CEO (maternity cover)

Contract: 12-month fixed-term maternity cover

Reporting to: Board of Trustees / Chair of Trustees

Carlisle Key is small charity based in Carlisle, Cumbria. We have supported young people in Carlisle since 2003 and provide immediate, practical and emotional support to young people aged 16–25 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness..

Purpose of maternity cover:

This role provides continuity of leadership during the substantive CEO’s maternity leave, ensuring Carlisle Key remains financially sustainable, well governed, safely managed and focused on delivering high-quality services for young people. The postholder will work within the existing strategy and agreed Board priorities, maintaining momentum while ensuring clear records, communication and handover arrangements are in place.

Job Purpose:

To lead the organisation during a 12-month maternity cover period and support the Board in maintaining strategy, governance and continuity of delivery. To hold overall responsibility for fundraising, financial sustainability, financial planning and budgets. To oversee advice, information, drop-in and supported accommodation services for young people aged 16-25, working through the Drop-in Manager, Supported Housing Manager, staff, volunteers, trustees, partners and external expertise where appropriate. To actively pursue funding applications, including identifying potential funders and writing applications. To support agreed development beyond Carlisle to the surrounding district, in line with Board priorities. To deliver advice and information directly to young people occasionally, where required and proportionate.

As a small charity and fixed-term maternity cover appointment, the CEO will balance strategic leadership with practical operational oversight. The priority is to provide stability, continuity and effective delivery rather than initiate major structural change unless agreed with the Board. The postholder is accountable for ensuring key functions are delivered safely, legally and effectively, while using appropriate delegation and management structures for operational delivery. Fundraising, financial planning, budgets and financial sustainability remain direct CEO responsibilities.

Values

To be successful you must be able to embody and live the values at the core of all Carlisle Keys work:

• Empathy & Respect
• Inclusion & Equality
• Support & Encouragement
• Working in partnership and collaboration

Accountabilities

Strategy and Leadership.

· Lead the organisation, including developing an effective staff and management structure that is realistic for a small charity.

·Develop a positive, results-focused culture.

·Support the Board in its role of developing strategy and governance.

·Provide analysis and future projections to support the development of strategy.

·Deliver and maintain progress against the Board’s existing strategy and agreed priorities during the maternity cover period.

·To deliver ambitious, but achievable draft annual (business) operational, risk and budget plans to the Board.

·Produce ambitious but achievable annual operational, risk, fundraising and budget plans for approval by the Board, and take direct responsibility for delivering the fundraising and financial elements.

·Work with the Drop-in Manager and Supported Housing Manager for planning, delivery, monitoring and evaluation of information and support services to young people around housing issues.

Communication.

· Identify and engage key stakeholders to develop and maintain networks of support and influence at local, regional and, where appropriate, national level.

·Contribute to local, regional and, where appropriate, national discussions and policy development relating to youth homelessness and supported housing.

·Access support and funding for projects.

·Support agreed projects and ideas, turning these into workable plans where they meet the Board’s objectives and are realistic within the 12-month maternity cover period.

· Ensure that effective communication and support is maintained internally between the Head Office, Drop-in and our Supported Accommodation.

·Undertake responsibility for liaison with other agencies in order to ensure the effective provision for facilities for young homeless people and maximise relationships with referral agencies.

Finance.

·Ensure that we make the best use of our resources and remain financially strong.

·Produce a clear, realistic financial strategy and annual budget, and take sole responsibility for delivering these within the agreed governance framework.

·Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, such as the SORP, and with internal policies and procedures.

·Ensure that robust safeguards are maintained to minimise the risk of fraud or misuse of assets.

·Responsible for overall budgets in line with the Charity Financial Policies and Procedures and ensuring financial resources are effectively administered.

·Provide accurate and timely financial information to the Board, including forecast, reserves, funding risks and budget variances.

·Ensure financial decisions support the long-term sustainability of Carlisle Key and the safe continuation of its accommodation and drop-in services.

Fundraising and Marketing.

· Fundraising. To develop and deliver the fundraising strategy, taking sole responsibility for identifying funders, writing applications, managing funder relationships, monitoring requirements and achieving income targets in an ethical way that is compliant with relevant legislation.

·Marketing. To implement a marketing strategy and plan in support of the Board’s objectives, including digital.

Safeguarding, Risk and Business Continuity.

· Hold senior accountability for safeguarding culture, systems, reporting, escalation, training and learning across all services.

· Maintain oversight of organisational risk, including the risk register, key controls and timely reporting to the Board.

· Ensure proportionate business continuity and crisis response arrangements are in place for the drop-in centre and supported accommodation.

Supported Accommodation and Drop-in Services.

· Oversee the safe and effective operation of the two supported accommodation houses, including referrals, occupancy, move-on planning, licence or tenancy arrangements, rent and service charge processes, repairs, maintenance and property compliance.

· Oversee the drop-in centre to ensure accessible, trauma-informed advice, information and support for young people, with clear boundaries around crisis response and staff responsibilities.

· Work through relevant managers to assure quality, safety, staffing, supervision and consistency across accommodation and drop-in services.

Support Functions.

·Human Resources (HR). To develop and deliver an effective HR strategy to maximize the contribution people make to our work.

·Infrastructure and Property. Ensure that Head Office, the drop-in centre and supported accommodation buildings are maintained to a high standard, are safe environments and meet relevant property compliance requirements.

·H&SW. Ensure that H&SW and EH standards are maintained.

·IT. Ensure that an effective IT capability is developed and maintained.

·Legal. Ensure that our work and policies are compliant with the law and regulatory frameworks.

Quality.

·Ensure an appropriate quality framework is maintained, including monitoring, evaluation and learning from outcomes for young people.

·Ensure that appropriate policies are developed and implemented, and reviewed regularly.

·Develop and maintain effective operational and financial information management systems.

·Report impact, performance, safeguarding themes and service learning to trustees, funders and stakeholders as required.

Administration and Meetings.

·Attend Board and Committee meetings.

·Ensure effective handover at the start and end of the maternity cover period, including clear records, decision logs, key contacts, funding deadlines, financial position and outstanding risks.

·Prepare a handback report for the substantive CEO and Board, summarising key decisions, progress, funding position, operational issues, risks and recommended next steps.

·Undertake management responsibility for Supervising Leaders, including responsibility for their induction, supervision, appraisal and training to ensure effective working practice.

·Assist in the Promotion and Development of the charity within the framework of its Equal Opportunities and other Policies to ensure consistency in the standard of delivery.

·Advise the Trustees on the Development of the Charity and related issues via regular reports.

·Advise Staff and Volunteers on the Development of the Charity and ensure they have the resources to undertake their role effectively.

Other Tasks. To undertake other related ad hoc tasks as and when required

Pay: £35,000.00-£40,000.00 per year

Work Location: In person