Volunteer Board Members

Job Summary

Volunteer Board Members

Southdown is an award-winning provider of housing and support to people with learning and mental health disabilities in Sussex. We currently provide services to over 1000 tenants and service users and employ 450 staff.

What Do Board Members Do?
The Board is responsible for the strategic direction and for ensuring the accountability of the Association, as well as risk management and quality and performance monitoring. Southdown is an Industrial and Provident society with charitable status and a Registered Social landlord with the Housing Corporation. Our board members have specific legal and financial responsibilities as both trustees and directors.

For more information visit: 

• www.scvo.org/information/law/organisations/index.html
• www.housingcorp.gov.uk/aboutus/whoweare.htm

What Skills Do I Need?
We have a strong and committed board. However, owing to retirements, we wish to recruit new members who have the skills and enthusiasm to ensure that we deliver the next phase of our development. Southdown is ideally seeking 3 Board members with a background in organisational management and additional professional experience of finance/accounting or the provision of services to people with special needs.

You should be independent and impartial and only represent the interest of Southdown. The Association has a strong ethical base and we are seeking people with integrity, objectivity and a commitment to promoting equality and diversity.

We wish to represent the diversity of our communities and are keen to encourage applications from ethnic minority groups and from people with disabilities.

How Much Time Is Required?
The Board meets for a total of approximately 12 times a year in Brighton or Lewes for meetings, sub-committees, training and celebratory events. Meetings last for up to three hours and are either in the afternoons or evenings, and once a year there is a whole day of business review and planning. The role is voluntary but reasonable expenses (including child/elder care) are reimbursed.

Do You Provide Any Training?
We run an induction programme for new members, including training events and directed learning, links to specific existing board members and operational directors, visits to services, and the opportunity to meet staff and tenants.

How Are Board Members Chosen?
We operate an open, competency-based recruitment programme. If you are interested you can ask for an information pack, then attend an open information session to find out more. Following this, formal applications can be made and applicants will be invited for interview. References plus checks with the Criminal Records Bureau and Protection of Vulnerable Adults register will be required.

Please contact Jo Fitzgerald-Gibson, Executive Administrator, for an information pack on 01273-405800 or email to j.Fitzgerald-gibson@southdownhousing.org