Chief Executive Recruitment PackJanuary 2019

3Connexus-Group - Chief Executive Officer - Recruitment Pack Contents

Your application ........................................................................................ 04

Welcome to Connexus Housing Group .................................... 06

About Connexus Housing Group ................................................. 08

Structure ........................................................................................................ 10

Our Board Members ............................................................................... 14

Our Executive Management Team ............................................. 18

Role profile ................................................................................................... 20

Person specification ............................................................................ 22

Key terms and conditions .................................................................. 26

Key dates and the selection process ........................................ 26

Supplementary Information ............................................................ 28

The media advertisement ................................................................. 31

Contents

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Thank you very much for your interest in this post. On the following pages, you will find details of the role and the selection process to assist you in completing and tailoring your application. In order to apply you should submit:• An up-to-date CV which shows

your full career history – we recommend that this is no longer than three pages;

• A supporting statement explaining why you are interested in this role, detailing how you are a good candidate for this post and how you fulfil the person specification – we recommend that this is no longer than three pages;

• The declaration form (completion of the equalities section is not mandatory, but is requested for monitoring purposes in line with our commitment to equality and diversity); and

• Indicate on the declaration form if you cannot attend any of the interview dates.

• Please note that applications can only be considered if all the documentation is complete. Please send your application, preferably in MS Word format by email to: connexus@campbelltickell.com

Applications must be received by Monday 4th February 2019 at 9.00am. Please ensure we receive your application in good time. If you do not receive confirmation of receipt within 24 hours of sending, please call the team on 020 3434 0990. To help avoid your submission being treated as spam, please use a secure email address from which to send your application and refer to the role and organisation in the header.Please do call me 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.

Kind regardsKelly ShawKelly Shaw Senior Associate Consultant Campbell Tickell

Your application

Connexus-Group - Chief Executive - Recruitment PackYour application

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These are exciting times for Connexus. Formed in 2017 from the merger of Herefordshire Housing and Shropshire Housing Group, we now deliver homes and services across Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and Shropshire. We are a key regional provider in these markets, providing over 10,000 homes and with a turnover of £56m and over 600 staff. We have an ambitious development programme and are absolutely committed to continuing to deliver much needed homes and services across our counties. As a large rural housing provider, we face some unique challenges, but we know that our services are needed now more than ever. Both of our legacy organisations have a strong track record of delivery, and our new Chief Executive will join us as we look to take the organisation to the next stage. We want to continue to deliver great properties in communities where people really want to live, ensuring that some of our most rural communities can continue to thrive. To do this, we need to ensure that we provide great homes and services, but also deliver desperately needed new homes in Herefordshire and Shropshire. We have a committed group of colleagues, strong finances and great relationships with our partner local authorities.

All is in place to deliver our ambitions, achieve our targets and secure our future, and the Board and I are now looking forward to recruiting our next Chief Executive. We’re looking for someone with a passion for the issues that face us, and a track record of delivery. You will be a people-focussed leader, able to inspire our staff group and build ever deeper relationships with our partners. As you lead the organisation through the next phase of post merger integration, you will ensure we deliver our ambitious plans and make a real difference in Herefordshire and Shropshire. As a Board we are absolutely committed to delivering our plans and strategies, and the ambitions we set out when Connexus was created. If you have the necessary drive and passion for what we do, we look forward to discussing this opportunity with you.This is a unique chance to make an impact and difference in sector.We welcome your interest and will be pleased to receive an application. I look forward to hearing your views on Connexus and our future.

Ruth CookeRuth CookeChair

Welcome to Connexus Housing Group

7Connexus-Group - Chief Executive Officer - Recruitment Pack Welcome to Connexus Housing Group

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Connexus is proud to have some of the UK’s most exciting and forward thinking housing and support services. From the leading Careline service, providing telecare to over 37,500 customers, to more local innovative services such as the mobile responder service, reducing the impact on ambulance and hospital services and the Ludlow Foyer, providing a supported environment for young people.With over 600 employees and a portfolio of over 10,000 homes, we support people, create places, and work in partnership with like-minded providers to help our customers reach their potential.

Our group includes:

Herefordshire Housing – with over 5,800 homes across Herefordshire

South Shropshire Housing – with over 2,370 across South Shropshire and Herefordshire

Meres and Mosses Housing – with over 2,350 homes across North Shropshire

Floreat – a profit for purpose arm with a fresh approach to delivering brilliant new homes

Independence Trust – providing a range of innovative services that support peoples emotional and physical wellbeing

Connexus is at an exciting stage in its journey, aligning what we do and developing what we call The Connexus Way – our way of thinking, behaving and working. This framework supports our corporate plan, providing a foundation for the way we will deliver core objectives to; empower people to meet their needs and aspirations, provide great homes and sustain communities, create and value partnerships, and be well run, delivering value for money.Our transformational change programme – One Connexus – takes us further on our journey as one organisation, with projects focussed around;Where we work – ensuring we meet the needs and requirements of our colleagues and customers, we understand the demands and are fit for the future.

About Connexus Housing Group

9Connexus-Group - Chief Executive Officer - Recruitment Pack About Connexus Housing Group

The way we work – ensuring we are efficient and effective, emphasising our organisation as a single system and branded as one, with high colleague morale and satisfied customers and, The people of Connexus – our colleagues embrace and deliver The Connexus Way and our customers are treated as individuals based on what matters to them.

Local areaWorking for Connexus also means you can live and work in one of the most stunning parts of the UK. Shropshire has a wealth of things to do and you are never far away from beautiful scenery; In the Medieval town of Shrewsbury you can marvel at the black and white buildings and at the same time take advantage of the fact that Shrewsbury has far more than its fair share of independent and unique shops.

Ludlow is not just beautiful, it’s delicious! Shropshire’s gastronomic capital sits within the famous Blue Remembered Hills of the south of the county and is a great place to find your inner foodie. It also has a castle, which was once the home of future Kings of England, situated at one end of a medieval market square, which still holds regular markets. And if you love the great outdoors, the Shropshire Hills offer some outstanding post work or weekend hikes.Next door is the beautiful cider county of Herefordshire with its meandering river wye, it’s apple orchards, it’s independent eateries – including The Beefy Boys who’ve won awards all over the world for creating the best burgers; it’s castles that were once at the fore front of British history, and the world famous Mappa Mundi and its ancient cathedral. The rurality offers fantastic

routes for those who love to cycle, walk or run, whilst taking in fantastic views. And all the while you’re never too far from major cities like Bristol, Cardiff and Birmingham with mainline direct routes to all. For choral music fans Hereford is a triennial host for the oldest in the world non – competitive three Choirs festival with its neighbouring cathedral cities of Worcester and Gloucester. For book lovers you are not far away from the town of Hay on Wye with its world-famous literary festival. Against the backdrop of the Malvern Hills which inspired Edward Elgar so much and offers more outstanding walks, is the annual Royal Three Counties agricultural show with just about everything that is good about rural living.

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Structure Chart

Head of Customer Services

Gary Darlington

Head of Housing

Danial Phillips

Head of Wellbeing

(South)Simon Herdsfield

NB Louise Reynolds is

Services Manager North

Head of RepairsGrenville Hague

Head of Assets & Compliance

Dave Challinor

Director of Housing & Communities

Christine Duggan

Director of Independence Trust

Ann Sutcliffe

Director of Assets/Compliance & repairs

Interim Vivien Knibbs

Chief ExecutiveInterim Duncan Forbes

Connexus-Group - Chief Executive Officer - Recruitment PackStructure Chart

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Head of Development

TBC

Head of ICTAdam Husslebee

Head of Insight & Change

Jennifer Preedy

Head of HRJoanne Chown

Head of FinanceCarol Dover

Director of Development Interim Rowan Kirk

Director of Resources

Richard Woolley

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Our Board Members

Ruth Cooke – Chair

Ruth is CEO of former Clarion , one of the largest housing and care organisations in the country. Ruth is passionate about the delivery of quality housing and care services and has a particular interest in the challenges of providing affordable housing in rural communities.

Gill Jones

Since April 2014, Gill has been self-employed, working with a range of public, private and voluntary sector clients in areas of business development, project management, fund finding and neighbourhood planning.

Liz Walford

Liz has a lifetime’s experience in the social housing, having held a number of executive positions within leading organisations in the sector. She retired as Group Chief Executive of Walsall Housing Group in 2009 following five years in that post.

David Lincoln

David has previously worked in the gas and electricity industries, in roles ranging from operational to business and systems development and change management. David is also a volunteer adviser with Herefordshire Citizens Advice Bureau.

15Connexus-Group - Chief Executive Officer - Recruitment PackOur Board Members

Allison Taylor

Allison has many years’ experience at a senior level with a particular emphasis on people management and helping organisations create a climate to enable people to work at their best. Allison runs her own consultancy offering leadership development and executive coaching.

Paul Smith

Paul Smith is the Cabinet Member for Housing at Bristol City Council and a member of the Advisory Panel for the Housing Ombudsman. Paul’s career in housing has spanned three decades including working for two rural based stock transfer housing associations, Aster Group and Heart of England Housing Group. Paul has also served as the Chief Executive of two national charities, the Furniture Re-use Network and Housing Potential (the skills agency for housing).

Paul has specialised in housing association Governance having worked with over 50 boards during his career. Paul first became interested in housing as an active council housing tenant. Paul has a degree in Astrophysics & Astronomy and a Post Graduate Certificate of Education.

Hilary Gardner

Hilary has over 30 years experience in the Housing Sector both at an executive and non-executive level. Hilary is currently a non-executive Director of Sanctuary Students and from 2013-16 was Chair of Sanctuary (North West). Hilary now has her own housing consultancy business.

Philippa Jones

Philippa has worked in social housing for more than 30 years, most recently as chief executive of Bromford. She has worked at director level in housing management, supported housing and development.

John Cross

John has extensive senior level experience leading on the development of new affordable homes and has worked as a highly successful Chief Executive for a number of organisations including bpha. He previously served as Chair of the National Housing Federation for three years.

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Our Executive Management Team

Duncan Forbes - Interim Chief Executive

Duncan started out as a legal aid lawyer working in London law centres. He then set up his own legal practice in Wales. Duncan was the lead consultant on the setting up of Bron Afon Community Housing and then went on to become their first CEO and spent over 9 years there.

Vivien Knibbs - Interim Director Assets and Repairs

Vivien’s an experienced housing professional, having worked across both the housing association and ALMO sectors (arm’s-length management organisations). She has experience in all aspects of strategic and operational housing delivery and has a significant track record in delivering organisational change programs.

Ann Sutcliffe - Director of Independence Trust

Ann has worked in social housing for over 30 years. She is a qualified psychiatric nurse with a degree in social policy from Cambridge University and a postgraduate diploma in housing from the LSE.

Christine Duggan - Director of Housing and Communities

Christine has worked in the social housing sector in Herefordshire for over 15 years. She has experience across all parts of the business having previously led amongst others; homelessness and floating support, business improvement, and neighbourhood services.

Connexus-Group - Chief Executive Officer - Recruitment PackOur Executive Management Team

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Richard Woolley - Director of Resources

Richard has over 20 years’ experience in the housing sector, gained with both Large Scale Voluntary Transfers (LSVTs) and traditional housing associations. Richard has overall responsibility for key functions including Finance, ICT, HR and Corporate Services.

Rowan Kirk - Interim Director of Development

Rowan has over 30 years of experience working in senior development roles in the residential and care markets in the public, third and private sectors. Rowan has worked as a Director at Sanctuary Group and Keepmoat Ltd.

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Role profile

Purpose and objectives of post:Responsible to the Board for providing strategic leadership to the organisation, ensuring that it achieves its key purposes through creating an appropriate culture, effective governance, clear leadership and effective management of resources.

Key RelationshipsJob Title: Chief ExecutiveResponsible to: Connexus Board Department: Connexus GroupNumber of people directly managed: 5

Duties/Responsibilities Governance:• Work with the Chair and Board

Members to enable them to fulfil their governance role, facilitating their work, developing a strong partnership approach, building a strong consensus, taking both direction and feedback from them.

• Act as the primary advisor to the Board and its committees, ensuring they have information, advice and skills required for effective decision making and risk management.

Planning and strategic thinking:• Work with the Board and Executive

to develop the strategic direction of the organisation, ensuring that relevant plans are generated, approved, monitored, updated and delivered (e.g. corporate plan, business plan).

• Lead on the integration of services and service offerings to ensure that the organisation provides seamless, consistent services and eradicates any duplication, waste and redundant effort in order to be efficient and deliver the highest quality services to customers at lowest cost.

• Achieve high levels of customer focused performance through the development of effective monitoring of performance and setting of goals and targets within the organisation’s strategies and plans.

• Ensure that risks to the organisation’s success are identified and appropriate mitigation is in place to minimise those risks, in consultation with the Board.

• Develop and maintain a high-level understanding of legislative, political, socio-economic and other factors affecting the sector and the organisation, advising the Board on their implications.

Leadership:• Provide clear, effective and open

leadership to all colleagues, setting the tone, exemplifying the values; inspiring and motivating, developing and recognising colleagues, and developing positive relationships to foster effective ‘one team working’ and professionalism amongst all colleagues.

• Promote a culture of customer service and wider community involvement, ensuring that customers are at the heart of service delivery and development.

• Act as ambassador and representative for the organisation, working with stakeholders to develop services for customers.

• Maintain positive relationships with key partners and agencies, local authorities, regional bodies, investment agencies and growing opportunities for the organisation to achieve its business objectives.

21Connexus-Group - Chief Executive Officer - Recruitment PackRole profile

Managing the business:• Direct and manage the organisation

through the Executive Team, working towards agreed objectives and values to ensure the delivery of strategic business objectives and plans, creating a collegiate environment of healthy debate and mutual support.

• Promote a problem-solving approach and the modernisation of service delivery to develop enhanced levels of customer service, social value and/or greater efficiency.

• Responsible for use of all resources and budgets to ensure that the organisation achieves its objective of providing exceptional value for money and can be a major multi-regional mixed tenure developer.

• Ensure that the organisation complies with all relevant statutory (in particular to lead compliance on health and safety), regulatory and funders’ requirements, and that it supports diverse cultures and promotes equality of opportunity.

Standard Requirements:1. All individuals are expected to be

flexible in undertaking the duties and responsibilities attached to their job and may be asked to perform other duties which reasonably correspond to the general character of their job and their level of responsibility.

2. All individuals are expected to maintain personal and professional development to meet the changing demands of the job and participate in appropriate learning and development activities.

3. All individuals are expected to carry out their duties and responsibilities having regard to the company’s commitment to providing a customer focused service.

4. Act as an ambassador for the Group at all times during the course of your duties.

5. Ensure compliance with requirements under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and follow the Group’s Data Protection Policy and procedures relating to confidentiality.

6. To promote equality and diversity and to treat everyone with fairness and dignity. Whilst be committed to the principles of Equality and Diversity.

7. To recognise health and safety as a responsibility of every individual, to take reasonable care of oneself and others in the workplace and comply with policies, relevant legislation and any service specific procedures that may apply to the role.

8. Ensure practice is firmly rooted within the Children and Adults Safeguarding framework. As an organisation we take an assertive approach to ensuring the safety and well-being of all children and adults with care and support needs and colleagues will need to demonstrate an understanding and commitment to best safeguarding practice.

A senior leadership role profile cannot feasibly cover every issue which may arise, and the post holder is expected to be sufficiently flexible to carry out other duties as required.

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Person Specification

Core behaviours for the post (essential)• Resilient, robust, confident and

determined, also self-aware and committed to addressing areas for personal development.

• Shared vision and values of the organisation.

• A personal and professional credibility that will command confidence at all levels.

• Committed to accountability, openness, transparency and equality of opportunity.

• Having an understanding of and embracing diversity; treating others with dignity and respect with a real desire to understand and meet diverse customer needs and aspirations.

Qualifications and development• Relevant professional qualification

e.g. degree level qualification or chartered status in a relevant discipline covering housing, care or support e.g. CIH

Knowledge, skills & experience• A thorough knowledge of the

statutory and regulatory rules that underpin the delivery of services relevant to the organisation.

• Ability to create and lead a culture based on the organisation’s values, to inspire, motivate and develop colleagues at all levels; skilled at

building cohesive and motivated teams who are committed to the organisation’s vision and goals.

• Ability to interpret financial information, analyse complex data and present information in an accessible way.

• Proven track record, at Executive level, in a housing provider of successfully managing a number of complex/commercial/regulated services, where customer satisfaction has been at the heart of service delivery.

• A track record of delivering excellence in customer services, for continuous improvement of services and service offerings in order to deliver increased social value.

• Proven experience of leading and managing significant organisational and culture change/growth and creating an environment where change is considered and dealt with positively and seen as an opportunity for continuous improvement.

Personal attributes & approaches• Ability to make sound judgments,

find solutions to complex issues and problems, and manage risk.

• A decisive and effective decision maker who leads by example with an open, engaging and enthusing style.

• Ability to work effectively in partnership with board members, executives, colleagues, residents, customers and external stakeholders; with the ability to engage effectively at all levels and to present complex information in an accessible way.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; well-developed ambassadorial, influencing, networking, promotional and negotiating skills.

• Works well in a team, with a collaborative style that engages people at all levels and promotes positive relationships throughout the organisation and its partners.

• Strong strategic vision and foresight with experience of developing organisational strategies, based on understanding of the external commercial and political environment in the sector.

23Connexus-Group - Chief Executive Officer - Recruitment PackPerson Specification

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Key terms and conditions

Key dates and the selection process

Salary and package:Salary is circa. £135,000

Benefits:Health Online Private Cover Car allowance 10% of salary

Holiday entitlement: 30 days plus 8 statutory (Jan to Dec holiday year)

Working hours:Normal hours of work are 37 hours per week based around the usual

business working week. However, due to the seniority of this post there is a requirement for flexibility in meeting the full responsibilities of the post. Attendance at evening meetings will be required from time to time.

Probation and notice periods:6 months’ probation

Location:Connexus has four key locations and the CEO will be expected to travel and work flexibly from all four, Hereford, Craven Arms, Wem and Gloucester with a dedicated office in Craven Arms, Hereford and Wem.

Reloction package:Up to £10,000 – conditions apply

Close for application: 9am, on Monday 4th February 2019Successful candidates will be informed by Friday 8th February. All unsuccessful candidates will be offered feedback by Campbell Tickell.

First interviews: Monday 18th February 2019 Longlisted candidates will be interviewed by a Campbell Tickell panel. On the same day there will be an opportunity to meet with the Chair for a separate discussion session.Interview venue to be confirmed.

Testing: Shortlisted candidates may be asked to complete a remote technical testing and online personality profile.

Final interviews: Friday 1st March 2019 Shortlisted candidates will have the opportunity to have a pre-arranged telephone conversation with the current Interim Chief Executive, Duncan Forbes.

You will be invited to a panel interview and may be asked to complete a prepared presentation in advance of your interview. There will also be an opportunity to meet with executive peers and the senior staff that will report to this role, on the same day.

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Supplementary Information

Connexus Brand Story

The Connexus Way – Corporate Plan 2018 - 2021

Connexus Financial Statements 2017/18

Connexus Group Documents

Connexus Group News

Connexus Group – Our Brands

Full details of Connexus can be viewed at https://connexus-group.co.uk

Chief Executivec.£135K / West MidlandsFormed in July 2017, Connexus brought together two successful housing groups providing homes and delivering services across Herefordshire, Shropshire and Gloucester. With a combined portfolio of over 10,000 homes, a £56m turnover, and more than 600 sta� we are an important regional provider whilst also having a key role as place-shaper and community anchor. You will join Connexus at an exciting time to lead the second phase of our development as one organisation, with a unique opportunity to recruit two new Executive Directors for your team, developing our new organisational culture and extending our influence and reach.There is ample opportunity. We have a strong financial position, an ambitious development programme, recently

strengthened governance, a willingness to innovate, excellent local partnerships and a great reputation for housing, well-being, place-shaping and regeneration. You will join a dynamic senior management and other team colleagues keen to make an even greater positive di�erence to the lives of the people and communities we serve.We seek a compelling leader as our Chief Executive with an executive level track record in housing, a strong people focussed approach, able to energise, engage and inspire our team, able to build close working relationships with partners, committed to fulfilling our wider well being and place shaping role, with a track record of innovation, able to work with complexity whilst giving assurance and with sound business acumen.

Social value is as important to us as providing great value for money. Working with us also o�ers the opportunity to live in some of the most stunning countryside, villages, towns or cities in the UK.If you are an experienced housing professional with a deep understanding of social policy, a senior executive with flair and looking for your next challenge then please contact our retained consultant Kelly Shaw at Campbell Tickell on 07900 363803 or 0203 434 0990 for an informal chatClosing date: 9am, on Monday 4th February 2019

31Connexus-Group - Chief Executive Officer - Recruitment PackThe media advertisement

Third Floor Olympic Office Centre 8 Fulton Road Wembley Middlesex HA9 0NU

020 8830 6777 020 3434 0990 (Recruitment)

info@campbelltickell.com www.campbelltickell.com