Trustees and Trainee Trusteeopen

Deadline for applications: 2nd November 2025

Inclusive Boards is pleased to be supporting Abbeyfield Living Society in their search for two Trustees and one Trainee Trustee.

Abbeyfield Living Society (ALS) is a charity providing housing, care and support to older people across England. ALS currently own 1,358 housing and care rooms/apartments across 63 properties and 28 counties in England, including sheltered housing schemes, care homes, nursing homes, and dementia care homes. ALS is seeking to recruit two Trustees and one Trainee Trustee to assist the Board of Trustees to ensure the future viability and sustainability of Abbeyfield by:

• Ensuring that ALS has a clear business plan that supports its vision, mission and strategic direction, and is focused on achieving these. 
• Being focused on the needs of residents and their wellbeing through the provision of high quality and compliant services. 
• Working in partnership with other trustees, the CEO and other senior staff, contributing to and sharing responsibility for the Board’s decisions. 
• Complying at all times with the National Housing Federation’s Code of Conduct for its board members and staff.

Given that community is at the heart of Abbeyfield, we are working towards a board that is representative of the people and communities we serve. A diverse board will help to broaden our reach, and ensure Abbeyfield is demonstrating its commitment to helping diverse communities. Furthermore, ALS has signed up to the National Housing Federation (NHF) Code of Governance 2020 which includes the requirement that:

 ‘The membership of board and committees comprises people with diverse backgrounds and attributes, having regard to the diversity of the communities the organisation serves and in line with the organisation’s stated commitments to equality, diversity and inclusion’ (para 3.4(3)). 

To these ends, we actively seek applications from a diverse range of candidates. ALS is deeply committed to inclusive working practices, so during the application process we commit to: 

• Offering a guaranteed first stage interview for disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role. 
• Covering travel costs to and from in-person interviews. 
• Making reasonable adjustments at every stage of the process – for example, arranging a BSL interpreter or accessible interview format as needed. 
• Providing recruitment documents in alternative formats, such as accessible Word versions, on request.

For this role, you will need demonstrable experience of operating in a senior leadership role/board level in charitable, public sector or commercial organisation. The new trustees will complement the skills of the existing Board and will each bring specialist knowledge and experience in at least one of these specific areas:

• Care &/or housing services management and CQC &/or housing regulation
• Property growth & development
• Artificial intelligence

Regardless of professional background, candidates must be able to contribute at a strategic level to steer and drive the strategy, ensure good governance, help to promote the reputation of ALS and be advocates for the Abbeyfield movement.

For more information about this opportunity, please download the Candidate Information Pack using the links on this page.

If you wish to apply for this position, please supply the following by 11.59pm on 02/11/2025: 

• A detailed CV, setting out your career history, with responsibilities and achievements 
• A cover letter (maximum two sides of A4) highlighting your suitability for the role for which you’re applying and how you meet the person specification. Please note that the cover letter is an important part of your application and will be assessed. Please note that the cover letter is an important part of your application and will be assessed.
• Details of two professional referees together with a brief statement of their relationship to you and over what period of time they have known you. Referees will not be contacted without your prior consent

To find out more, request support when applying, or have an informal confidential discussion before applying, please get in touch with one of our consultants by emailing ALS@inclusiveboards.co.uk or calling 0207 267 8369.

Closing date for applications: 11:59pm, Sunday 2nd November 2025