Expression of Interest: Including the Voice of Lived Experience on the HAIL Services Committee

About HAIL

HAIL (Housing Association for Independent Living) is a highly skilled and specialist Housing Association providing exceptional quality housing and floating support services to tenants and clients with mental health difficulties. Founded in 1985 as a non-profit organisation, our purpose is to provide the key to independent living for those with enduring mental health difficulties, and our vision is to drive excellence in mental health housing support and to be the partner of choice in delivering independent living in communities across Ireland.

Our vision is to drive excellence in mental health housing support and be the partner of choice for delivering integrated independent living in communities across Ireland.

In 2024 HAIL launched our latest Strategic Plan which sets out our ambitions to deliver 300 homes, at least 200 of which will be for with enduring mental health difficulties, as well as continue to strengthen and develop our floating support, forensics and peer support programme.

Why we need your involvement

HAIL would like to invite individuals with lived experience of mental health difficulties to join our Services Committee. Our Services Committee reports to our Board of Directors, and is influential in overseeing, developing, and ensuring high quality service to our service users.

The key objectives of the Support Services Committee are:

• To support the CEO and Head of Services to ensure that the support services delivered to tenants and clients is consistent with quality standards and best practice.
  • To ensure the development and implementation of best practice in the ongoing work of support to HAIL tenants and clients with mental health and related support housing needs.
  • To receive regular reports on the work of the various support services delivered to HAIL’s tenants and targeted individuals.
  • To review and challenge the main risk areas for the Support Services Section including mitigating actions, reporting any emerging concerns to the Audit & Risk Committee and the Board
  • To keep abreast of legislation, and evaluate service developments and funding arrangements in relation to mental health and social housing needs.
  • To consider developments and strategic changes in support delivery arrangements and make recommendations to the Board.
  • To consider areas of new business for support services and make recommendations to the Board
  • To oversee the support and training for support staff, as identified by the CEO and Head of Services.

The Services Committee meets four times per year, mostly online. Meetings last between 1 hour to 1.5 hours. Meeting dates and times are agreed in advance, at the beginning of each year.

Members of the Services Committee come from a wide range of backgrounds, including homeless and housing services, mental health clinical professions, health management etc, and all are committed to ensuring high quality and innovative service provision for those with mental health difficulties.

Membership is reviewed on a regular basis.

What we can offer you

• A chance to be part of a positive, dynamic and innovative organisation which offers a real possibility of change at an individual and societal level
• Support and Training to help you in your role, if required
• Experience in driving forward strategy and excellence in services

Do I get paid to take part?

No, HAIL is a registered charity. Members of the committee and of HAIL’s Board of Directors volunteer their time and input to support HAIL’s work.

Will HAIL cover my travel and expenses?

Yes, HAIL will cover travel costs and expenses for any participants who travel to our in-person meetings.

Where can I find more information?

HAIL’s website gives a good introduction to our work and our track record (https://hail.ie).

Further queries can be addressed to Julie Cruickshank, Head of Services, julie@hail.ie, 087 7394375.

How can I apply?

To be eligible to apply you must:

• Be over 18 years of age, and have
• Experience of an enduring mental health difficulty, including experience of being a service user of a clinical mental health team.

Experience of being using homeless or housing services, being a tenant of a Housing Association, or having availed of or offered Peer Support would be advantageous but not necessary.

If you are interested, please send an email outlining your reasons for applying, what you hope to offer HAIL and any other relevant information to julie@hail.ie by October 14th. If you wish to discuss any aspects of the organisation or the role, please call 01-6718444 and leave a message for Julie.