governance

The Board sets and actively drives the organisation’s social purpose, vision and values. Through these it embeds within the organisation resident focus, inclusion, integrity, openness and accountability.

It is ultimately responsible for the overall control of strategy, resources, legality and monitoring performance (operational performance being regularly reviewed by the Performance and Standards Committee). The Board must steer and direct the business to achieve its corporate objectives and customers’ needs in compliance with the appropriate regulatory and legal frameworks.

The following representatives make up the Board: Hazel Dale (Chair), John Marshall (Senior independent director), David Clouston, Kelly Henderson, Kevan Wales, Monica Burns, Rob Auty, Faye Gordon and Alan Smith.

Our Executive Management Team consists of Chief Executive Alan Smith; Executive Director of Investment, Growth and Performance Faye Gordon; and Executive Director of Communities and Customer Services Nik Turner.

Working with our Board, the executive team provide strategic focus for believe housing’s work while ensuring that we put our customers at the heart of what we do.

We also have our Customer Voices group (previously known as the Values Group), which comprises of a well-resourced, trained panel – one customer, two independents and employee members. Its purpose is to ensure our core values of doing the right thing for our our people, our customers, and our business.

The group is intrinsic to everything we do and to hear the true voice of the customer gaining insight to drive the business forward. It has direct links to Performance and Standards Committee and the Board as appropriate.

Responsibilities include:

• Approving the appointments of internal and external auditors.
• Monitoring the implementation of audit recommendations.
• Overseeing arrangements for internal controls and risk management.
• Reviewing the organisation’s financial controls and reporting mechanisms.
• Monitoring numerous policies for:
  • Anti-bribery.
  • Anti-fraud and corruption.
  • Anti-money laundering.
  • Data protection.
  • Whistleblowing and probity.
• Monitoring health and safety performance.
• Reports on safeguarding issues and reviewing the organisation’s Business Continuity Plan.

Responsibilities include:

• Reviewing and updating HR and people policies and other Board delegated policies.
• Monitoring the development and performance of our people.
• Reviewing our equality and diversity performance and actions.
• Setting and overseeing appropriate and effective appraisal mechanisms for Board, committees, the Chief Executive and Customer Voices.
• Approving and monitoring training and development programmes for Board, committee and Customer Voices members.

Responsibilities include:

• Overseeing, monitoring and scrutinising the organisation’s financial position and performance against the Performance Management Framework.
• Approving the organisation’s approach to customer satisfaction.
• Monitor the delivery of the organisation’s corporate strategies.
• Considering feedback and monitoring recommendations from the Customer Voices, advising the Board as appropriate.

Responsibilities include:

• Overseeing, monitoring and scrutinising believe housing’s development programme.
• Approving development schemes and investment.
• Overseeing Believe Housing Developments Limited.

The committee is responsible for decisions relating to the organisation that arise from or are in consequence of unforeseen matters of emergency, where such matters cannot be addressed in a timely manner by the Board, other committee or Customer Voices.