Role 1345
Four Trustees required for Rockdale Village
Clinical, Finance, Legal and Social Housing Specialists
Our client, Rockdale Village, a leading light in the provision of sheltered accommodation for older people, is seeking four new specialist trustees for its Board. They are looking for backgrounds in Clinical, Finance, Legal and Social Housing. Trustee roles at Rockdale are voluntary. The roles have a three-year tenure and are planned to start as soon as possible. The roles can be renewed for a further three years. Our client has strong diversity principles and encourages applications from all ages, genders, sectors and backgrounds. These opportunities might particularly suit experienced NED’s / Trustees looking to expand their portfolio or candidates new to the world of NED / Trustee roles, seeking their first appointment, who have suitable backgrounds and experience.
The Business
Since 1948, our client has been supporting older people in the Sevenoaks area by providing them with community living. Today it is home to over 200 residents in sheltered accommodation and to residents living in a 50-bed residential care home. Rockdale expanded its services in 2025 to include Nursing and Domiciliary Care.
Our client prides itself on creating a welcoming community for older people, nestled in the center of Sevenoaks town. For many residents, the knowledge that staff are on site 24 hours a day brings peace of mind so that they can enjoy their retirement.
It is a charitable not-for-profit organisation, which enables it to keep its facilities affordable. Any profits are invested back into the association rather than paid as dividends to shareholders. It is governed by a board of voluntary trustees, which ensures that it adheres to its values and principles of providing the best affordable housing to older people in Sevenoaks.
Trustees (voluntary)
Our client seeks four specialist trustees who will report to the Chair.
Person Specification
- A commitment to model and uphold our client’s culture and values.
- A commitment to the organisation and its objectives.
- An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship.
- Proven ability to think strategically.
- Ability to oversee the risk management framework and maintain an agreed assurance framework.
- Good, independent judgement.
- An ability to think creatively.
- An ability to work effectively as a member of the team.
- Willingness to provide constructive challenge to peers and the Senior Leadership Team.
- Able to contribute to 2-3 audits per year, in either the care home or our independent living properties and complete a findings report.
The Trustee with Financial experience will be expected to:
- Be a fully qualified accountant with broad business experience.
- Advise the Board on the financial implications of the association’s strategic plans.
- Provide financial guidance and advice for the management of Rockdale’s assets. This will include treasury management and regular scrutiny of Rockdale’s financial position.
- Support the Board in assessing the quality and effectiveness of the external audit and relay any Board concerns to the auditors.
- Oversee compliance with relevant financial regulations and standards.
The Trustee with Clinical experience will be expected to:
- Bring substantial clinical, nursing or adult social care experience, ideally supported by a relevant professional qualification.
- Scrutinise quality and safety information, including safeguarding, medication management, infection prevention and control, incidents, complaints and clinical risk, and seek assurance that learning leads to improvement.
- Support the Board in overseeing compliance with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) requirements and other relevant health and social care legislation, standards and professional guidance.
- Provide constructive challenge and assurance on workforce competence, clinical leadership, safe staffing, training and continuous quality improvement, while maintaining an appropriate non-executive boundary.
The Trustee with Legal experience will be expected to:
- Be a qualified solicitor, barrister or chartered legal executive, or have equivalent senior legal experience.
- Advise the Board on the legal implications of strategic decisions, while recognising when independent specialist legal advice should be obtained.
- Support oversight of compliance across relevant areas, including housing and care regulation, employment, contracts, data protection, safeguarding and health and safety.
- Promote sound governance, effective decision-making, appropriate management of conflicts of interest and clear records of Board decisions.
The Trustee with Social Housing experience will be expected to:
- Bring substantial senior experience in social housing, supported housing, older persons’ housing, property or asset management within a regulated environment.
- Advise the Board on housing strategy, tenancy and leasehold matters, allocations, resident engagement and the delivery of high-quality services to residents.
- Support oversight of compliance with the Regulator of Social Housing’s standards and other relevant housing, building safety, fire safety and consumer protection requirements.
- Scrutinise information on property condition, repairs, planned maintenance, statutory compliance, health and safety, complaints and resident satisfaction, seeking assurance that risks and service failures are addressed.
- Provide constructive challenge on asset management, investment priorities, value for money, sustainability and the long-term quality, safety and suitability of Rockdale’s homes.
Location
Most Board and Committee meetings are face to face and take place in Sevenoaks. It is likely that candidates for any role will either live locally, be within a reasonable commuting distance, or have knowledge of the region.
Time Commitment
Typically, four Board meetings, four Committee meetings and one strategy day each year, amounting to approximately 10 days annually. Some roles will involve additional audit visits.
These roles will close 4 weeks from today. If you are interested in any of the roles, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
If you have not already done so, please register your CV at www.firstflightnonexec.com/register