Candidate Information Pack

Transcription

1 Candidate Information Pack Chair of Trustees March

2 48-62 Woodville Road Harborne Birmingham B17 9AT March 2016 I would like as Chair to introduce you to the charity, Focus Birmingham. In 1848 Birmingham Royal Institute for the Blind (BRIB) was established. In 1997 the operations of BRIB were transferred to three new charitable companies of Queen Alexandra College (QAC), Focus Birmingham and New Outlook Housing Association. Focus Birmingham is a specialist charity providing expert support, advice and information to anyone in the Birmingham and wider area affected by sight loss and disability. We are very proud of our history and the services we have provided. The organisation employs over 140 staff and provides a wide range of high quality, innovative services to support visually impaired and disabled people to improve their everyday lives. This is an exciting opportunity for a new Chair to be appointed to the Board who can bring a diverse range of skills and expertise to assist the charity to develop business opportunities and to meet financial and governance obligations and commitments. You will lead the team that is passionate and dedicated to achieving its core objective to deliver quality services which are user led as much as possible. The role of Chair at Focus is both challenging and rewarding and you will be contributing to the strategic leadership of a charity with a proud and respected history. On behalf of the Focus Board we look forward to hearing from you. Kindest regards Heather Lees Chair to the Focus Board Local support for sight impaired and disabled people. Registered Charity No Registered Company No

3 About Us Focus Birmingham (Focus) is a registered charity and the biggest provider of support, care, advice and guidance to those with visual impairment and other disabilities in Birmingham. With more than 2 million people with sight loss across UK, we exist to ensure that individuals with visual impairments and other disabilities are fully supported in living their lives independently and in a fulfilling way. Focus Birmingham wants to extend the impact it has on the lives of blind, visually-impaired and disabled people in the West Midlands enabling them to reach their full potential through high quality services, delivered by skilled and wellmotivated staff. The best way to understand us is through our services Low Vision Services: Our Low Vision Centre has an international reputation in the diagnosis, management and support of people with sight loss. Our award-winning staff provides expertise and innovation and we re proud to say we have one of the best living aid resource centres in the country. The service is aimed at the vast majority of visually impaired people who have some useful vision, and is there to give optical help beyond the provision of spectacles, with assessment and therapy, the prescription of vision aids and rehabilitation training. Community Services: Our services include support, information, advice to people with sight and hearing loss. We work on individual needs to offer reassurance and practical assistance and partner with social services where appropriate Day Services: Our day services teams work with adults from the age of nineteen upwards, with no upper age limit, to deliver stimulating programmes of activities which are tailored to the needs of the individual. We specialise in working with people with visual impairment and other complex needs and providing person-centred care and support with a wide range of opportunities for learning and socialising so that each person can achieve their full potential. Residential Services: Focus Birmingham has a registered residential homes, Beech House in Erdington. The service provides 24-hour care and support to adults who have a visual impairment, learning and physical disabilities and other associated needs. It is regulated by the Care Quality Commission and meets the current standards of care specified by the CQC. Millward Place Supported Living Scheme Millward Place consists of 14 self-contained one-bedroom apartments which have been specifically designed with the tenant s specific needs in mind and to provide a safe and secure long-term home. All the current residents at Millward Place, which was developed by Bromford Housing, are supported by Focus Birmingham. Partnerships: Focus Birmingham works to transform the lives of the city s visually impaired residents. We are the foremost provider of specialist sight services and our drive, in partnership with Guide Dogs, Blind Children UK and Queen Alexandra College, is to further develop our Centre of Excellence where professional support can be readily accessed. 3

4 Key Highlights 2016 We were delighted to have been selected as one of the beneficiaries for the People s Millions Project. These projects have been proving a big hit with service users at Focus Birmingham, who have taken up the opportunity to get involved. The projects funded were Can t see can cook, Gym Buddies, Shop till you drop, Accessing the arts. We are nearing the end of a comprehensive refurbishment which began in The work has resulted in vastly improved and modern facilities for our staff and visually impaired service users as part of our ambition to become a centre of excellence with our partners Guide Dogs, Blind Children UK, and Queen Alexandra College. Visually impaired service users and supporters took a courageous step in the aid of the charity and abseiled down the 190ft Birmingham city centre Holiday Inn. The event was organised as a part of World Sight Day and raised over 6,000 for Focus. Dozens of staff employed by telecom giant Virgin Media discovered first hand what it is like to live with sight loss during a fund-raising event in aid of a visually impaired charity in Birmingham. Virgin Media Access and Customer Engineering team chose Focus Birmingham, based in Harborne to be the beneficiary of the company's annual team-building day, which is also held in aid of charity. The Access and Customer Engineering (ACE) Summer Event, which took place on the Frisbee Field at Radcliffe House, University of Warwick, in Coventry, involved a series of visually impaired challenges for the 80 Virgin Media staff who took part. Chris Sheriff and Ray Carr both ran their first ever 26 mile distance when they entered, and finished, this year s Virgin London Marathon. Through their network of support, between them, they raised just under 4,000 for Focus and delighted to have taken part. A local shop in Harborne offered support for Focus Birmingham by raising an impressive 500. Local visually impaired school children were able to fully maintain their educational potential via a project to supply electronic book readers run by the Low Vision Centre at Focus Birmingham, funded by generous grants from The Ernest Cook Trust. 4

5 Key Highlights continued... Millward Place A new supported housing development has been officially unveiled in Birmingham specialising in aiding people with visual impairments and disability. The development is the result of a partnership between sight loss charity Focus Birmingham and Bromford Housing. The aim of the My Place model is to raise the aspirations of people with long term health or support needs to help them live independently, reduce dependency and harness opportunities. Among those attending the opening of Millward Place in February 2016 was Councillor Mike Leddy (Labour, Brandwood Ward) who was joined by Focus chief executive Tom Harrison and Bromford Business Manager Josie Bishton. Millward Place consists of 14 self-contained one-bedroom apartments which have been specifically designed with the tenant s specific needs in mind and to provide a safe and secure long-term home. Contrast and Technology Suite Focus Birmingham were delighted to have received a 10,000 donation from Yorkshire Building Society. Yorkshire Building Society pledged the donation during its 150th anniversary year and Focus Birmingham was one of 15 chosen by members of the public to receive a 10,000 cash boost from the donation. In total, more than 600 charities applied to the Society s Lasting Legacy Fund before 30 were put forward for a public vote. Focus Birmingham, which provides specialist support and advice to the visually impaired, has used the 10,000 to produce a contrast and technology suite to be able to demonstrate the important use of lighting, space and contrast to enable visually impaired people to live more independently and safely at home. 5

6 On Learning We build ability and confidence through skills that create independence, promote social interaction and enjoyment in being out and about. Our services include Rehabilitation, Social and befriending schemes, Helpline, Physiotherapy, teaching Makaton sign language, practical skills for those newly diagnosed with sight loss and disability.. Our Impact On Excellence Focus wants to extend the impact it has on lives of blind, visually impaired and disabled people in the West Midlands and champions best practice to transform lives. The Elizabeth Gunn Centre supports people with sight loss and additional disabilities. These can range from learning disabilities to mental health issues. The centre provides a range of stimulating activities and opportunities for people that often have very limited life experiences outside the centre. On Independence Our community programmes help people learn skills and techniques to manage for themselves. It has helped them make new friends, enjoy new experiences and has improved their health and well-being. On Innovation - Our Low Vision Centre provides more than 550 hours of support, stocks over 250 items to make life easier for those with visual impairment, trains optometrists and rehabilitation officers of the future at Aston University and Birmingham City University. On Commitment Focus Birmingham volunteers are an integral part of the charity, providing services at our Harborne site, in our service users homes across the city and in the wider Birmingham community. We are fortunate to have 100 dedicated volunteers who bring their own brand of expertise and contribute towards supporting service users and our staff. The volunteer roles range from administration to working directly with service users who are visually impaired or have other disabilities. 6

7 Financial Overview The following financial Review was taken from Focus Birmingham s Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ending on 31 st March 2015 Income overall decreased by 313, 380 due to reasons such as decrease in legacy income, ceasing trading activities with the subsidiary Focus Enterprises, loss of income in the day care centre due to Birmingham City Council reviews and the end of special project funding in Community Services. However there was an increase in Low Vision Services income due to an EU funded Tempus education grant. Expenditure overall decreased by 12, 574 due to tighter control of overhead costs. There has been expenditure worth 192, 000, spent on capital assets and to complete refurbishment of the buildings on the Harborne site. For more details on our financial performance here is the link to the latest annual accounts on the Focus website: 7

8 Governance and Strategy This information was taken from the Annual Report and Financial Accounts for the year ending 31 st March Our Trustees at Focus Birmingham (Focus) are responsible for overseeing the management and administration of the charity and have ultimate responsibility for the charity s activities. Our Trustees are elected by membership at the Annual General Meeting or join as co-opted members at the invitation of the Board of Trustees. Induction and Training is available for all trustees. An overall organisation structure may be viewed in Appendix 2 towards the end of this pack. Our objectives for 2015/16 include: To review services in response to drop in contract income and to implement a cost reduction programme to remain financially sustainable To develop our fundraising and marketing activity with particular emphasis on corporate and legacy To develop new models of housing with care and to provide more accessible and appropriate setting to current residential service users To develop partnerships and consider consortia working in preparation for the new local authority commissioning programme for prevention services To continue development on the governance framework of the organisation by reviewing trustee training opportunities and recruitment of new trustees with specialist skills To offer new and innovative activities and experiences to people with sight loss as a part of the People Millions project To introduce new data capture systems to better evidence the outcomes and impact of support we provide 2014/15 was a challenging year for Focus as central government austerity measures and the consequent reduction in local authority social care budgets saw our income for care and support service drop significantly. However, there were notable developments and achievements in terms of service delivery and operational efficiency: Our Elizabeth Gunn Centre was renovated to improve our day service provision for people with multiple disabilities Pay and grading for care roles was reviewed to improve terms and conditions. Incremental pay increases based on attainment and performance were established. Our Fundraising and marketing activity plans were reinvigorated as we widened our approach to secure funding across different fundraising disciplines. We restructured and recruited to new roles. Funding from the European Union for our TEMPUS project was renewed. Training and education programmes offered by the Low Vision Department were further developed and continued. We reviewed our Community Services provision and developed strategy for the service going forward. 8

9 Chair of Trustees Focus Birmingham is now looking for a Chair of Trustees who will be responsible for leading the Board of Trustees. We are particularly keen to achieve a more diverse Board of Trustees and we welcome applications from all sections of the community. Role Summary The role of the Chair is to provide strong leadership and direction to the Board of Trustees to enable the Board to fulfil their responsibilities for the overall governance and strategic direction of the organisation. The Chair will ensure that the organisation complies with its governing document, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or statutory regulations To work in partnership with the Chief Executive to achieve the aims of the organisation; and to optimise the relationship between the Board of Trustees and the staff Main duties and Responsibilities Lead the Board of Trustees and ensure effective operation of the Board and its authorised committees in conformity with the highest standards of corporate governance. Set the agenda, style and tone of Board Meeting and then to lead and facilitate Board discussions to promote constructive debate and focused decision-making. To plan Board meetings effectively and engender forward thinking by concentrating primarily on strategic and policy matters Work closely with, and through the Chief Executive to participate in the development of the Charity s vision, strategic agenda, and business plan and facilitate communication and understanding between management and the Board Support the Chief Executive in the development of strategic options for consideration by the Board Oversee the quality, accuracy, quantity and timeliness of the information that is provided to Board members to enable informed decision making Ensure that all Board committees are properly established, composed, operated and are fully integrated with the work of the Board To ensure that appropriate leads or champions are identified at Board level to meet regulatory expectations (e.g. the appointment of a Safeguarding Lead ). To represent the Charity at the highest level to the local or national government, regulatory authorities, the media, involved stakeholders and the general public To be responsible for the continual development of the Board, including individual skills analysis, Trustee recruitment, evaluation and appropriate formal and informal communications amongst Trustees Ensure comprehensive induction programmes for new Trustees and updates as and when necessary. Promote effective relationships and communications between the non-executive Board of Trustees and members of the Executive Team To ensure that appropriate objectives are established for the Chief Executive and to monitor performance against those objectives 9

10 To hold the Chief Executive to account for executive actions and the performance of the Charity compared to the business plan ensuring effective liaison and continuity of communication between formal board meetings Ensure that the performance of the Board, its main committees and individual Trustees is formally evaluated on a regular basis. To ensure all Trustees are aware of their duties and responsibilities as recommended by the Charity Commission, the Care Quality Commission and other legal and regulatory bodies. Person Specification A strong record of strategic and operational leadership A commitment to the Charity and its aims and objectives and the trustee commitment guidance in Appendix 1 Demonstrate integrity, strategic vision and sound, independent judgement Understanding of key issues relating to visual impairment and other disabilities Access to key figures and networks in the statutory, voluntary and commercial sectors. Good interpersonal and communication skills demonstrating tact and diplomacy The ability to work collaboratively with the Board and the Executive team Full understanding of the responsibilities of a non-executive Trustees role in a charity and appropriate governance structures. An awareness of trends in the social care and charity sectors, particularly in the context of current economic austerity measures Time Commitment The Board meets at least four times a year at the organisation s premises Focus Birmingham, 48 Woodville Road, Harborne, Birmingham, B17 9AT Application Process Reach is liaising on behalf of Focus Birmingham and all applications will be submitted to Reach TrusteeWorks in the first instance. Interested volunteers should provide a CV, together with a covering letter addressed to Julie Robertson, outlining their interest in and suitability for the role, and send to the TrusteeWorks Team at trusteeworks@reachskills.org.uk Closing date for application: April 25th 2016 Shortlisted candidates will be required to complete a Fit & Proper Persons Test at The details of this test include the following (a) an enhanced DBS check (b) An insolvency and bankruptcy check (c) check on the register of removed trustees (d) check on Companies House for disqualified directors (e) Signed declaration of interest form Shortlisted candidates will then be invited to attend an initial interview by appointment in April 2016 If you require further information about the role or the work of the Trust, please contact Reach at

11 Appendix 1 Trustee Commitment Guidance 1) Introduction Following a consultation exercise with staff and service user groups in , the Focus Board agreed on the following guidelines for Trustees to develop the relationships between different stakeholder groups and promote good governance. The guidelines are issued in conjunction with the Trustee Role Description and Person Specification, induction pack and relevant policies and procedures. 2) Commitment To contribute fully as a member of the Board of Trustee / Directors and to always act in the interests of the charity. To commit to set and maintain Focus Birmingham vision, mission and values. To commit to share knowledge and skills to grow Focus Birmingham. To select, manage and support the Chief Executive To respect the role of staff 3) Taking stock Trustees are asked to commit to events and meetings to plan, review and consult on the direction of travel for the charity including: o An annual conference with staff, service users and volunteers to provide positive engagement and share knowledge and understanding. o A more structured AGM to inform on performance against a number of agreed targets from the previous financial year. o An away day or business planning event to review and develop organisational strategy and promote teamwork between non-executives and employees. 4) Improve communication As part of every induction, Trustees should spend a day being introduced to each of Focus Birmingham key services, meeting and spending time with staff, service users and volunteers to understand how we work, the ethos and commitment. Before Committee and Board Meetings, a 30 minute drop in surgery to be considered where staff and service users or volunteers can drop in individually or come to represent a group to talk with the Trustees. It is acknowledged that some prior notice of subjects and information on the interested parties may need to given to Trustees to ensure the appropriate people are available to answer questions. Information on all Trustees should be available in key points such as reception area. This would include a photograph and short summary profile outlining who you are, what you do outside of Focus and inside of Focus, including why you choose to volunteer at Focus. A Trustee structure with names and role (as per Focus staff structure) to be available around the building and on the website. Publish the Terms of Reference for each Committee on our website. 5) Attendance As Trustees you need to commit to attend an agreed number of events, meetings, training and drop in sessions each year - typically 75% of those scheduled. However, 11

12 It is accepted that moves to address issues of attendance will be at the Chair s discretion. 6) Trustee Selection Recruitment of Trustees should require a process which provides for involvement and informal feedback from staff, service users and / or volunteers to inform and support the final decision of the Chair. Clear information on how to become a Trustee should be available on-line and inhouse. Job descriptions and person specifications for each Trustees role to be shared - these should look to provide a balance of skills, knowledge and understanding to be able to provide accountability. Named trustees to be dedicated to a specific operational area within Focus Birmingham within their non-executive roles. 7) Training and Development All Trustees are asked to commit to attend relevant training within a timely period of the joining Board. Topics to include: o Induction Focus Birmingham o Sight Loss and Low Vision o Safeguarding o Governance Trustees are requested to commit to one days training per year to keep up to date on governance, legislation, social care trends etc 8) Networking Trustees to act as Ambassadors for the charity, to raise the organisation s profile across the many communities in the area and develop links that will further our aims. Trustees to network in the local business community and build relationships to increase the number of sponsors, donors and supporters to improve the overall financial viability of the charity. 9) Engagement Service Users would like a range of Trustees to attend their Service user groups and coffee mornings across Birmingham. Trustees are encouraged to introduce themselves and speak with staff, service users and volunteers when walking around the building. To respond to requests and invitations in a timely manner. 10) Recognition and celebration Trustees to endeavour to attend events that acknowledge positive achievements and developments across the organisation. Staff would like the Board to consider the introduction of a Trustee of the Year award added to the Big Thank You event to recognise the hard work done by our Trustees. Focus Birmingham employees ask for a staff recognition scheme, where trustees reward innovation, hard work, and achievement, suggestions to make savings or milestones such as length of service. 12

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