Independent Chair of the Residents Consortium

Salary: £50.00 per hour 

Hours: Average 2 hours per meeting - 10 times a year

Location: Portsmouth

Contract type: Casual

The purpose of the role is to independently chair meetings of the Residents Consortium, ensuring that residents are able to participate effectively in discussions and decision-making on key housing issues. 

Portsmouth Homes is committed to encouraging residents to work with us to improve services. A key part of this is consulting and involving residents in important decisions that affect their homes and communities. 

The Residents Consortium (RC) is the forum for Portsmouth Homes tenants and leaseholders to provide feedback, discuss strategic housing matters, and contribute to decisions on key housing services and policies. 

We are seeking an experienced individual to chair these meetings on a self-employed basis. Applicants should have a strong housing background, with knowledge of social housing, tenant and leaseholder issues, and an understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing residents and housing providers. We are also looking for someone who understands the importance of meaningful resident engagement, including the expectations placed on social landlords through the Regulator of Social Housing’s Transparency, Influence and Accountability Standard, and who can help ensure residents are supported to have an effective voice in discussions and decision-making. 

This specific post is to cover the evening meetings 6-8pm. 

You will ensure that:

• Meetings are conducted in line with the Residents Consortium Terms of Reference. 
• Meetings are managed in an orderly, impartial, and professional manner in accordance with the agreed agenda. 
• All agenda items are discussed and concluded within reasonable timescales. 
• Residents have adequate opportunity to raise questions, share views, and discuss relevant housing matters. 
• Meetings promote equality, inclusion, and respect, and maintain the non-political nature of the forum. 
• You are familiar with the agenda, supporting papers, and minutes from previous meetings. 
• You can facilitate informed discussion on housing-related topics, drawing on your knowledge and understanding of the social housing sector. 
• You maintain occasional correspondence with residents and council officers as required. 

You need to have:

• Experience of working within the social housing, local authority housing, or related housing sector. 
• Good understanding of housing services, tenancy and leasehold issues, resident involvement, and the regulatory environment affecting social housing, including the importance of meaningful resident engagement and the expectations of the Transparency, Influence and Accountability Standard. 
• Experience chairing meetings, panels, boards, or community groups. 
• Strong facilitation, communication, and interpersonal skills. 
• Ability to remain impartial and manage differing views constructively. 

There is no closing date. We will shortlist/interview as and when we receive suitable applications. We may close this advert at any time.

This opportunity is not open to Portsmouth City Council residents, staff or Members due to the requirement to be independent. 

For an informal chat or if you have any questions please call Heidi Golder (Resident Engagement Manager) on 023 9268 8225.

Portsmouth City Council is a unique organisation, committed to making a difference, and is guided by core values that set who we are as people, what we stand for, and how we act.

We are committed to our values of respect, integrity, collaboration, inclusivity and being people-focussed. These values set out how we can contribute to the success of the council and our own success as individuals. Learn more about our values and behaviours. 

Full information about our recruitment process can be found on our support for applicants' page: Support for applicants - Careers portal

You must demonstrate why you are suitable against each of the points described in the 'Who is the Person' points on the Job Profile using examples from your experience or transferable skills. This might be through qualifications or descriptive examples from your work / personal experience, which clearly illustrates what you did and the effect it had. If you apply without a detailed personal statement, it is unlikely that you will be successful. 

We are a disability confident employer and Armed Forces Covenant gold standard. More information can be found at Equality, diversity and inclusion - Careers portal

You will need to demonstrate that you have the Right to Work in the UK. No post will be offered without it.

Read more about working at Portsmouth City Council and our benefits on our career's portal homepage: Careers Portal - Find jobs with Portsmouth City Council

Should you require any support in completing the application form please contact recruit@portsmouthcc.gov.uk or call the recruitment team on 023 92 616 800. 

• Portsmouth City Council Candidate Guide.pdf
• Job Profile.pdf