Board Member Role Profile and Person Specification

Position:Board Member (unremunerated)

Responsible to: Chair

Overall Purpose of the Role

The primary role of the Board is to manage the business of Community Housing Cymru (CHC), as well as to maintain its financial viability and compliance with the law. The Board will work to ensure that Community Housing Cymru meets its mission to:

“Positively influence Welsh Government policy.

Support and promote the work of our members.

Speak with one voice.

Put members at the heart of everything we do.

Work as one team to deliver our mission.”

As a board member, you will be working in a team deciding the strategic direction of Community Housing Cymru which includes setting and monitoring the annual business plan. You will represent Community Housing Cymru and ensure that the views and the issues of our member organisations are considered in the decision making process. You will also ensure that the board is fully accountable to the members for the decisions it takes, and actively engages with them to demonstrate accountability.

The key responsibilities of a board member are set out in the conditions of board membership detailed below. In addition, you will be expected to;

  • Prepare, attend and actively participate inboard and strategy meetings (normally held in Cardiff). Our board cycle is attached to this role profile.
  • have a collegiate approach to working with the board and share responsibility for decisions taken
  • treat Board information and discussions as confidential until advised to the contrary.

What we are looking for

In selecting new board members Community Housing Cymru wishes to have a Board that comprises individuals who, between them, have the right level and mix of skills and experience necessary to fulfil their role on the Board.

You will be a good communicator, experienced in working within a team and at ease with the role that being a board member of Community Housing Cymru entails. The expectation to contribute positively at Board meetings will be met by demonstrating strong analytical and influencing skills, and your confidence in asking questions and being satisfied with the answers given.

As part of demonstrating a collegiate approach at board level you will support the Chair and Executive as necessary.

You will demonstrate a high degree of professionalism, impartiality, integrity and objectivity.

Skills and competencies

There are a range of skills and competencies that our Board members must demonstrate. Whilst not exhaustive, we expect all Board members to be able to demonstrate ability in these areas.

Skills and Competency Definitions

  • Sector– Experience or knowledge of the sector in which the organisation operates
  • Technical– Skills and specialist knowledge to assist the ongoing aspects of the board’s role.
  • Governance– The essential governance knowledge and understanding all Board Membersshould possess or develop if they are to be effective.
  • Behavioural– The attributes and competencies enabling the individual director to use their knowledge and skills to function well as a team member and to interact with key stakeholders.

Sector Knowledge/Experience / Definition
Experience/knowledge of membership organisations / An understanding of how to run a member organisation balancing the needs of individual members and the sector as a whole
Experience/knowledge of the housing sector / An understanding or awareness of the wider housing sector, housing associations and sector issues in relation to housing supply and service delivery
Experience/knowledge of Welsh Government / An understanding of devolved government and the ability to work with and influence politicians and civil servants
Experience/knowledge of the charities sector / An understanding of charities law, responsibilities of Trustees, and Charities regulation
Technical Skills/Experience
Essential:
Leadership and strategic management / The ability to lead the senior team to set the vision, mission and values for CHC
The ability to set CHC’s business strategy working collaboratively with the management team
Strategic and future focused, ensuring that resources are used effectively and efficiently to achieve CHC’s goals
Financial management & accounting / The ability to understand financial plans and accounts to inform financial decision making that secures CHCs future
Strategic risk management / Ability to identify strategic risks and ensure appropriate risk management processes are in place
Legal / Skills in interpreting and applying relevant law from a governance perspective
Commercial Acumen / A business minded approach with regards to income generation and business development.
Desirable:
PR and influencing / Skills in public relations and influencing at national and local level
Human Resources & employment law / Experience/knowledge or an awareness of HR policies, legislation and best practises to advise and oversee that CHC has fair and legally compliant T&Cs for all staff.
Technology/IT/digitalisation / An awareness of new technology and an understanding of how this can be used to improve external communication and business performance.
Welsh Language / Understanding of the Welsh Language Act and the importance of the Welsh Language in Wales.
Governance competencies
Governance Experience/Knowledge / Experience of working on or with a board
The ability to work constructively with the senior team providing both high challenge, by asking good questions, and high support
Experience of working collaboratively as part of a team with other Board members
Knowledge and understanding of governance frameworks
Experience of chairing meetings is also desirable

1

As a member of CHC’s Board you will be expected to set high personal standards and demonstrate the following behavioural competencies.

Behavioural competencies
Team Player / Shares all relevant information with others and seeks others' input.
Expresses own opinion while remaining factual and respectful of the opinions of others.
Ability and willingness to challenge through good questioning / Provides constructive challenge within the board room, to ensure the board makes sound decisions.
Leadership / Demonstrates integrity and high ethical standards
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to steer discussion
Communication Skills / Demonstrates good listening skills and has clear spoken and written skills
Effective Decision Making / Demonstrates the ability to address problems from various perspectives.
Considers all risks, makes strategic decisions on business issues.
Promotes a culture that recognises and values new ideas.
Produces successful initiatives that may depart from conventional thinking.
Willingness and ability to devote time and energy to the role / Regular board attendance
Arriving at meetings prepared having read papers prior to the meeting
Engages effectively at meetings

1

Conditions OF BOARD MEMBERSHIP

Period of appointment

Board members are appointed by the members at the AGM, having been selected by the Nominations Committee and their recommendation agreed by the board. Tenure is three years with a maximum period of two terms (6 years in total) subject to satisfactory appraisal and re-election.

Time commitment

Board meetings are normally held at the Community Housing Cymru office in Cardiff. Meetings normally last around two and a half hours (between 10.00am and 12.30pm) although this can vary.

We plan for total of six board meetings a year which includestwo board strategic away days in January and July. Our board meetings are normally held in our Cardiff office and strategy meetings held off-site. Twice per year, the CHC Board will hold open board meetings with representatives invited from the wider membership. These meetings are planned to take place on the same date as board meetings and will usually last no more than 1.5 hours. However, in order to accommodate members across Wales there is a need to be flexible and willing to travel across Wales for these meetings.

You will also be expected to attend the AGM which is held on the first day of Community Housing Cymru’s annual conference in November and other key CHC events (costs of which will be covered by Community Housing Cymru).

In addition, board members will be encouraged to become a member of the Nominations Committeeas necessary.

Induction

Every Board member will commit to attending a briefing session with the senior staff team of Community Housing Cymru, and a one-to-one session with the Chief Executive and/or Chair.

Review of effectiveness

The CHC Board will review its effectiveness annually. This will take the form of the Chair (supported by internal or external resource as necessary) leading a discussion on how well the Board adds value and its relationship with the senior staff team (support and challenge). The results of the annual review will be discussed by the Board.

Learning and development

As part of the annual review of its effectiveness, the CHC Board will discuss areas that have come to light – if any – that reveal a gap in members’ knowledge or understanding of the wider landscape for housing and related policy, or any that would merit discussion with peer trade membership organisations in the UK. Any identification of collective learning needs, whether in the form of training, briefings, talks or meetings, will be directly supported and organised by Community Housing Cymru.

As part of their membership of the board, individuals are expected to keep their relevant professional knowledge up to date and current through the vehicle of their sponsoring organisations.

Expenses

Board members are entitled to claim reimbursement of travel and other costs directly related to board activities.

Support

The work of the board will be supported administratively by the Executive team of CHC.

Expected commitment

It is expected that the CHC Board will meet at least sixtimes per year. Members are expected to attend at least 75% of board meetings over the course of the year. Failure to do so will be grounds for the Chair and CHC Chief Executive consulting other members of the board on whether the affected member will be required to step down from the board.

Absence without the permission of the CHC Board from three consecutive board meetings shall instigate a review of board membership.

Values and integrity

All board members are required to conduct themselves in a way that comports with the values and ethos of Community Housing Cymru, and with the duties and expectations set out in the role description for Board members.