Residents’ Support Trustee - Abbeyfield Southern Oaks

Abbeyfield Southern Oaks is deeply interconnected with the local community on many levels in the spirit and practice of our vision and values. Residents, employees, trustees, volunteers and service professionals are all drawn from the local area.

Abbeyfield Southern Oaks is a not-for-profit organisation. We provide supported housing for people who are still able to care for themselves and wish to remain independent. Our residents generally don’t want the responsibilities of maintaining a house or flat, or a garden, but they’re not ready to go into a care home. We currently have five supported houses with between 7-11 residents in each at any one time and a 60-unit independent living facility.

We have recently developed Nonsuch Abbeyfield, a supportive, vibrant retirement hub in Surrey, where active, independent living is at its heart. Thirty-six of the flats are leaseholds while the remaining twenty-four are rented at an affordable rate, when the local council has referred residents.

Background to the role

We are keen to appoint a new Trustee to bring skills, knowledge and experience to the Board of a charity that is passionate about providing older people with supported independent living for companionship and social interaction and diminishing the effects of loneliness and isolation. 

Our colleague, Anne Carrington, is stepping down having done a sterling job on our Board since we merged with Abbeyfield Purley, where she had been their Deputy Chair and volunteers’ team leader. We are seeking someone to join the Board to continue her focus on the welfare of our residents, working closely with our Community and House Managers and sharing the oversight of the work done by our Director of Business and Operations and his team, namely: resident communications; new residents pipeline; admissions; medical policy; relationships with care partners; staff recruitment and training; volunteer recruitment, training and management. 

This is an important role as it directly links residents, House Managers, our Community Manager, and the Board. It demonstrates our commitment to the care of our residents and to the people who volunteer at our Houses and at Nonsuch Abbeyfield. It ensures good communication allowing information and messages to be passed directly from our Operational Services Committee to residents and to the House Managers. It encourages activities and outings to be arranged, is a connection to all staff who visit the houses, and overall provides a social link for all concerned.

Main Responsibilities

• Provide advice and guidance to the Chair and trustees regarding all matters relating to resident care and welfare
• Provide thought leadership on, and analysis of, opportunities for increased resident welfare and the overall provision of support
• Co-chair the Residents and Volunteers Group with fellow Trustee, Andrew Hoy
• Liaise with the Services Committee to monitor all policy implementation and delivery standards
• Make regular informal visits to our five houses to get to know residents and to support the House Managers
• Attend coffee mornings and any social activities in the houses to see residents and meet volunteers
• Attend occasional lunches in the houses

Person Specification

• Good experience of working with older people or
• Personal and practical experience of being a carer for an older person
• A good listener with empathy for the challenges experienced by older people
• Compassionate and caring with the ability and interest in building relationships and engaging with the older people as well as the range of staff members involved in providing care to the residents

Diversity and inclusion

Abbeyfield Southern Oaks is fully committed to equality of opportunity and diversity to ensure that we reflect the full breadth of the people we aim to support. We work within an increasingly diverse area, and it is important that the Board is representative of the communities that we serve. We would particularly welcome applications from women and people from an ethnic minority background who are currently under-represented on the Board and warmly welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

How to apply

Eastside People is supporting Abbeyfield Southern Oaks in the recruitment of these roles. 

Please apply by submitting your CV and a cover letter, which should indicate why you are interested in applying for the particular role and how you meet the selection criteria. If you would like a call to discuss the role in more detail, please email Lucinda Shaw at Eastside People to arrange a convenient time. Having a call of this kind will not influence the success or otherwise of your application.

The closing date for applications is Monday 27 January. Shortlisting interviews will take place shortly after and shortlisted candidates will have an interview with Abbeyfield Southern Oaks during the week beginning 3 February.

We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability and potential; please contact us if you require any assistance or adjustment so that we can help with making the application process work for you.