Karen Ferris

Karen has worked in housing and supported housing since 1985. She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Housing. Within supported housing Karen has undertaken both development and operational roles.

Most recently Karen has held the post of Operations Manager for a Housing Association, which is a specialist in the Homelessness sector. She had responsibility for the development and implementation of operational strategy and policy and procedures. She has managed large staff teams and set up and managed Supporting People contracts; she has managed and improved KPI’s and carried out internal training for staff. Karen is particularly passionate about Service User participation and has actively taken this forward throughout her career.

Karen has been responsible for budget setting and management and has considerable practice of fundraising for marginalised groups. Karen also has knowledge of working with within the voluntary sector and with a range of client groups including older people, those with physical or mental disability, ex-offenders, people with substance misuse issues and floating support services covering a wide array of support needs.

She is currently on the Board and the Finance Committee of a Women’s Aid organisation.