The Clock Tower Sanctuary

Chief Executive Officer

Appointment Brief

July 2023

Welcome from CTS

Emily Mo

I’m so pleased that you’re considering this opportunity to become the new Chief Executive Officer at The Clock Tower Sanctuary (CTS).

As the current Chair of Trustees, I’ve been lucky enough to be involved with the charity for over six years and I’m proud to be part of such a robust organisation that has an open, warm and values-based culture. The commitment of our team and volunteers to our young people is strong and the positive impact they make speaks for itself.

The need for the kind of services we provide is as compelling as ever. Backed by our organisational resilience and track record, we have a lot to offer and look forward to our new CEO continuing to support young people experiencing homelessness in Brighton & Hove, and working with them to create a brighter future.

Emily Brock, Chair

This is an exciting time to join us as we celebrate 25 years as the only day centre for young people experiencing homelessness in Brighton and Hove.

At The Clock Tower Sanctuary, we foster a culture of inclusion and empathy. We firmly believe that our team’s diversity of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences is a critical asset in understanding and addressing the complex challenges faced by young people experiencing homelessness. As our Chief Executive Officer, you will play a pivotal role in nurturing this culture and ensuring that everyone feels valued and empowered to make a difference.

We have a strong reputation and relationships within our local community. And alongside that we have a strong foundation in the organisation, and all of the committed people who work for us and volunteer for us. Together, we can create a brighter future for our young people experiencing homelessness in Brighton.

Mo Kanjilal, Vice Chair

Everyone who works at, volunteers or comes to The Clock Tower Sanctuary wants Brighton and Hove to be a city where young people’s experience of homelessness is rare, brief and non-recurring and this vision drives everything that we do.

As the incoming CEO, you will be in a position to build on the strong foundation of service delivery and expand the work with the young people to ensure that our services remain open, accessible and of the highest quality.

You will work with stakeholders from the world of Trust and Foundation funding, individual supporters, including our major donors, corporate and community partners to develop our financial resources and ensure our sustainability.

Our skilled and committed staff, volunteers and trustees will all welcome the opportunity to work with you to take the organisation forward, to continue to provide the life-saving services for young people experiencing homelessness.

Frances Duncan. CEO

If Clock Tower didn’t exist, especially at the minute with how expensive everything is and how hard it is to access services, I feel like I’d be back in the life or death situation I was in a year ago, just in survival mode all the time.

- Bryony aged 22 She/her.

About us

The Clock Tower Sanctuary is the only day centre in Brighton & Hove for 16-25 year olds who are experiencing homelessness*.

We provide a stable space where vulnerable young people in crisis feel safe and get the support they need. We use an asset-based approach in all we do, working with young people to identify their strengths to tackle the physical, mental and practical challenges they face.

Post-Covid, young people are presenting with increasingly complex needs, most frequently poor mental health and substance use.

Brighton & Hove has the second highest levels of homelessness outside of London, with one in 78 people experiencing homelessness (Shelter 2023).

The most common causes of youth

homelessness are family breakdown and poor physical/mental health; alongside leaving care, exclusion from school, refugee status, gang involvement. The economic downturn has created pressure on all health services and young people’s access to basic needs (food, clothing, travel), accommodation and benefits has been disproportionately impacted.

We want Brighton and Hove to be a city where young people’s experience of homelessness is rare, brief and non-recurring.

Our mission is to provide a safe space and support young people experiencing homelessness in Brighton and Hove. We will work with them to increase their voice, transform their lives and reach their potential.

• We look for the best in everyone

• We challenge inequality and prejudice

• We work together to improve young people’s lives

* Young people experiencing homelessness

When we use the phrase young people experiencing homelessness, we mean young people without a safe, secure and private place to call their own; this includes rough sleeping, in a hostel or emergency accommodation, ‘sofa surfing’ or those living in a car/van.

** Our vision statement was developed through consultation with the CTS’ board, staff, volunteers and young people between June 2021 and March 2022. We will review it again in 2024.

We support around 180 young people per year, providing:

Crisis Support Services

Access to food, showers, laundry, computers and phones within a safe and secure space.

Building Trust, Confidence & Self-Esteem

Activities such as yoga, creative workshops and financial literacy. Building relationships with staff and volunteers at this stage is key in helping young people to become unstuck, to unlock their potential and prevent further decline.

Towards Stability

Staff and volunteers work with young people to access accommodation and employment through focused 121 caseworking.

If it weren’t for you guys, a lot of us would have given up.

“ ”

Strategy

We work with young people experiencing homelessness to address their needs now and for their future

• We’ll co-produce our support services

• We’ll listen and respond to young people’s needs

• We’ll provide a safe space and support for young people

• We’ll develop resources, services and partnership to respond to unmet needs

• We’ll ensure our services are accessible and appropriate

We speak up and speak out for young people experiencing homelessness

• We’ll create opportunities for young people to share their experiences and tell their stories

• We’ll support young people in getting their voices heard and understood by people who can effect change locally

• We’ll identify gaps and seek solutions from our partners

• We’ll challenge the stigma which young people experiencing homelessness face, by supporting individuals to handle prejudice and by pursuing systemic change

We provide flexible and outstanding support

• We’ll ensure the credibility and sustainability of the organisation by having effective trustees, staff and volunteers

• We’ll increase the diversity of our volunteers and staff, including those with lived experience

• We’ll nurture a culture of progression, ensuring continuous professional development

• We’ll work with our partners to achieve the best outcomes for young people experiencing homelessness

• We’ll maintain a diverse, sustainable fundraising portfolio

• We’ll reduce our environmental impact

• We’ll be agile, focusing on our mission while adapting to changing circumstances

• We’ll evidence the impact of our work

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

Our organisation, staff and activities are 100% focused on reducing inequality for young people experiencing homelessness.

All our services are free to our community and our approach to working with young people clearly shows how we reduce barriers for individuals to access not just our services but those of other organisations. The way we enable young people to challenge stigma, develop their autonomy, their agency and their sense of purpose and worth all contribute to a rebalancing of social justice for individuals.

The second objective in our Strategic Plan is ‘We speak up and speak out for young people experiencing homelessness’. This mandate alongside the funding for our Youth Voice work will enable us to create opportunities for young people to share their experiences and tell their stories to those who can affect change both locally and further afield. We will identify gaps and seek solutions with local partners in homelessness, health, criminal justice, employment and education whilst also continuing to work with national organisations who deliver social justice.

In 2022, we completed a staff and trustee inclusion audit which assessed our inclusion score against six areas: as a result we have an action plan to continue to work with our strengths and to improve the weaker areas.

We are in an unusual position where we choose not to receive statutory funding: amongst other things, this enables us have candid conversations with those in positions of influence.

Finances

CTS’ income comes from a diverse base:

37% Trusts & Foundations

32% Individual Donations

31% Events, Community & Corporate Supporters

In the last five years, CTS has developed a clear fundraising strategy and has invested in resources to secure the ambitious income target of £728k in 2023. The focus in 2023-27 is on excellent stewardship of our existing donors, securing new donors and supporters and building our profile; we are developing a strong narrative by working with young people to tell their story and to influence change (Strategic objective 2).

Organisation Chart

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Role Description

Chief Executive Officer

Salary: £60,000

Contract: Full time, 4 days in the Centre, 1 day working from home

Location: Brighton

Role Purpose

To provide leadership to the charity and to be responsible for its management and administration, within the strategic, policy and accountability frameworks approved by the Board of Trustees.

To ensure that the needs of young people who are homeless are at the heart of any service developments. To champion the needs of homeless young people through networking, partnership development, research and fundraising.

To ensure that the values of the charity are lived and experienced within The Clock Tower Sanctuary; where volunteering is at the centre of delivery and an organisational culture of learning, innovation, responsiveness and mutual respect supports the whole service.

Together with the Chair, enable the Board of Trustees to fulfil its duties and responsibilities for the proper governance of the charity and to ensure that the Board receives timely advice and appropriate information on all relevant matters.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership and Strategic Planning

• Responsible for continual improvement of services, maintaining strong networks and developing innovative approaches to deliver the work of The Clock Tower Sanctuary

• Works with the Board to ensure that a longterm strategy is in place which can guide the organisation in achieving its mission (including developing models of service delivery, fundraising and governance)

• Ensures that the organisation is effectively managed, either through direct line management and supervision arrangements or through delegated management responsibility

• Ensures that the organisation is both accountable to a range of stakeholders and also that their voices are heard in developing plans and strategy

• Leads operational planning processes, ensuring that staff and volunteers are appropriately involved in service planning

• Ensures the development of the organisation’s monitoring and evaluation requirements, considering the needs of funders, the organisation and clients

• Ensures a dynamic response to changing circumstances and changes in Leadership

Governance and Accountability

• Ensures that the Board of Trustees are supported in their governance role, including ensuring the effective flow of information so that the board is able to make sound decisions, is adequately skilled and structured to meet the needs of the organisation

• Is accountable for the overall operation of the charity, including all relevant legal duties such as Health & Safety, Equalities, Information Governance (including Data Protection) and Child/Adult Safeguarding, though the day to day work is delegated

Finance

• Responsible for the day-to-day financial management of the charity, including the preparation of budgets and business cases for agreement by the Board of Trustees

• Works with the Finance team to produce quarterly financial reports and cash flow forecast

• Ensures that income and expenditure is controlled in line with budgets – making sure that potential risks are identified and managed

Fundraising

• Has responsibility for the ensuring income generation strategies and plans are in place to maintain and enhance the level of funding.

• Work with Fundraising and Comms Manager to develop new funding streams including relationships with corporate partners, major funders, individual donors and trusts and foundations

External Relationships

• Ensures the charity is presented in an appropriate and professional manner to all its stakeholders

• Develops and maintains effective networks with all principal supporters and stakeholders including the media

• Ensures that the organisation stays abreast of the external policy environment and current good practice ensuring that staff and trustees are briefed of developments

• Ensures that the organisation learns from best practice from other respected organisations

Key Resposibilities

Other

• Responsible for developing and implementing improved and up-to-date HR practices/policy including the development and updating of the staff handbook and ensures that all staff receive regular supervision and appraisals

• Operates within the context of the agreed Delegated Authority Policy

• Participates in regular training and supervision as required

• Undertakes other tasks as are deemed reasonable for the role

Person Specification

• Effective leadership and management at a senior level

• Experience of developing strategic plans, identifying and delivering on key performances indicators and service delivery objectives

• An understanding in ensuring good governance and a smooth-running business cycle

• Experience of managing and planning the use of resources in a frontline service organisation to achieve service outcomes, enhance operational effectiveness and maintain financial stability and controls

• An awareness and/or knowledge and understanding of the specific needs of young people and/or homelessness

• Experience of representing an organisation externally and acting as an proactive ambassador for the charity

• Ability to maintain current and secure new funding streams to develop and broaden services and income base

• Experience of overseeing property or facilities at an operational level

• Ability to develop a culture of innovation, creativity and learning, where all people feel supported to make positive changes in their lives and in their work

How to Apply

To apply for the role please upload your CV together with a supporting statement (of no more than 1000 words) onto the Prospectus website via the link.

Please ensure that you have included a telephone number, as well as any dates when you will not be available or might have difficulty with the recruitment timetable.

If you wish to apply using an alternative format please contact Prospectus on 020 7691 1920 or email: executive.admin@prospect-us.co.uk

Applications via the Prospectus website should be made at: https://jobs.prospect-us.co.uk/jobs/185039-Chief-Executive-Officer

At Prospectus we believe passionately that a truly inclusive workplace leads to increased social impact. We are committed to supporting our clients build more inclusive teams. To understand how we are performing, we ask that you kindly complete the brief equal opportunities questionnaire when you submit your application via our website.

Please be assured that your responses are kept confidential, separate from your candidate record, are not part of any application you make, and that the consultants never see individual responses to the questionnaire.

Recruitment Timetable

Deadline for applications: 17th September

Interviews with Prospectus: w/c 25th September

Panel interviews in person with The Clock Tower Sanctuary: Monday 9th October

Queries

If you wish to have an informal discussion about the opportunity, please contact our retained advisors Jane Ray, Lottie Wihl or Sam Badenoch at Prospectus on 020 7691 1920, or email:

jane.ray@prospect-us.co.uk

sam.badenoch@prospect-us.co.uk

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