Chief Executive Officer Vacancy
October 2013
Information Pack
Introduction from Paul Hughes,
Chairman of the Family Care Trust.
Thank you for your interest in the post of Chief Executive Officer at the Family Care Trust. This vacancy has arisen due to the pending retirement of our present Chief Executive Officer, Mark Melaugh.
This information pack is to help any potential candidate gain an insight into the philosophy and values of the FCT in deciding whether to apply for this exciting and demanding post.
FCT as a charity has the widest service range of any charity in Solihull, if not the West Midlands. Whilst this diversity has proved a strength in terms of contract spread, we continue to have challenges to manage the diverse specialist areas of our operation.
The reputation of FCT in all these areas (older people, mental health, learning disability, and training) is professional and competent, and it is a major challenge for the new CEO to stay at the leading edge in delivering best practice across the whole operation.
The Family Care Trust is based in Marston Green, Birmingham, and provides care services throughout Solihull and the wider West Midlands.
The charity has operated for over fifteen years, during which time it has built up a wide portfolio of services that support the community.
The charity started in 1994 with a modest Community Support Team for adults with mental health issues and a Day Centre for Elderly Mentally Infirm (EMI) clients.
The Family Care Trust now operates an administration centre, the FCT Training unit, 2 substantial Community Support Services, an Extra Care Housing scheme, 3 Day Opportunities Centres, 1 Respite Unit, 2 independent living skills training projects for adults with a learning disability or mental health problem, a Community Befriending scheme and a small outdoor education program for children and younger people.
If you would like to have an informal discussion regarding the post you can call me on 01564 779393 or Mark Melaugh on 0121 770 1578.
Yours sincerely
Paul Hughes
Chairman the Family Care Trust
The Family Care Trust – About Us
The Family Care Trust has 120 employees and some 50 volunteers all of whom work hard to provide a caring, supportive service for those who have a disability or illness. We have helped many thousands of individuals over the past 20 years and take great pride in the many close relationships that we have developed.
We understand how illness can change the whole outlook of a relationship and that getting some help can be a relief, but mayalso come with a feeling of guilt. Many of our services have a carer support network, giving an opportunity to share experiences and understand how a properly managed care package can help.
Training is provided to assist carers in providing care to someone who is ill or disabled. We try hard to provide social care services that are welcoming and friendly, having a family feel to them, but always centred on meeting the individual needs of our service user in a value-for-money professional way.
We know that we are in a position of trust and treat service users with dignity and respect. We train and develop our staff and have a learning centre dedicated to providing up to date courses that will enhance support to our service users. Our staff have qualifications in care, catering, transport, safety and other specialisations that underpin the quality of the services we provide.
In 2011 the charity achieved the ISO 9001 Quality Management System standard for all of the support we provide. This independently audited international standard provides a structure within the organisation to ensure customer service is a top priority, and that proper procedures are in place for all critical areas.
The Family Care Trust – Our Services
Day Centres
Blanning centre
The Blanning Centre is located in Bentley Heath, Solihull in a purpose built and modern facility. Having large airy rooms, with on-site catering for freshly prepared food is important, but so is the warm friendly atmosphere that will greet any service user or visitor to the centre.
Colebrook centre
We strive to make the Colebrook Centre a warm, vibrant place with a home from home atmosphere. The centre specialises in providing stimulating person centred day care for older people who have dementia, Alzheimer’s or other mental health problems. Day care provides social contact in a safe, supported environment for the service user and gives carers and relatives much needed reliable respite opportunities.
Croft centre
The Croft Day centre, at Hobs Moat, Solihull was one of the pilot centres to develop modern day care in the late 90’s.
Since then it has supported hundreds of service users, their family and carers.
The centre specialises in providing stimulating day care for older people who have dementia, Alzheimer’s or other mental health problems. It prides itself on building close, caring relationships with service users, their carers and families, with the focus very much on the individual.
Community Support
Solihull community support
The Solihull Community Support Service has been providing specialist support to people with a mental health problem or learning disability since 1995. We provide care and support for people in their own homes, enabling them to continue to live independently for as long as possible.
Dudley community support
The Dudley Community Support Service has been providing specialist support to adults with a mental health issue since 1997.
Over that time it has helped hundreds of adults across the ages of 18 to 65 to recover from all types of mental health problems, so reducing the impact that this can have on their lives, their family, friends and carers.
Respite Care
A modern 7 bed residential unit collocated in the Colebrook centre.
The centre specialises in providing person centred 24 hour respite residential care for older people who have dementia, Alzheimer’s or other mental health problems.
Extra care housing
The Family Care Trust in cooperation with Solihull Community Housing and funded by Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, provides care at a housing scheme in the Bentley Heath area of Solihull.
The scheme is operated through the FCT Solihull Community Support Service and assists adults with a learning disability to live as independently as possible, offering choices in what type and how often services are provided. 24 hour support is available from a team of experienced, friendly, well qualified staff.
The farm
Newlands Bishop Farm has been developed to give people with learning disabilities and mental health problems the opportunity to learn work based skills.
This is provided through our unique work experiences in horticulture, woodwork, gardening, horse care/riding, catering and retail and animal husbandry.
Since 2002 when the project joined the Family Care Trust, the farm has developed significantly. There is now a modern barn where machinery is stored, as well as housing a woodworking unit. In 2008 NBF were awarded a grant to build the stable block and have since been awarded a Riding Establishment Permit that will allow the development of a riding school. A new building, opened in late 2011, includes a training kitchen and café to provide service users with the opportunity to gain commercial catering/retail skills and qualifications.
Berry's café
This is theNBF café and educational building, with a training kitchen,giving our service users retail, social and catering skills by our fully qualified chef and support staff.
Our service users can work in the kitchen or serve members of the general public who use our facilities in our working Berry’s Café.
Community gardening services
The community garden project at Saxon Way is an exciting programme of help for local residents offered by adults with learning disabilities, which gives our project workers a sense of worth and teaches them independent life skills, as well as helping pensioners and private customers.
FCT training
We are a provider of professional training courses, designed for organisations who wish to train their staff, as well as for individuals who are seeking their own personal development. We offer essential courses in health and safety, food hygiene, moving and handling, first aid and much more! Our courses are designed to be practical and comprehensive, providing real value for money for top quality learning.
To apply for this position
To apply for this position, please send a comprehensive CV and a supporting statement.
Please ensure that your application fully addresses the appointment criteria in the person specification.
You should give the names, positions, organisations and telephone contact numbers of two referees, one of whom should be your current/most recent employer. References will only be taken once your express permission has been granted.
You are also invited to complete and return the enclosed monitoring information form. The information on the form will be treated as confidential, and used for statistical purposes. The form will not be treated as part of your application.
We would also be grateful if you could let us know if you will require any special provision as a result of any disability should you be called for interview.
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 indicative timetable.
Applications should be emailed to: Karen Powell at
Applications can also be posted to:
Karen Powell
Family Care Trust
6 Land Lane
Marston Green
Birmingham
B37 7DE.
Closing date: 5pm Monday 18th November 2013
Preliminary interview followed by an informal meeting with the board. Dates to be agreed.
If you have any queries please contact Karen Powell on 0121 770 1578.