Trustee with Care Expertise

The Organisation:

Newgrove Housing Association is part of the Rehab Group and is a registered ‘Approved Housing Body’ which was established in 1999 and provides homes for people with disabilities. This service extends to more than 50 locations throughout Ireland. Newgrove Housing is founded on the philosophy that everyone has the right to good quality housing that meets their needs for as long as they choose to remain in the properties. The association particularly emphasises that people with disabilities need homes where they can feel safe and secure, allowing them to live in and be part of their own communities.

The Rehab Group is an independent voluntary organisation and registered charity that has been providing services and support for people with disabilities for over 70 years. As an internationally recognised and pioneering charity, the Rehab Group enables more than 10,000 people with disabilities to live lives of their choosing. The organisation is also a campaigning body, advocating on behalf of the people who use its services and their families.

The Role:

In anticipation of Board renewal through 2026/7 Newgrove Housing Association is seeking to identify a small number of potential Trustees. If you have experience in this area and want to play a key role in championing the value of diversity and inclusion for those with disabilities, we are keen to hear from you.

General Trustee duties of a Charity Trustee:

• Comply with the Charity’s governing document
• Ensuring charity is complying with its charitable purpose for the public benefit
• Acting in the best interest of the charity
• Act with Reasonable Care and Skill
• Manage the assets of your charity

Responsibilities will include the following:

• Inputting to the strategic direction, contributing with insight, oversight and experience of strategy formulation in other sectors.
• Policy and governance formation and implementation as required.

In addition, Charity Trustees are encouraged to participate in:

• Attendance at occasional events, training, and seminars
• Quality and safety Board walk-rounds.

Desirable Skills:

Candidates who have knowledge of at least three of the following Board competencies are invited to apply:

• 1. Governance and Strategic Oversight
• Understanding of the AHBRA regulatory framework and governance standard, Charities Governance Code, and fiduciary duties of Company Law.
• Ability to contribute to the development and implementation of strategic plans that align with Newgrove’s mission to provide housing for individuals with disabilities.
• Ability to contribute to long-term planning and decision making focused on disability-inclusive housing.
• Understands risk management frameworks (financial, operational, safeguarding, compliance etc.). Ability to identify and manage risks within an organisation.

• 2. Disability and Housing Sector Insight
• Knowledge of the lived experiences, rights, and housing needs of people with disabilities including accessibility requirements, support services and safeguarding responsibilities.
• Commitment to tenant centric approach that ensures that housing solutions are tailored to the needs of tenants with disabilities, promoting independence and community integration.
• Supports housing that enhances autonomy, accessibility, and inclusion.
• Knowledge of 'Housing for All', the Housing Agency, and disability-specific rental (and other) supports for individuals.
• Understanding of requirements for tenant welfare and management in a residential care environment.

• 3. Asset Management & Property Maintenance
• Knowledge of requirements of AHBRA property and asset management standard, AHBRA tenancy management standard.
• Understanding of maintaining, upgrading, and planning for the long-term sustainability of housing stock in a cost-effective manner.
• Familiarity with planned maintenance schedules, sinking fund management, compliance, and public procurement.
• Understanding of changing housing design needs in a care situation with an aging tenant population.
• Awareness of housing quality standards, universal design, accessibility codes, and retrofitting needs to adapt housing for care use.

• 4. Project Management and Development
• Insight into building development cycles: from acquisition and design through build to handover and occupancy.
• Experience of building design standards in a care environment and applicable relevant regulations.
• Understands how to oversee capital builds or refurbishments to ensure compliance and alignment with tenant needs.
• Ability to identify construction, cost, and planning risks and associated mitigants.

• 5. Financial Oversight and Risk
• Understanding of AHBRA financial standard.
• Ability to understand and interrogate management accounts, budgets, and forecasts.
• Experience with internal controls, audit processes, financial risk monitoring, and achieving best value.
• Risk Management: Knowledge of identification and management of risks within an organisation. Knowledge about risk management frameworks.
• Experience of capital project appraisal for operational housing assets.
• Understanding of public and private financing mechanisms applicable to disability housing and in particular knowledge of schemes like CAS, CALF, HFA loans, and other financing options.
  
  6. Legal and Regulatory Compliance
• Knowledge of relevant legislation (Charities Act, Companies Act, Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Act 2019 Residential Tenancies Act, GDPR).[1]
• Monitors compliance with AHBRA and funder reporting requirements.
• Ability to contribute to the development and oversight of policies that ensure compliance with legal and regulatory standards.
• Oversight of safeguarding, health & safety, GDPR, and tenant protection policies.
• Knowledge of employment law.

Board Meetings:

Newgrove Housing Association convenes a minimum of five board meetings each year, usually in the mornings. These meetings are either held at the Rehab Group's premises in Park West, Dublin 12, or are conducted online. Typically lasting two hours, board meetings occasionally include additional responsibilities such as document signing outside of the scheduled sessions.

[1] This is subject to change and board must be in compliance with most up-to-date obligations.