Affinity Trust Trustees Candidate Information Pack November 2017
CONTENTS 3 Welcome from the Chair 4 About us 5 What we do 8 Trustee Role Description 10 Trustees Person Specification 11 Recruitment Timetable How to apply Affinity Trust Trustees Candidate Information Pack 2
Welcome from the Chair Thank you for your interest in Affinity Trust and our recruitment of a Trustee to join our Board. Affinity Trust has been supporting people with learning disabilities for 25 years and believes that everyone with a learning disability should receive the high quality, person-centred support they need to enable them to live their lives to the full as valued members of their community. Affinity Trust was established to support people in the community following the closure of a long stay learning disability hospital in Berkshire. Since then we have grown to support people with a wide range of learning disabilities and associated needs in many parts of England and Scotland. Currently we support over 900 people using different service and support models, we employ almost 2,000 staff and have an annual income of 50m. It is worth clarifying that Affinity Trust, while very much a charity, engages in very little charitable fundraising activity but, instead, obtains the overwhelming majority of its income from contracts with Local Authorities and other public bodies, usually via competitive tendering. This means that we operate in a very competitive environment and the organisation, including the Board of Trustees, works in a businesslike manner with commercial awareness while adhering to the values which sit at the heart of all our activities and behaviour. We currently have nine Trustees who, I believe, work in a harmonious and purposeful manner which encourages participation and constructive challenge. This is an exciting time to join Affinity Trust as we have recently expanded our strategic aims to include our wish to support children and young people with learning disabilities and have recently gained our first contract in this area. We are also seeking to develop our support for people with learning disabilities who have mental health needs, especially those who have been placed in inappropriate hospital settings and during the coming year will be reviewing our offer to people with learning disabilities who also suffer from dementia. It is in recognition of the anticipated increase in our support for people with mental health needs and dementia that the Board wishes to recruit a Trustee who has relevant experience in these areas. Yours sincerely, Malcolm Thomas Chair of the Board of Trustees Affinity Trust has been supporting people with learning disabilities for 25 years and believes that everyone with a learning disability should receive the high quality, person centred support they need to enable them to live their lives to the full as valued members of their community. Affinity Trust Trustees Candidate Information Pack 3
About us Affinity Trust is a national charity providing person-centred, innovative support for people with learning disabilities in the UK. We are extremely proud to have been doing this since 1991 during which time we have empowered thousands of people to meet their aspirations and goals in life and to live as independently as they wish. Originally known as TACT (Thames and Chiltern Trust), Affinity Trust was set up in December 1991 to provide support services for people with learning disabilities who were leaving longstay hospitals across Oxfordshire and Berkshire. Our name change to Affinity Trust in 2008 marked the strengthening and development of our organisation as we are increasingly recognised as a support provider of choice in the local community. I am so proud to lead Affinity Trust supporting people with learning disabilities. I am honoured to lead such a dedicated team. Our staff are so creative, always finding imaginative ways to enable the people we support to do what they want to do and engage in community life if they wish. Leo Sowerby, Chief Executive An introduction to Affinity Trust Click on the image and meet some of the people we support, along with the family members who can see what a difference we make to their loved ones lives. Affinity Trust Trustees Candidate Information Pack 4
What we do We are dedicated to supporting people with learning disabilities to live the lives they want to. Whether helping someone to live in their own home, providing opportunities to make new friends, experiencing new things or gain work that is rewarding and enjoyable, Affinity Trust aims to ensure that those we support have the opportunity to live life to its fullest. Supported Living Supported living is about supporting people to live in their own home, either as an owner or as a tenant, with their own rights to this home and with our support workers invited as guests to support them to undertake normal community living. Affinity Trust supports many people with all aspects of their lives, including 24 hour support within their home and meeting sometimes very complex and specialist support needs, to sometimes just providing several hours a week. Children and Young People s Services Supported living and other community-based support allows young people to return to or remain in their own communities, close to family and friends. It allows a growth in confidence and independence, which in turn leads to increased self-esteem and reduction in behaviours that challenge. Transforming Care Affinity Trust works in partnership with commissioners, health professionals, individuals and family members, in support of NHS England s Transforming Care agenda. This is about people with learning disabilities moving from hospital settings to live in their local community, as well as reducing unnecessary hospital admissions. Specialist Support Some people have physical disabilities or sensory impairments, or other chronic health conditions such as diabetes or dementia, or challenging behaviours in addition to a learning disability. We feel passionately that these specific needs should never be a barrier to someone leading the life they want, with the same rights and choices as everyone else. Personal Budgets Affinity Trust aims to support people with their budget identifying exactly what type of support they need, when, and how. We take into account that someone will want plenty of choice: to choose who is in their support team, to choose what they would like to do with their time, and to choose where they would like to live. They might also want flexibility with their support. We can work with them to help them achieve this. Supporting people to get a job Most people with learning disabilities have little or no experience of paid or unpaid work. We recognise that work can bring about new skills, a sense of fulfilment and allows people to feel like a valued member of the local community. Residential Homes We manage a number of residential homes across the country where small numbers of supported people live together in shared accommodation. These are individually registered and inspected with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The support we offer our residents is always person-centred, tailored to an individual s needs while promoting a person s independence, dignity and right to live the way they want in their own individual space. We know this approach is important to the people we support and we have seen how happy it has made our residents. Projects and Opportunities Every person wants to make the most out of life, to seize as many opportunities as they can. Learning disability or not, every person should be able to take part in new activities that they enjoy. Here at Affinity Trust, we wholeheartedly support this notion by offering a range of projects which people with learning disabilities can actively take part in. Affinity Trust Trustees Candidate Information Pack 5
Our mission is to enable people with learning disabilities to pursue active and fulfilling lives, gain increased independence and achieve equal rights as citizens. Our values Committed to doing our very best for the people we support and never giving up on someone we support. Reliable and always do what we say we will do. Inclusive in how we value diversity, support equality of access to opportunities and challenge discrimination. Respectful of others, their views and their rights. Honest and open in all of our relationships and transactions. Creative and flexible in our thinking, in our work and in how we use our resources. www.affinitytrust.org Affinity Trust Trustees Candidate Information Pack 6
Affinity Trust Board of Trustees Quality Commi3ee Finance Commi3ee Chief Execu:ve Leo Sowerby Affinity Trust Trustees Candidate Information Pack 7 Director of Opera-ons & Quality Director of Opera-ons & Quality HR Director Development Director Finance Director Victoria Neish Donna Leedham Anne Kippax Nicola Bri3le Chris Brooks 8 Opera:ng Divisions Scotland North Midlands Central East East Anglia South East South Head Office Departments Finance Development HR Payroll IT Learning & Development Affinity Trust Trustees Candidate Information Pack 7
Affinity Trust Trustee Role Description Main responsibility The Board is responsible for the overall governance and strategic direction of Affinity Trust and for developing it s aims and objectives in accordance with Affinity Trust s Articles and other legal and regulatory requirements. A Board member is expected to act in the charity s best interests, without regard to his or her own private interests and to safeguard the good name and values of the charity. Board members use any specific knowledge or experience they have to help the Board reach sound decisions. This will involve scrutinising papers, leading discussions, focusing on key issues, and providing advice and guidance, as requested, on new initiatives or other issues relevant to the area of the organisation s work in which the Board member has special expertise. In particular, Board members must accept ultimate responsibility for directing the affairs of Affinity Trust, its solvency and that it operates in accordance with its rules. Trustees are subject to defined terms of office. There are a maximum of three terms of 2 years, 4 years and 3 years respectively and an individual trustee s progression to a subsequent term is determined by a nominations committee. The Board of Trustees meets 6 times a year. Alternate meetings are held in Central London and the other 3 are held around the country in our operating divisions. Trustees are expected to visit services 2 or 3 times a year. The performance of the Board and of Board members is reviewed annually. There is remuneration of 4,400 per year Key duties 1. 2. 3. 4. To attend scheduled Board meetings, sub-committees to which you may be appointed and other meetings as may be arranged from time to time. To work in partnership with the rest of the Board, the Chair and the CEO to deliver Affinity Trust s objects, set its strategic direction and uphold its values. To ensure that Affinity Trust complies with all legal and regulatory requirements, including its governing document and any other relevant legislation and regulations. To ensure that Affinity Trust s governance is of the highest standard. Affinity Trust Trustees Candidate Information Pack 8
Affinity Trust Key duties contd 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. To contribute to Affinity Trust s achievement of best practice in relation to the quality of support it provides to its beneficiaries and in its employment practices. To perform duties in a diligent manner and use your best endeavours to promote, protect, develop and extend the business of Affinity Trust. To avoid any conflict of interest and to declare any conflict which arises. To agree any delegation of authority and ensure such delegated authority is clearly expressed and accountable. To be the guardians of Affinity Trust s assets, taking all due care over their security and usage, ensuring that they are used exclusively in pursuance of the agreed objectives. To appoint and appraise the Chief Executive. To be an ambassador for Affinity Trust, safeguarding its good name and values. To contribute actively to the Board of Trustees, using any specific skills, knowledge or experience to help the Board of Trustees reach sound decisions maintaining corporate responsibility and confidentiality. Affinity Trust Trustees Candidate Information Pack 9
Affinity Trust Person Specification General: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Broad understanding of the role of a Trustee/non-exec Board member Appreciation of and commitment to Affinity Trust s aims and ethos Awareness of and commitment to principles of good governance Ability and willingness to work as part of a team and share collective Board responsibility Ability to act as a critical friend to the Chief Executive and senior team Willingness to commit at least nine days a year to Affinity Trust work Specific: 7. Experience of services which support people with mental health needs (preferably people who also have a learning disability) 8. and/or Experience of working in/with services supporting people with dementia (ideally including people with learning disabilities) Affinity Trust Trustees Candidate Information Pack 10
Affinity Trust Recruitment Timetable The closing date for applications is: Tuesday 28th November 2017 Please also note the following dates Preliminary interviews with Trustees Unlimited: 4th December 2017 For shortlisted candidates Informal meeting with CEO: Tuesday 9th January 2018 Final interview with Appointments Panel: Tuesday 9th January 2018 How to Apply To apply for this role, please supply the following via the relevant fields on the website: A supporting statement, explaining how you believe your skills and experience match the requirements of the role, directly addressing the person specification A comprehensive CV including details of your achievements in each role, and including details of two referees (who will not of course be contacted without your prior knowledge or consent) These documents should be uploaded via the relevant fields on the Trustees Unlimited website: TU5459_Affinity Trust application link For an informal and confidential discussion about the role, please contact Trustees Unlimited: Emma Patmore, Operations Manager T: 01582 697765 E: emma.patmore@trustees-unlimited.co.uk Affinity Trust Trustees Candidate Information Pack 11
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