Depaul- Executive Director Finance, IT & Organisational Performance

Appointment Brief October 2018

Executive Director Finance, IT & Organisational Performance

Contents

CEO’s Letter

1

Background

2

Our history and values

3

Depaul UK’s Approach

4

Depaul UK’s 2020 Aim

6

Depaul UK’s Finances

8

Job Description

10

Role Responsibilities

12

Person Specification

15

How to Apply

17

01. CEO’s Letter Dear Candidate, The Executive Team and I are delighted that you are considering applying for the role of Executive Director Finance, IT and Organisational Performance at Depaul UK. This candidate brief tells you about the exciting work we do. Depaul UK is a very special values-based organisation and to be part of it is inspiring. Its values are firmly rooted in the life and work of St Vincent de Paul (1580 to 1660) – to reach out to the poorest of the poor, to focus on action rather than words, to do what we say we will do and to be innovative in approach.

Depaul UK is an active, independent partner of Depaul International, an international group of homelessness charities. It is also part of the broader, global Vincentian Family of organisations which share the same values and also trace their roots back to St Vincent de Paul.

Although we have a Catholic foundation and heritage, staff and Board members are of all religions and none. But what we all share is respect for these values and a desire for them to be translated into practice. This is, for example, illustrated in the way we deliver and have developed our innovative Nightstop programme which provides emergency overnight accommodation for young homeless people who are facing a night on the streets or sleeping in unsafe places.

I joined Depaul UK as the new CEO in May 2018 and it has been a tremendous pleasure to get to know such a professional, dedicated, passionate and innovative organisation that is full of ambition and has the staff to match it. Depaul UK has grown significantly over the past 5 years and is now in great shape to further grow and expand our impact, profile and influence. In order to make this vision a reality, a commitment to the continued improvement of our organisational performance, including our business model, the quality of our services, and our governance is pivotal. The newly created Executive Director position you consider applying for will be key in achieving this.

If you think that you have what we are looking for and would like to join me and a motivated, ambitious, out-of-the-box thinking Executive Team led by an imaginative, invested and unified Board we very much welcome your application.

Mike Thiedke CEO, Depaul UK

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02. Background Depaul UK has worked with homeless young people for 30 years and supported over 65,000 people.

The charity is modern, pioneering, dynamic and driven, committed to improving itself as an organisation, adapting where it can to a changing social care context and putting young people at the heart of everything it does.

They have a huge amount of experience, knowledge and understanding. Most of this is held in the hands of a dedicated team who work countless hours facing challenges and opportunities in the Depaul Houses, accommodation in the community and in their community and prisons outreach services. The charity is passionate about the difference they make, particularly for young people.

The charity has pioneered, enabled and supported the development of programmes across the UK, with a passion and a drive to succeed and change young lives. The results have led in recent years to a substantial growth in income (currently cÂŁ16m).

With an ambitious and strategic Board and an increased focus on results and sustainability, the charity has worked hard to provide interventions and income generating activities. This has resulted in highly effective services and at the same time established a strong financial position.

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03. Our history and values Depaul UK began in 1989 under the patronage of the late Cardinal Basil Hume, as a response to the needs of the growing numbers of homeless people on the streets of London.

The founding members of this charity were the

Depaul UK’s experience reveals these values to

Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul, the

be widely shared. Board members and staff, for

Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and the Passage

whom there is no religious requirement, bring

Day Centre in Victoria, organisations which all

with them the same or similar values from their

trace their roots back to Vincent de Paul (1581 –

own religious traditions or political and humanist

1660) and are members of the wider international

convictions. The consequent resonance with

“Vincentian Family”. Depaul UK quickly grew to

Vincentian values has enriched the Depaul

become a national charity and is now part of the

subsidiaries around the world and provided a

Depaul International Group working in the UK,

tangible unity across the Depaul Group.

Ireland, Slovakia, Ukraine, France, the USA and most recently Croatia, with the aim of tackling homelessness at a global level.

Whilst the Depaul Group gladly and wholeheartedly embraces its Vincentian values, it excludes all forms of proselytizing. It is an

Depaul UK and the Depaul Group of charities

independent group of charities and is not a

owe their inspiration and values to the life and

subsidiary of any religious organisation nor

works of Vincent de Paul, a major social reformer

does it report to any. At the same time, the

in 17th century France. Vincentian values, which

Depaul Group is a recognised member of the

were at the core of Depaul’s foundation, continue

worldwide Vincentian Family, which is a voluntary

to be at the heart of Depaul UK. They include a

association of all those who labour according to

commitment to reach out to the poorest of the

the vision and values of Vincent de Paul. Depaul

poor, to focus on action rather than words, to do

UK, as a member of the Vincentian Family

what we say we will do, and to be innovative in

in the UK, collaborates with other branches

our approach.

of the Family in the service of homeless and disadvantaged people as opportunities arise

For more information about Depaul UK please see our website: https://depaulcharity.org

and circumstances dictate. Membership in a worldwide family fits in with and strengthens the Depaul Group’s global aspirations.

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04. Depaul UK’s Approach Homelessness is caused by a range of reasons. In the young it is most frequently caused by problems at home, the breakdown of support networks and families.

Increasingly for single adults it is because employment or private tenancies are terminated. The charity has learned that for some people traumatic challenges from the past cause lasting damage. Non-judgemental and expert care can repair that damage and enable people to rebuild their lives.

Depaul UK is committed to helping the most vulnerable. Depaul UK recognises that this involves working increasingly with healthcare providers and therapeutic experts to develop better immediate responses to self-harm, substance abuse and high risk personal behaviours.

Depaul UK focuses on three levers of change: prevention, increasing resilience and energising communities. By working across these three areas the charity is better able to divert young people from pathways that lead to and from homelessness to positive pathways that lead to a stable home, relationships and financial security.

Increase the resilience of people who are facing homelessness through providing accommodation with support and targeted help that takes account of mental health and trauma.

Prevent homelessness through education, family work and Nightstop.

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Energise community responses to homelessness through volunteering, working with partners and creating local opportunities for young people to progress into employment and self fulfilment.

Depaul UK is rightly proud of its pioneering approach to developing innovative programmes to support these levers for change. These include: Nightstop which provides emergency overnight accommodation for young homeless people who are facing the night on the streets or sleeping in unsafe places. Nightstop prevents homelessness through community hosting – providing a safety net to those forced to leave their home. Nightstop places young people aged 16 to 25 in a safe and warm home for the night, provided by a vetted and approved volunteer. This prevents young people from sleeping rough, “sofa surfing”, or staying in unsuitable accommodation where they would be at risk of abuse. The use of spare rooms in a positive environment makes a huge difference to young people in crisis.

Communities and charities run Nightstop in 33 locations around the UK, led and supported

by Depaul UK’s Nightstop team. It is a unique

project. Volunteer hosts, ordinary members of the community, open their homes to young people offering not only food and a bed for the night but also, where wanted, a listening ear.

Depaul UK also has developed a strong focus on campaigning, research and policy work.

A good example is the leading research from the charity that found that the breakdown of family relationships was the most common reason for loss of stable accommodation. This research resulted in the paper ‘Stepping Stones and Danger Zones’ which makes a series of recommendations – calling on policymakers and practitioners to improve the help offered to young people experiencing homelessness and for further research to be undertaken. It highlights a new model for understanding temporary living arrangements for young people and assesses the level of risk and the level of capacity that people accommodating them have of supporting them.

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05. Depaul UK’s 2020 Aim By 2020 Depaul UK will be working with more people in their local communities across the country to prevent and relieve the impact of homelessness on their lives. Depaul UK will continue to prioritise young people, who remain the most vulnerable in UK society and especially those whose mental health has been damaged by their past experiences.

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The 2020 Priorities Working alongside and working with people affected by the causes and consequences of homelessness, particularly youth homelessness, the charity will: •

Prevent homelessness through education, family work and Nightstop.

•

Increase the resilience of young people who are facing homelessness through providing accommodation with support and targeted help that takes account of mental health and trauma.

•

Energise community responses to homelessness through volunteering, working with partners and creating local opportunities for young people to progress into employment and self-fulfilment.

This the charity believes can be achieved by being: • • •

Inventive Improving; and Impactful

To create a culture that supports the delivery of these priorities, Depaul UK has developed the Endeavour Model. This is a transformative, four year programme that started in March 2016 and will run until February 2020. Endeavour aims to enhance Depaul UK’s services through workforce development, service-user involvement, and improved monitoring and evaluation. It provides rigorous training and development for staff that will result in a more confident, skilled and motivated workforce that has an increased understanding of the issues that affect young people. It intentionally addresses relationship issues and conflict-resolution as key to young people’s successful and safe transition into adulthood. This will result in young people developing stronger, more supportive relationships; gaining greater control over their situations; increasing their confidence, self-belief and self-esteem; and being more equipped psychologically to move on from Depaul UK into sustainable independent living. In May 2017, the first Endeavour Centre was opened at Sherborne House, an innovative space that brings this programme to life.

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06. DePaul UK’s Finances Principal Funding and Cash Flow The total income by 31 December 2017 was £15.990m (2016: £12.444m).

This represents an increase of 29% on last year. This was raised by: •

Generating funds from donors, events and investments: £5.192m (2016: £2.968m), and

•

Charging for services through statutory grants, contracts and rents: £10.798m (2016: £9.476m).

2016

£12.444m Total Income

2017

£15.990m Total Income

Total expenditure for the year was £14.061m (2016: £11.885m), an increase of 20% on expenditure in the year to 31 December 2017.

The proportion of expenditure directly on charitable activities for young people remained the same as last year at 93% of total expenditure.

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In addition to the amounts expended directly on charitable activities, £1,040,000 (2016: £801,000) was spent on generating funds. The ratio of funds raised to the cost of raising funds in the year was 4.99, which remains better than the average charities’ fundraising ratios. Governance costs for 2017 were £32,000 (2016: £34,000).

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08. Job Description Salary: £75,000 inclusive of London Weighting Location: London Reports to: Chief Executive Responsible for: Finance, IT, Governance, Compliance, Quality Assurance and Facilities

Depaul UK has grown rapidly over the last five years. The organisation has 255 staff, 84 locums and 482 volunteers (more than doubled since 2013) and an income of £16m (2013: £7m), the latter being a healthy mix of statutory and voluntary income. The past two years have seen significant investment into systems, processes, policy frameworks, governance and – most importantly – staff capacity.

Within this context and as part of a small Executive Team, the Executive Director of Finance, IT and Organisational Performance will report to the CEO and specifically ensure:

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A sound financial strategy supported by an effective and efficient finance function including robust financial controls and reporting, development and reporting of annual business plans and budgets, ensuring viability and improvement of Depaul UK’s business model supported by multi-year financial analysis and projections.

An appropriate IT infrastructure (including systems) based on an IT strategy that meets current and future needs of the organisation, considering data protection and functional business needs.

Enhanced operational performance based on sound and accessible analysis, reporting and monitoring including through smart Key Performance Indicators and solid multi-year business planning.

Effective governance and executive administrative support including managing communications with and development of the Council of Trustees (including recruitment, inductions, succession planning), reporting to relevant governance bodies and regulators, Council of Trustees and respective Committees, supporting the Board of Depaul UK’s registered provider of

social housing- Depaul Housing Services (DHS) as required, providing administrative support to CEO and Executive Team.

You will directly line manage at least 4 managers and part-time/ temporary resources as and when needed.

The provision of a Quality Assurance Framework to ensure the organisation adheres to statutory and regulatory compliance including compliance with key statutory legislation pertaining to the delivery of support and housing services to vulnerable people and children.

Along with the other Executive Directors and the CEO, you will maintain and develop relevant sector networks at national and international level to maximise Depaul UK’s profile, influence and income; this will include

Effective repairs and maintenance services to Depaul UK’s owned and managed properties in line with the requirements of our landlord Management Agreements in terms of tenant services.

cooperating with Depaul International and other Depaul subsidiaries and may entail contributing to and/or leading on strategic initiatives of the ‘Depaul family’.

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09. Role Responsibilities Finance & Organisational Performance •

Develop a sound, multi-year finance strategy facilitating increasing financial sustainability of the organisation.

•

Provide a financial service to Depaul that ensures that key financial functions are compliant and effective.

•

•

Ensure robust systems and processes for financial and strategic planning and reporting, including the preparation and monitoring of the annual budget for Depaul UK based on a business partnering approach and analysis of financial performance against plans and strategy with particular regard to public benefit and achievement of charitable objects.

Oversee the preparation of the annual statutory accounts and corporate reporting to Depaul International and the external audit.

•

Lead on rent setting, and reporting on all aspects of rental income performance including voids and bad debts.

•

Produce timely management accounts reporting on results and analysis for each business area.

•

Lead on analysis of current performance, prioritizing growth opportunities, assessing viability of business models, conducting variance analysis and recommending corrective actions. Developing analytics

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around key performance indicators to facilitate qualitative reporting.

•

Monitor the external UK environment, including the regulatory, financial and charity sectors, analysing the impact of changes on Depaul UK and taking timely action.

Audit & Risk Management •

Provide strategic oversight of development and maintenance of a corporate risk register reporting to the CEO and Finance, Audit and Risk Committee.

•

Develop and maintain an internal audit Programme including regular reporting to the Finance and Audit committee and follow up of recommendations from internal audit.

•

Lead on the regular review of the external auditor and the periodic tendering of the external audit.

•

Oversee provision of legal advice and suppliers including pro bono.

Facilities & Procurement •

Ensure effective procurement polices and procedures, that contracts and utilities are procured and delivered effectively.

•

Responsibility for Head Lease on Sherborne House and relationship with landlord and sub tenants.

•

Ensure Health and Safety of all staff, volunteers and visitors in the premises.

•

Develop strategies to minimise Depaul UK’s carbon footprint and systems for Disaster Recovery.

IT •

•

•

Lead on ICT systems development ensuring that all ICT is strategically planned and fit for purpose, delivering cost savings and efficiency wherever possible.

Lead on the performance monitoring of external IT support and infrastructure providers and ensure plans are in place for alternative providers where necessary.

Lead on business continuity including reviewing, testing and assuring the BCP policy and procedures at a strategic and local level through services.

Corporate Governance & Administrative Support •

Ensure the development and maintenance of accurate, up to date and highly organised administrative systems to maximise the efficiency of governance, corporate performance management including strategic projects and activities.

•

Ensure effective administrative and executive support to CEO and Executive Team and servicing of the Council of Trustees and its sub-committees, as well as Depaul Housing Services (DHS).

•

Ensure management of the register of members and oversee trustee recruitment, induction and engagement process.

•

Coordinate planning, running and follow up for all governance related meetings.

•

Oversee policy framework.

Compliance & Quality Assurance •

Responsible for all company secretarial duties of the Charity.

•

Ensure compliance with relevant regulatory frameworks/regulating bodies.

•

Advise the Executive Team and their Boards on areas of best practice and requirements in relation to charity law.

•

In partnership with the Executive Director of Operations, provide assurance of quality and compliance in order to ensure Depaul UK is efficient and effective in delivering excellence services within a Quality Framework that ensures compliance with all key statutory legislation pertaining to the delivery of support and housing services to vulnerable people and children.

•

Ensure that Depaul UK is compliant with Depaul Group policies and procedures especially the Group Agreement.

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•

Lead on due diligence for all mergers, acquisitions and partnerships.

•

Provide strategic oversight to compliance with the Data Protection Act and the • General Data Protection Regulation including being Depaul UK’s appointed contact with the Information Commissioners Office.

Leadership and Management •

Provide strategic leadership and inspiring management to the Finance, IT and Organisational Performance functions to support and enable the delivery of strategic and operational plan business goals and objectives.

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•

Produce annual budgets and plans for the Directorate, monitor and adapt as necessary throughout the year.

Set team priorities and objectives and manage staff performance against the delivery of these objectives on a regular basis, and provide regular feedback and support throughout the year and as part of the appraisal process.

•

Work closely with the CEO and Executive Team to provide leadership to the organisation as a whole; attend external meetings on behalf of the Chief Executive on request or in his/her absence.

•

Hold strong relationships at CEO and Board level, and through external networks.

10. Person Specification Experience and Skills Essential •

Fully qualified accountant (CCAB or CIMA), with significant post-qualification experience in financial senior management positions with a track record of producing outstanding financial strategy, planning, reporting, monitoring and budgeting.

•

Good knowledge and understanding of UK financial regulation including SORP and its application.

•

Experience of managing one or more corporate services including IT, facilities, administrative support and governance.

•

Experience of setting organisational standards and quality targets and monitoring these, ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements and improving the organisation’s effectiveness and efficiency.

•

Proven track record of developing systems and processes to effectively monitor, analyse and report on organisational performance.

•

Highly analytical and strategic, you have the capacity to build personal credibility with senior stakeholders and business leaders.

•

Experience of building and managing high performing teams.

•

Strong communication skills at all levels, including the ability to partner with directors in planning financial and business development approaches, and report and

present to staff and Board powerfully and persuasively.

•

Effective time management keeping a strategic overview of the department, manage risk and ensure growth. Ability to work under pressure and effectively manage stress.

•

Proven ability of evaluating new business ideas and development.

•

Highly computer literate, with experience of using relevant software required for planning, monitoring and reporting.

Desirable •

An understanding of supported housing and public sector commissioning processes and a commitment to a needs led service delivery.

•

Knowledge, understanding and ability to apply project management principles.

•

Awareness of and commitment to equality and diversity practice and to its delivery in practice, treating colleagues and clients fairly and with respect.

Personal Qualities •

You will be a confident self-starter with a good sense of humour.

•

You will show a passionate commitment and a genuine interest in Depaul UK’s mission and importantly our values.

•

You will be trusted to act with integrity and honesty.

Appointment Brief | DEPAUL UK 15

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11. How to Apply

To apply, please forward your CV together with a supporting statement (the statement should be no more than 2 sides of A4). In your statement please provide evidence of your suitability against the criteria in the Person Specification and explain why you want to be DePaul Uk’s new Executive Director. Please also provide the names, positions, organisations and telephone contact numbers of two referees, relevant to this role. References will only be taken once your express permission has been granted. Finally, please ensure that you have included mobile, work and home telephone numbers, as well as any dates when you will not be available or might have difficulty with the recruitment timetable.

Recruitment Timetable

Applications must be made via the Prospectus website:

Should you wish to have an informal discussion about the opportunity, have any queries on any aspect of the appointment process, or need additional information please contact our retained advisors

http://prospect-us.co.uk/jobs/details/hq00173732

Deadline for applications: 29th November 2018 In Interviews with Prospectus: 10th-14th December 2018 In Interviews with Depaul UK: 8th January 2019 Final Interviews with Depaul UK: 11th January 2019 Please let us know if you will require any special provision as a result of any disability should you be called for interview.

Sara Livesey and James Wilkinson on 0207 691 1920 or email: sara.livesey@prospect-us.co.uk james.wilkinson@prospect-us.co.uk

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