Recruitment Pack. Head of Housing

Transcription

1 Recruitment Pack Head of Housing

2 Date: 18 November 2014 Dear applicant Head of Housing Thank you for your interest in the above position. Enclosed is the information you will require to assist you in completing your application. To apply please complete the Association s Application Form, CV s will not be accepted. You are also required to complete the equal opportunities form which is requested for monitoring purposes in line with our commitment to equality and diversity and does not affect the outcome of your application. Once complete, please return your application by to: recruitment@gatewayhousing.org.uk The closing date is clearly stated on the application form and late returns will not be accepted, it is your responsibility to ensure it arrives with us on time. Should you be shortlisted, interviews will be held on Monday 15 December 2014 We look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely Marie Dowsett Human Resources Manager

3 CONTENTS 1. Introduction A message from our Chief Executive 2. About Gateway Housing Background and history Vision, mission and values The area in which we work 3. Equality and Diversity 4. Working for Gateway Employment Terms and Benefits

4 Welcome to Gateway and thank you for your interest in working for us. As you will see from the advert we are small compared to many industry players but what we lack in size we certainly make up in local punch. Going back as many years as we do has ensured that we are embedded in the diverse communities making up today s Tower Hamlets and we are determined to enhance our contribution to this hard pressed but fascinating part of inner-london. In the past twelve months we have taken stock of were we are and what we do. We have been driving an energetic programme of performance improvement and the Board is determined that providing excellent services to customers must be a permanent priority for Gateway. The government s agenda for housing will pose some significant challenges for a community based association of Gateway s size. We face cuts in development grant and supporting people grant. The welfare reform programme will see residents bearing a higher proportion of costs and the conflicting priorities may bring risks to the income of the Association. The economic climate requires us to do more for less so there is need to optimise value for money for residents by getting the balance right between quality and cost. We are looking for a Head of Housing to help the process of change in the organisation. You will need to be resourceful and innovative with the drive, enthusiasm and aspiration to ensure Gateway is amongst the best deliverers of high quality houses and services to local, diverse communities. Sheron Carter Chief Executive

5 History and background Gateway began life as Bethnal Green Housing Association (BGHA) in The first scheme at Queen Margaret Flats (still owned and managed by Gateway today) was opened in BGHA became Bethnal Green and East London Housing Association (BGELHA) Stepney Housing Trust built homes in Stepney in the 1930s to relieve the slums and overcrowding. The most notable were Searle and Frances Gray Houses on the Ocean estate. Frances Gray House was opened by the Duchess of York (later the Queen Mother see right) in Stepney Housing Trust and the Isle of Dogs Housing Society later merged with BGELHA. Victoria Park Housing Association (VPHA) was founded in 1971 to redevelop the site of St Mark's Church in Victoria Park. In the early 1980s, VPHA modernised street properties in Cadogan Terrace and the Medway Road areas. Towards the end of the 1980s, VPHA redeveloped the former Bethnal Green Hospital site, providing 162 houses and flats to meet a range of needs. VPHA and BGELHA merged in 1992 to form Bethnal Green and Victoria Park Housing Association (BGVPHA). A year later, a transfer of engagements was taken from Oxford House Housing Association. Victoria Park Home Ownership was set up in 1981 to provide shared ownership leases to people not able to buy on the open market. On 30th November 2006, BGVPHA and VPHO merged. In the late 1990s, Bethnal Green and Victoria Park Housing Association started our most ambitious project in Central Stepney. Three large Council blocks were demolished and new street properties built in their place. Following this Frances Gray and Searle Houses were also demolished and replaced by street properties. More homes were built in the Limehouse Fields area. These developments resulted in over 300 new homes enhancing Stepney and aiding the regeneration of the area. In 2001, Tower Hamlets Council began its Housing Choice process, regarding the possible transfer of the Council homes to local housing associations. The residents of the Council's sheltered blocks voted to transfer to BGVPHA in May 2005, and transfer took place in November of the same year. Continued over page.

6 Labo Housing Association (Labo is the Bengali word for lime) was founded in the mid 1980s as an off-shoot of the Limehouse Project, who worked with Bangladeshi and Somali households seeking permanent accommodation. Labo worked with a number of developing housing associations including BGVPHA until its decision to merge with BGVPHA on 31 March Gateway today The merger of Labo and BGVPHA resulted in a name change to Gateway Housing Association. The new name was chosen for 3 reasons: 1. Tower Hamlets was the traditional gateway for migrant communities entering the UK 2. We operate within East London which forms part of the Thames Gateway region. 3. We believe that decent affordable housing is the Gateway into a good quality of life for people on below average incomes. Today we provide over 2700 homes in Tower Hamlets, Newham and Hackney for people in need including rented houses, shared ownership and leasehold accommodation. We are the largest provider of sheltered housing in the borough. Residents are at the heart what we do and we support the wider community to improve their economic and social position.

7 Vision Gateway's vision is to support communities to thrive Mission Our mission is to develop good quality homes and excellent housing and support services for people in need in and around Tower Hamlets Values We will: Positively respond to the changing needs of residents and the wider community Value diversity and treat people with dignity and respect Be ethical in our business decisions, investments, transactions, and partnerships Strategic Objectives We aim to be: One of the best performing housing associations in and around Tower Hamlets, delivering high quality services to residents The lead provider of older people s accommodation in Tower Hamlets with a reputation for choice and quality A highly effective and efficient organisation An ethical investor in people and properties

8 The area in which we work Tower Hamlets is our main area of operation. In the past 20 years the area has seen phenomenal growth, mainly due to the relocation of banks and media industries to Canary Wharf and the Isle of Dogs. 48% of the population are from black and minority ethnic communities, with Bangladeshi residents making up 33% (the largest single ethnic minority group in London). The population is also very young, with approximately 28% of local people being under 25. Tower Hamlets is a key economic driver for the Thames Gateway one of the Government s major growth areas and sits at the heart of the Mayor s Plan for London. Major projects in the area include Crossrail, the Olympics, the East London Line extension and the new Royal London Hospital. Despite large amounts of investment and increasing prosperity, Tower Hamlets remains one of the most socially deprived areas in the country, with high levels of unemployment, poor health and mortality rates. There remains acute housing need. The level of overcrowding is the highest in the country, this particularly impacts on the Bangladeshi community. House prices and open market private sector rent levels are beyond the reach of most residents. We have a small number of homes in the nearby boroughs of Newham and Hackney where there are high ethnic minority populations and similar patterns of deprivation.

9 Equal opportunities and diversity statement Gateway recognises that groups in society experience discrimination as a result of their gender, race, age, sexual orientation, disability or religion. We oppose discrimination and understand the need to adopt positive policies to take account of this. Gateway will work to encourage the participation of residents who have traditionally been difficult to engage such as young, older and disabled residents. We will seek to ensure that our workforce is reflective of the community it serves. When recruiting, we will not discriminate against any applicants on the grounds of their race, sexual orientation, disability, religion, gender or age. All vacancies will be filled by applicants assessed on their ability to do the job.

10 Terms and Conditions 1. Job title: Head of Housing 2. Salary: Circa 60,000 per annum 3. Place of Work: Mile End Road, London E3 4PB 4. Working hours: 35 hours per week, some evening or weekend work will be required. 5. Probationary period: six month probationary period 6. Annual leave: Basic annual leave entitlement 30 days per annum 7. Pension Scheme: Social Housing Pension Scheme Defined Contribution 8. Other benefits: Maternity and paternity leave Interest-free season ticket loan Employee Assistance Programme Wellness strategy Child care vouchers Subsidised gym membership Rewards and recognition awards Employees are encouraged to use public or environmentally friendly transport. Where a car is needed to carry out this job we will reimburse staff at the prevailing mileage and provide a Tower Hamlets parking permit. You will be required to have a basic DBS (formerly CRB) check. Key dates: Closing date for applications: Wednesday 3 December 2014 Interview date: Thursday 4 December 2014