisation that puts people at the centre of all that it does. We have a committed, skilled and supportive staff team who believe in our mission of inclusive communities and are focused on making this ambition a reality.

Our future strategy is based upon maximising our efficiency to ensure we can develop new services, increasing our impact and reach. We will seek to achieve this, whilst ensuring we maintain a focus on the quality of the service we deliver, which is personalised to meet the individual needs of our residents and customers.

We have a skilled and committed team of Non-Executive Directors who bring a breadth of experience, knowledge and open challenge to Ability.

As we move forward over the coming months and years, building on our strong foundations we will maintain focus on the quality of our services, ensuring all parts of our organisation are aligned, and the quality of the customer experience, whilst ensuring viability, transparency and good governance.

We do hope that you will want to apply and I look forward to receiving your application.

Yours sincerely,

Jeff Skipp Chief Executive

Welcome to Ability

Ability provides housing, care and support services for people who want to live more independently.

Our two operating departments – Ability Housing and Ability Care and Support – provide housing, care and support to more than 1,000 people with learning disabilities, mental health needs, physical or sensory impairments, in 32 districts in London and southern England.

We are ISO 9001 quality accredited and an investors in people organisation.

We are registered with the care quality commission to provide personal care, and accommodation with personal care, in a variety of locations and communities.

The CQC checks these services at least once a year to make sure they are up to standard.

Who we are

We are a company limited by guarantee and registered at Companies house, a registered charity, and a registered provider with the regulator or social housing. This means that we comply with the regulatory and reporting standards set by these bodies.

In addition, some of our support services are subject to regulation and inspection by the care quality commission (CQC).

Our governance structure includes a board and senior management team supported by staff colleagues.

Our vision

At ability, ‘to live more independently’ means customers having more choice and control over their lives, and having equal access to housing, mobility, health, employment and community involvement.

At ability, being ‘first choice’ requires total customer satisfaction. To achieve this, we recruit people who share our values and we train and support colleagues to work with a positive ‘can-do’ attitude.

Our values

We focus on ability not disability

We focus on what each person can do – on their ability – rather than what they can’t do. We work together with our customers to help them overcome barriers to their own personal independent living goals.

We engage actively for feedback

We engage actively with our customers, colleagues and partners to seek feedback that helps us to understand how we can improve what we do and how we do it.

We value differences

We respect and value the individuality of each person. We believe that differences are strengths and that diversity enriches our lives and communities.

We demonstrate integrity

We encourage a culture of openness, honesty and personal accountability. We respond to a challenge by asking ourselves what we can do to help and by always delivering on our promises.

AbilityPosirivE+

Ability Positive

• AbilityPOSITIVE+ is a fresh approach to customer service and is about ensuring that all Ability colleagues have the right attitude, behaviours and skills to deliver consistently good service. It covers everyone Ability engages with; customers, colleagues and partners and provides a fresh approach that will ensure consistency of the services we deliver.

• All new employees are introduced to our AbilityPOSITIVE+ Commitment Toolkit to ensure everyone understands and commits to the values and behaviours that make up AbilityPOSITIVE+ to embed the approach through the organisation.

Organisation Structure

Senior Management Team

Marcus Andrews Director of Finance

Marcus joined Ability in December 2022 as Director of Finance. Marcus has over 20 years’ experience of financial management, with experience gained in housing, education and the charity sector. Marcus is driven by value for money and wants to ensure that Ability’s resources are deployed in an efficient and effective manner to deliver the best results for our customers.

Jeff Skipp Chief Executive

Jeff joined Ability in July 2016 as CEO, bringing with him 30 years’ experience of working in health, social care and housing. Jeff has a particular interest in equality and social justice, and has worked for and led organisations that are focused on developing inclusive services and opportunities for people with a disability.

Lucy Whittaker Head of Human Resources

Lucy joined Ability in 2021 bringing a passion for developing an engaged workforce, who are well equipped and motivated to achieve the aims of the business and of our customers. Lucy brings HR expertise as well as a background in multi-tenure Housing Management & leading Customer Experience services.

Lauren Green Director of Care & Support

Lauren joined Ability in April 2024 as Director of Care and Support and brings with her a wealth of experience across a range of Care and Support and Housing specialisms, including Mental Health, Drug and Alcohol, and young people and women’s services. She is passionate about delivering the highest quality, personcentred services to those Ability serves

Stephanie Wood Director of Housing (Operations)

Stephanie starter her role as Operations Director with Ability in November 2024 and has worked in supported housing for 27 years and has held a variety of different positions in both the charitable and social housing sector. Stephanie is passionate about delivering high quality services and shares the organisational vision to work with customers to shape what we do and be able to provide the best services we can.

Board Members

Mandy Dunstan Chair of the Board

Mandy Dunstan has established twenty years’ experience of leading multi-disciplinary teams, developing performance and quality monitoring and delivering great services and has an up to date working knowledge of the challenges and opportunities facing the housing sector.

Mandy’s experience has given her an insight into how to lead and manage large operational contracts and complex business projects and processes across a diverse portfolio of business-critical services she is excited by opportunity and change and welcomes the continual challenges that the housing sector offers and rises to them with enthusiasm. Mandy believes that Housing providers have a crucial role to play in providing high quality housing services and in supporting developing communities. We can (and do) make a real difference to the quality of life for the people we provide services to.

Lynsey Van Aswergen Chair of the Audit Finance and Risk Commitee

Lynsey van Aswegen joined the board in 2021 and is also the Chair of the Audit, Finance and Risk Committee. Lynsey is a Chartered Accountant with 15 years experience in the real estate and social housing sectors, and a graduate of the Judge Business School and University of Cambridge. She is currently CFO at Barnsbury, having previously held roles at Octavia, Peabody and Family Mosaic as a property tax and development finance expert. Lynsey is committed to tackling inequality in all its forms and seeks to address some of the injustices the social housing and social care systems are facing.

Kristian Melgaard Board Member

Kristian Melgaard joined the Ability Board in March 2026 and is a Housing Consultant and has worked in the affordable housing sector for 20 years occupying a variety of director-level roles at private registered providers and local authorities. He also has significant nonexecutive director experience, having served on multiple housing association boards and committees. He brings a wealth of experience in housing operations, customer services, asset management, and development.

Board Members

Nick Barker Board Member

Nick Barker joined the Board of Ability in April 2024, bringing over 17 years of experience in the residential and homecare sector. Throughout his career Nick have been committed to enhancing operational efficiency, elevating quality standards, and leveraging technology to transform care services.

As the Quality Director at Avante Care and
Support Nick leads initiatives that ensure
regulatory compliance while fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Previously, at Cera Care Nick played a key role in implementing AIdriven solutions and digital platforms to enhance care delivery, streamline operations, and
improve patient outcomes.
Nick is passionate about integrating digital
innovation into to drive meaningful
improvements, empower the workforce, and
enhance the experience for both caregivers and service users.

Tim Jennings Board Member

Tim Jennings is a qualified accountant with experience across a range of sectors, including property services and housing. Tim's previous Executive career was the Executive Director of Finance for Catalyst Housing, having held the same role at Aldwyck Housing prior to their merger. Previous experience includes several Finance Director roles at large property services businesses. Tim is also a Non-Executive Board member of other Housing Associations.

Rinat Abdrasilov Board Member

Rinat Abdrasilov is a Management Consultant and Non-Executive Director with over 20 years of expertise from executive and nonexecutive roles in banks and companies of all sizes: from start-ups to FTSE100 companies facing millions of customers. Cambridge MBA, mentor across a range of business schools / accelerators, and independent professional non-executive board member in a number of boards – both in the developed world, and in the emerging markets. Rinat’s key consulting and board expertise is in innovation management, strategy, digital transformation, fundraising and corporate governance.

Board Members

Stefano Rinaldi Board Member

Stefano Rinaldi joined the Ability Board in March 2026 and is Director of Service Diversification and Complex Care at Cera Care, one of the UK’s leading health and social care providers, where he focuses on developing new service models that integrate housing, complex care, and technology to improve outcomes for individuals and communities. Prior to joining Cera, Stefano served as Group Managing Director at Caridon Group, leading a portfolio spanning supported housing, property development, social housing and charitable services, and as Managing Director at Ivolve Care and Support, where he oversaw nationwide residential and supported-living operations. Outside of work, Stefano is a proud dad to two young boys who keep him on his toes, a lifelong Liverpool FC fan, and an avid scuba diver with a particular love for sharks.

Vimal Gaglani Board Member

Vimal Gaglani joined the board in 2021 and is also a member of the Audit, Finance and Risk Committee.

Vimal is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, and is also a member of the Association of Corporate Treasurers. Vimal has over 20 years experience in a number of finance and treasury roles including Audit and Assurance, Financial Planning and Analysis, Treasury Management, and Finance Director. He is currently Director of Treasury & Financial Planning at Abri, a large Housing Association based in the South of England.

Vimal has key expertise in forming the risk appetite and strategic direction of organisations, and thereafter enabling the delivery of strategic objectives whilst preserving financial strength and viability.

Job Description

Post: Non-Executive Director & Chair of Audit Finance and Risk Committee (Voluntary) Responsible to: Chair of the Board

Non-Executive Director - Overall Purpose:

The overall purpose of the Non-Executive Director role is to provide appropriate oversight, governance and leadership of the Association in pursuit of its strategic aims, and add value to the Association by contributing experience, expertise and insight.

Non-Executive Directors are also responsible for the scrutiny of the performance of the Chief Executive and the wider senior management team in meeting agreed goals and objectives, and for the monitoring of performance reporting.

In addition, Non-Executive Directors will oversee the integrity of financial and other information, and ensure that financial quality controls and systems of risk management are robust and defensible.

Key Responsibilities:

To act in the best interests of the Association at all times.

To uphold and comply with the Association’s code of conduct, governance, standards, probity or similar.

To uphold and promote the core policies, purpose, values and objectives of the Association (including its commitment to equal opportunities), and to proactively develop an understanding of the Association’s strategic context to facilitate this.

• To comply with the Association’s policies, procedures and standing orders as set and amended from time to time by the Board.

To perform duties with reasonable skill and care, ensure that the activities of the Association fall within the permitted objectives and are exercised in accordance with its powers, and use powers solely for the purpose for which they are conferred.

To contribute to and share responsibility for decisions of the Board and/or any committee from which they are from time to time a member.

To be a member of one or more Committees of the Board.

To attend induction, training and performance review sessions and other such sessions or events as are reasonably required by the Association.

To prepare actively for meetings by reading papers and, where necessary, seeking clarification in advance.

Treating information gained as a Board Member in confidence.

To represent the Association when requested.

Responsibilities & Duties of the AFR Chair

Financial oversight and long-term sustainability:

• The Chair leads the committee by setting agendas collaboratively and ensuring productive, focused meetings.

• The Chair scrutinizes budgets, forecasts, and financial plans to align resources with strategic priorities and risk appetite.

• Key responsibilities include monitoring audit independence, reviewing findings, and overseeing risk identification and mitigation.

• The Chair translates complex assurance work into clear insights and recommendations for the Board.

Chairing the Audit, Finance and Risk Committee

• The Chair leads the committee by setting agendas collaboratively and ensuring productive, focused meetings.

• The Chair scrutinizes budgets, forecasts, and financial plans to align resources with strategic priorities and risk appetite.

• Key responsibilities include monitoring audit independence, reviewing findings, and overseeing risk identification and mitigation

• The Chair translates complex assurance work into clear insights and recommendations for the Board.

Risk Management, Assurance, and Compliance

• The committee oversees risk identification, assessment, and management aligned with Board-approved risk appetite.

• Assurance is delivered through internal controls, audits, and monitoring to address significant organizational risks

• Ensuring compliance with housing regulations and legal requirements builds stakeholder and regulator confidence.

• Fostering openness and continuous improvement strengthens systems and supports resilient governance.

Board Member Role and Collective Accountability

• Board Members share responsibility for the organisation’s success, sustainability, and integrity through collective decision-making.

• The Board sets strategic direction, approves major policies, and oversees performance against objectives.

• Board Members uphold high standards of conduct, confidentiality, and ethics, ensuring governance effectiveness.

• The role requires preparation, attendance, ongoing training, and contribution to board development and succession planning.

Person Specification

Experience:

Must possess experience in the following areas:

Chair of the Audit Finance & Risk Committee:

• Senior Finance Management experience within a Housing Association,

Understanding of Regulatory landscape and requirements of the Regulator of Social Housing relating to the provision of social housing and supported living.

• Internal control, audit and assurance at it applies to a small housing provider

• Strategic risk management, able to identify and assess internal and external risks

• Knowledge and understanding of risk management

Skills and Knowledge

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

• Ability to work digitally

• Ability to balance the social and commercial aspects of the position

Strong understanding of the Association’s framework of governance and good practice standards

Clear understanding of the legal duties, liabilities and responsibilities of directors

Sound financial awareness and a strong understanding of the Association’s strategic context.

Behaviour

Understanding of and commitment to Equality and Diversity, promoting equality of opportunity for all, free from prejudice and discrimination

• The highest standards of ethical behaviour, and expectation of the same in others

• Genuine commitment to the Association’s values and role

• Positive and constructive approach to the role of the Board

• A personal commitment to self-development and learning, and diversity and inclusion

• Goal-focused, positive and resilient

• Self-managing, taking responsibility for own behaviour and development

How to apply…

To apply for the role, please send:

An up-to-date CV which shows your full career history.

A covering letter explaining why you would be interested in this role.

You must make sure that your cv and covering letter give us enough information to demonstrate that you have the requisite experience, competencies and personal qualities set out in the person specification.

Once the above is complete please send your application, via email to Zainab Khatoon, our hr internal recruiter at: zainabk@ability-housing.Co.Uk.

To assist with your application and if you wish to have an informal discussion about the role and organisation or if you have any other questions to help you decide whether to apply, a telephone appointment can be made, by contacting Zainab on 078375 74101