Chair of the Housing Committee – YMCA Derbyshire, Derby

Based: YMCA Derbyshire, 770 London Road, Derby, DE24 8UT (with the opportunity to attend meetings remotely where appropriate)

Department: Reporting to the Board of Trustees

Salary: Voluntary, unpaid position

Time Commitment: Approximately 8 meetings per year, including four Board meetings, four Housing Committee meetings and the Annual General Meeting (AGM), together with preparation time, trustee development activities and occasional YMCA events.

Purpose of the Role

The Chair of the Housing Committee provides leadership, scrutiny and assurance to the Board of Trustees regarding YMCA Derbyshire’s housing activities. The role supports the Board and Executive team in ensuring compliance with the Regulatory Framework for Social Housing, including the Consumer Standards and Economic Standards issued by the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH).  

The Chair will ensure that the Committee provides effective oversight of housing performance, health and safety compliance, building safety, asset management, complaints handling, and risk management. The role is critical in providing assurance that residents live in safe, well-maintained homes and receive high-quality services.  

Background Information For The Post

Derby YMCA was founded in 1847 and in 2004 the name of the Association was changed to YMCA Derbyshire to embrace its expansion into the county.   

The Association is a registered social landlord and has over 200 units of accommodation which provide supported and low-cost housing for over 350 people per annum.   

The Association is an accredited training provider in its own right and operates successful training centres located in the city centre of Derby and across Derbyshire, offering access to education, employment and vocational training for a wide range of socially and educationally disadvantaged people. 

In addition to housing and training services the Association also offers registered childcare services and is engaged in a variety of research and community development initiatives across Derbyshire. 

Key Responsibilities

Regulatory Assurance: 

• Oversee the Executive Team in their compliance to the Regulator of Social Housing Standards, and providing assurance to the Board that all applicable requirements are being met.  
• Ensure the organisation maintains robust governance and financial viability arrangements.  
• Monitor preparedness for regulatory inspections and ongoing regulatory engagement.  

Resident Safety and Quality 

• Scrutinise assurance relating to:  
• Gas safety. 
• Electrical safety. 
• Fire safety. 
• Asbestos management. 
• Water hygiene. 
• Lift safety. 
• Building safety obligations. 
• Ensure there is effective oversight of compliance performance and that any non-compliance is appropriately managed and reported. 
• Seek assurance that homes are safe, decent, well maintained and meet all statutory requirements. 

Resident Voice and Accountability 

• Ensure the resident voice is considered when reviewing performance, strategy and service delivery. 
• Monitor tenant satisfaction measures (TSMs) and service performance. 
• Review complaints, feedback, learning outcomes and Housing Ombudsman annual reporting. 
• Ensure transparency in performance reporting to residents. 
• Champion meaningful resident involvement in decision making. 

Housing Performance Oversight 

• Monitor key performance indicators including:  
• Tenant Satisfaction Measures. 
• Repairs performance. 
• Void management. 
• Rent collection. 
• Arrears management. 
• Complaints performance. 
• Tenancy sustainment. 
• Resident engagement. 
• Provide appropriate challenge where performance falls below agreed targets. 
• Ensure service improvement plans are in place where required. 

Strategic Oversight 

• Support the Board and the YMCA in delivering the Housing and Asset Management Strategy.  
• Ensure housing services contribute to YMCA Derbyshire’s charitable objectives and strategic priorities.  
• Consider opportunities to improve the services and social impacts that YMCA aims to deliver.  
• To represent the Association in the wider community and/or to ensure that YMCA Derbyshire is appropriately represented.  
• To familiarise, comply and carry out all obligations in relation to the Association’s Equal Opportunities and Diversity Policy and all other relevant policies issued by the Association from time to time.  

Risk and Control 

• Review housing-related strategic and operational risks as reported by the Director of Housing and Asset Development.  
• Ensure there are effective systems of internal control and assurance. 
• Monitor emerging risks within housing, regulatory compliance and resident safety. 
• Escalate significant concerns to the Board. 

Person Specification

Essential Experience 

• Senior experience, executive, non-executive or governance experience.  
• Experience within Social Housing, supported housing, homelessness, property management or a regulated environment.  
• Understanding of governance, risk management and assurance.  
• Ability to scrutinise complex performance, compliance and risk information.  
• Experience chairing meetings or committees.  

Desirable Experience 

• Registered Provider governance experience.  
• Knowledge of the RSH Regulatory Framework.  
• Understanding of Tenant Satisfaction Measures (TSMs).  
• Experience of housing asset management and landlord compliance.  
• Understanding of Housing Ombudsman requirements.  
• Knowledge of supported housing and homelessness services. 

Trustee Duties 

As a Trustee, the postholder will: 

• Act solely in the interests of YMCA Derbyshire and its beneficiaries. 
• Ensure the charity complies with charity law, company law, housing regulation and other applicable legislation. 
• Safeguard the organisation's assets, reputation and long-term sustainability. 
• Promote high standards of governance, integrity, transparency and accountability. 
• Support the Board in obtaining effective assurance regarding compliance, performance and risk. 

At YMCA Derbyshire, the Chair of the Housing Committee shall be elected annually by the Board of Trustees at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). Trustees are appointed for an initial term of three years and are eligible for reappointment, subject to approval by the membership. In line with YMCA Derbyshire's governance arrangements, Trustees may serve a maximum of nine consecutive years, after which they must step down and may not seek reappointment for a minimum period of one year before becoming eligible to serve again. 

Key Behaviours 

The Chair will demonstrate: 

• A commitment to resident safety and wellbeing. 
• An understanding of the importance of resident voice. 
• Independence, integrity and sound judgement. 
• Strategic thinking and effective challenge. 
• Commitment to accountability and continuous improvement. 
• Alignment with YMCA Derbyshire's values and charitable mission. 

Particularly welcoming applications from

We recognise that Boards are strongest when they reflect a diverse range of perspectives, and are actively seeking to ensure that our Board reflects the communities we serve. We are especially welcoming applications from people from underrepresented backgrounds, including but not limited to individuals from ethnically diverse backgrounds, people with a disability, individuals with lived experience in supported housing, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and those from low socio economic backgrounds.

Further Information

YMCA Derbyshire is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All roles are subject to references and an enhanced DBS check.

For an informal chat, contact: Theo Vesey at theo.vesey@ymcaderbyshire.org.uk.

For more information on becoming a trustee at YMCA Derbyshire, please consult our YMCA Derbyshire “Becoming a Trustee”, particularly our “Trustee Prospectus”. Become a Trustee | YMCA Derbyshire