Chief Executive Recruitment Pack 1
Contents Letter from the Chair About Groundswell - Our Mission - Our Vision - Our Core Beliefs - Our Work - Organisational Chart - Our Strategy About the Chief Executive Role - Job Overview - Person Specification - Key Result Areas How to Apply 2
Letter from Our Chair Dear Candidate, Many thanks for considering the role of Chief Executive at Groundswell. I hope you find all the information you need to make an application to lead this dynamic and impactful charity. I became Chair of Groundswell in 2012; since then I have seen the organisation thrive and grow, making a significant impact on the lives of our clients and our volunteers. I have been a charity trustee for 20 years following a full career as a stockbroker. My time with Groundswell has been the most fulfilling experience of my working life. Our outgoing Chief Executive was in post for 11 years and has built a strong foundation for the future. You will inherit a dedicated Board of Trustees and a skilled and committed staff team, along with our exceptional and inspirational volunteers. Your job will be to build on this legacy - and Groundswell s 20-year track record - to see the organisation take a leading role in transforming society s response to homelessness. Like any charity in the current environment, significant challenges lie ahead. These include navigating through a changing funding and political landscape, with ever tighter budgets, and a growing problem of homelessness for society to tackle. However, you will join us at an exciting time. Our service model is winning prestigious national awards, attracting funding from commissioners and independent grant makers, and is increasingly seen as an exemplar for the wider sector. Groundswell prides itself as being people-powered with a give a lot, get a lot ethos and I can certainly testify that that has been my experience! A unique opportunity awaits a creative, inspiring and values-driven candidate. Yours sincerely, Terry Hitchcock Chair of Trustees, Groundswell 3
About Groundswell Groundswell is a registered charity that exists to enable homeless and vulnerable people to take more control of their lives, have a greater influence on services and to play a fuller role in our community. Our work is based around a set of core beliefs that see homeless people at the heart of solutions to tackling homelessness. Groundswell has been at the forefront of creating innovative client-centred services and involvement practices within the homelessness sector for over 20 years. We pioneered the Speakout, delivered innovative peer research such as The Escape Plan, which identified critical factors enabling people to move on from homelessness, and created the Homeless People s Commission, involving homeless people directly in national policy issues. Delivering this work brought us new insight: how important, yet neglected, the area of health was to homeless people; that peers can engage more effectively with the so-called hard to reach, and that volunteering is key in moving on from homelessness. This led us to create our award-winning Homeless Health Peer Advocacy service in 2010, which has now become our leading area of work. Last year, we celebrated our 20th birthday and were declared Overall Winners of the Kings Fund GSK Impact Award. Our Vision Groundswell s vision is of an equal and inclusive society, where people who are homeless create the solutions to end homelessness Our Mission Groundswell exists to enable people who are homeless to create solutions and move themselves out of homelessness for the benefit of our whole society. We believe: Our Core Beliefs 1. The whole community benefits when we effectively tackle homelessness and social exclusion. 2. We believe in people! People are society s most valuable resource, and everyone has the capacity to make a contribution. 3. There is no Them & Us only Us! Groundswell brings everyone together to create genuine solutions to homelessness. 4. Participation works! Supporting homeless people to participate creates more effective services and policy - and crucially enables people to move out of homelessness. 4
Our Work Homeless Health Peer Advocacy - HHPA HHPA offers one-to-one support to people experiencing homelessness to make and attend health appointments. This is focused on practical support, such as paying travel fares, reminders and accompaniment to appointments, and also on building the skills, confidence and knowledge to enable clients to continue to independently access services. Support is provided by peer advocates who are volunteers with personal experience of homelessness. We have delivered over 10,000 engagements supporting homeless people to access healthcare, expanding the service and winning commissions to now deliver in nine local authorities in London. Additionally we deliver a range of bespoke HHPA projects, with contracts for services to address Hepatitis C, Tuberculosis and hospital discharge, along with grant funded projects focusing on mental health and homeless women s health. We have been working with the International Centre for Social Franchising to create a model for supporting agencies across England to deliver HHPA, and have now secured funding to employ a new role of National Expansion Manager to oversee this work. Insight & Action We have consistently delivered high quality, high impact participatory action research work, which is now established as our Insight & Action department. We have recently produced research such as Healthy Mouths on the vital issue of oral health, More Than a Statistic for the NHS London Homeless Health Programme, and delivered peer-led research work for homelessness sector organisations including Crisis and Emmaus. We share our findings with over 15,000 people each year through articles and podcasts in partnership with The Pavement magazine for homeless people, and through our Action Updates, which contain practical information written by and for homeless people, published monthly. This year we also produced and disseminated 30,000 My Rights to Healthcare cards to support people to gain vital GP registration. The Progression Programme Groundswell s Progression Programme enables our formerly homeless peer volunteers to use their personal experience of homelessness to make a positive contribution to society, overcome personal and systemic barriers, improve self-reliance and employability and move forward with their lives. Last year we supported 57 peer volunteers, with 28 progressing into training, employment or further volunteering, and 15 of whom got jobs. Our Progression Programme uses an asset-based approach to provide one-to-one coaching, training, clinical supervision, and a peer support network to develop self-esteem, skills and a sense of inclusion. By focusing on each person s unique strengths, talents and abilities - instead of their needs and issues we support peers to secure and sustain employment and independent living. From not being able to stay in one place for a week, I ve now maintained a tenancy for two years, and it s because Groundswell provided me with stability. Volunteering gave me a support system and a basic structure in my life and helped me integrate into the rest of the world Groundswell Peer 5
Groundswell Strategy 2017-20 1. HHPA. Further develop our health focused Peer Support programme in London. 1.1 Grow Homeless Health Peer Advocacy core service in London. 1.2 Build on HHPA Offshoots. Including TB, Hep C, Mental Health and Women s Health. 1.3 Create New HHPA Pilots in 2018 and 2019. 2. National HHPA. Create and roll out a social franchise model for HHPA national expansion. 3. Progression Programme. Extend our asset-based support programme. 3.1 PP. Consolidate existing delivery for volunteers. 3.2 Building Livelihoods. Deliver new Building Livelihoods project, extending offer to clients and former volunteers and adding legal support. 4. Insight & Action. Develop our programme of participatory action research. 4.1 I&A Project. Further develop ongoing programmatic research, with renewed focus on follow up, campaigning and policy influence. 4.2 From the Ground Up. Further develop peer journalism work including creation of the Online home for homeless people. 4.3 Consultancy. Continue to grow our peer research consultancy. 5. Central Services. Become a healthier and more sustainable organisation. 5.1 Finance. Recruit new senior finance role, to focus on generating increased surplus on delivery. 5.2 Development Department. Recruit revised fundraising team, including new senior and junior posts to focus on resourcing delivery and build-up of reserves. 5.3 Moving on UP. Further develop culture and infrastructure to become more Universally Professional and Psychologically Informed. 5.4 Explore new strategic partnerships. 6
Chief Executive: Job Overview Job Title: Reporting to: Responsible for: Contract Length: Hours: Leave: Salary: Chief Executive Board of Trustees Four direct reports Permanent Full Time 37.5 Hours per week 28 Days per year + 8 days Bank Holidays Circa 55,000. Plus 5% pension. You will be an inspiring, dedicated and experienced third sector leader who is tasked with growing a thriving, dynamic and values-driven charity to increase our impact and income, while developing Groundswell to be a healthier and more sustainable organisation. You will oversee the roll out of our successful Homeless Health Peer Advocacy model across London, and the development of a social franchise model to make the service available across England. You will develop innovative, impactful and viable new peer support services and will oversee the development of Groundswell s programme of participatory action research, and our asset-based support model. You will be responsible for overseeing enhancements to our finance and fundraising processes, overseeing the professionalisation of standards with PQASSO and other accreditations, with regular and genuine consultation with all stake holders and delivering a sustainable fundraising strategy targeting new areas of income, including exploring the development of a significant capital asset and social investment opportunities. Our turnover will be approximately 1m in 2017-18 with an ambitious strategic plan of growth in the years ahead. To achieve this you will manage a growing team of committed and skilled staff (currently 18) and volunteers (currently 50) - with two-thirds of the staff and all the volunteers having personal experience of homelessness. We have secured the resources for you to recruit a senior finance role, a National Expansion Manager and a Director-level fundraising role to add to the team at the earliest opportunity. You will be overseeing our current delivery of over 3,500 engagements each year to support homeless people to access health care, and you will be operating in the context of Groundswell s strong reputation and track record. You will be tasked with building our reserves, improving our sustainability and increasing our impact. You will ensure that all work is delivered to high quality standards, within legal requirements and in alignment with Groundswell s deeply held core beliefs. 7
Key Result Areas Strategy and Governance 1. Strategic Plan. In collaboration with the Trustees review existing Strategic Plan and ensure new Plan is developed by 2020. 2. Board of Trustees. Report to the Board timely and accurate management information and support the Board to oversee effective governance of the charity. 3. Legal Reporting. Ensure Groundswell maintains its financial and legal reporting to the Charity Commission, Companies House and other bodies. People and Projects 4. Quality Delivery. Ensure that all the work of the strategic plan is delivered to a high quality, within the mission, to time and within budget. 5. Human Resources. Maintain a person-centred, asset-based, psychologically informed organisational approach to human resources and performance management. Line management of senior staff. 6. Innovation. Maintain culture of creativity and innovation. 7. Project Management. Further develop Groundswell s approach to project management, with a greater use of technology where appropriate. 8. Impact. Oversee Groundswell s monitoring, evaluation and impact measurement systems. Development and Resourcing 9. Income Generation Strategy. Oversee the development and implementation of a sustainable income generation strategy. Ensure Groundswell has the income required to deliver our strategic plan, including the required levels of reserves. 10. Stewardship. Create and maintain a strong culture of stewardship with all of Groundswell s funders and supporters. Finance 11. Finance Management. Oversee the robust management of Groundswell s financial accounting and reporting systems, including management of the annual budgeting process, regular management accounting and reviews for budget against actual. Ensure robust financial procedures are in place and adhered to. 12. Cashflow. Ensure Groundswell has an adequate cashflow. 13. Audit. Ensure production of audited annual accounts. Facilities and Operations 14. Premises. Ensure Groundswell has appropriate premises and office facilities to deliver the services. 15. IT. Ensure Groundswell has appropriate technology and communications infrastructure. 16. Policy Framework. Maintenance of policies and procedures to ensure smooth operation. External Relations and Communications 17. Representation. Take a proactive approach to promoting the organisation at a strategic level and publicly, increasing Groundswell s profile. 18. Partnership. Maintain a strong ethos of partnership working, including exploring the development of new strategic partnerships 19. In the Loop. Maintain up to date knowledge of, and influencing the agendas of, the following sectors: Homelessness, Voluntary sector, Social Enterprise, Client Involvement. 8
Person Specification 1. Core Beliefs. It is essential that you fully understand and are committed to Groundswell s core beliefs of empowerment, inclusion and equality. You will have a proven track record of enacting similar core beliefs within your career to date. 2. Income Generation. You will have a significant track record of playing a direct role in raising significant amounts of money. 3. Creative intellect. You will have shown how you have delivered demonstrable social impact in innovative ways, evidencing flexibility and creativity. 4. Leadership. You will have played a leadership role that required you to earn and maintain the trust of a range of stakeholders, including staff, volunteers, funders and Board members. You will have proved you can create a participative culture that values the contribution of all stakeholders. 5. People Skills. You will have high levels of emotional intelligence and the ability to set a strong organisational culture of personal and professional development, including evidence of successfully managing direct reports. 6. Small to Medium Size Charities. You will be able to demonstrate that you are intimate with the realities of successful delivery within the challenges of a small or medium sized charity or similar organisation. 7. Risk. You will have experience of being responsible for the delivery of work that engages directly with people who are vulnerable, and will be familiar with overseeing and managing the inherent risks of this work. 8. Efficient and Productive. You will have a proven ability to manage a diverse and challenging workload, and be capable of supporting the organisation to improve its project delivery and operations processes. 9
Application Process Written Application To make an application, please submit your CV along with a cover letter which explains: - How you meet each of the areas outlined in the Person Specification above and - Why you are interested in doing this job. The deadline is 10am on Monday 18 th September 2017. Applications must be submitted via the Prospectus website: http://prospect-us.co.uk/jobs/details/hq00170676 Interviews There will be a three stage interview process. 1. An initial meeting with Prospectus. To be held between 25 th -29 th September. 2. An interview at the Groundswell office, including a presentation, a formal interview panel with the Board, and an informal meeting with Staff and Volunteers. 16 th October. 3. A final interview panel with members of the Groundswell Board. 19 th October. References Two references will need to be taken up before a job offer can be made. Please include reference details in your application. One should be your current or most recent employer, and the other someone who has known you in a professional capacity for at least two years. We will not contact any referees before the interview and only after you grant consent. Many thanks for taking the time to look into this role it is an exciting opportunity and we hope you will consider applying. If you would like to discuss this role before applying then please contact: Alex Williams at Prospectus either by email alex.williams@prospect-us.co.uk or by phone on 020 7400 6373. Groundswell Registered as Groundswell Network Support UK Charity number: 1089987 Company limited by guarantee number: 4151312 Address: 55 Bondway, London, SW8 1SJ Telephone: 03000 039 600 Email: info@groundswell.org.uk Web: www.groundswell.org.uk Twitter: @Itsgroundswell 10