Depaul Housing Services Trustee Role Description

1. Statutory Duties

To ensure that Depaul Housing Services complies with its governing document, Charity law, Homes and Communities Association regulation, Company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations.

To ensure that the organisation pursues its objects as defined:

1. To promote and advance the relief of poverty by such means as the trustees shall in their absolute discretion determine, and in particular (without limitation) by the provision of social housing in England, any other purposes connected with or incidental to the provision and management of social housing, shelter, accommodation, training and other services to persons whom the trustees shall deem to be in need of such provision by reason of homelessness, deprivation or social or economic circumstances (eligible persons),

2. The advancement of education including (without limitation) the provision of education and training to eligible persons,

3. To provide facilities for leisure-time activities for eligible persons in the interests of social welfare so that their conditions of life may be improved, and

4. To promote the efficiency and further the charitable objects of Depaul UK.

In particular Trustees will:

·  safeguard the reputation of the organisation.

·  ensure the effective and efficient administration of the organisation.

·  ensure the financial stability of the organisation.

·  protect and manage the property of the charity and to ensure the proper investment of the charity’s funds.

·  appoint the Executive means to carry our their delegated functions and monitor their performance.

2.  Regular Attendance and Contribution

·  Attendance at all meetings with absences agreed with the Chair in advance.

·  Scrutinising board papers

·  Leading discussions

·  Focusing on key issues

·  Providing guidance on new initiatives

3.  Strategic Leadership

·  Provide entrepreneurial leadership to Depaul Housing Services within a framework of prudent and effective controls which enable risk to be assessed and managed.

·  Working with the Executive to set the strategic aims and ensures that the necessary financial, human and other resources are in place for Depaul Housing Services to meet its objectives.

·  Ensures that Depaul Housing Services’ obligations to stakeholders, service users, employees and others are understood and met.

4.  Good Governance

Trustees Roles / Executive Roles
Select, evaluate and support the Executive / Run the organisation in line with board direction. Keep the board educated and informed. Seek the board’s counsel.
Approve high-level organisational goals and policies. / Recommend goals and policies supported by background information.
Make major decisions / Frame decisions in the context of the mission and strategic vision, and bring the board well-documented recommendations.
Oversee management and organisational performance. / Bring the board timely information in concise, contextual, or comparative formats. Be responsive to requests for additional information. Communicate with candour and transparency.
Act as external advocates and diplomats in public policy, fundraising and stakeholder / community and church relations / Keep the board informed, bring recommendations, and mobilise Directors to leverage their external connections to support the organisation

5.  Housing Development

·  To support and advocate for the development of social housing as provided by Depaul Housing Services

·  To ensure that as a board member you are actively contributing ideas and opportunities for development

·  To take an active and expert interest in new developments being delivered by Depaul Housing Services

·  To sustain an interest in the quality of and outcomes for tenants of all Depaul Housing Services property.

6.  Risk Management

·  To agree with other trustees the appetite for risk at Depaul Housing Services in line with our Vincentian Values.

·  To assess on a regular basis the high level risks facing the charity.

·  To ensure that financial, health and safety and reputational risks are routinely managed by managers and reported to the board.

7.  Depaul UK

·  To share openly information with Depaul UK

·  To actively support the work of the Depaul UK charity

·  To advocate for the strategic position of Depaul Housing Services within the Depaul Group

Depaul Registered Address, 291-299 Borough High Street, London, SE1 1JG, www.depaulcharity.org.uk

Registered Charity Number: 802384, Company Number: 2440093 (Registered in England and Wales) Depaul Housing Services is a subsidiary of Depaul UK and registered with the Homes and Communities Agency Number: C2683