Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
St Luke's Housing Society is a small registered provider of housing.
McMaster House Team
We have a small but dedicated team of professionals and Trustees, who are committed to providing safe and comfortable homes for our residents. Find out a bit more about our people below:
Head of Operations
Jo Dancer
Jo is responsible for the operational management of SLHS and is overseen by a Board of Trustees. The Head of Operations is the Company Secretary and on a day-to-day basis responsible for all compliance, governance, financial, estate management and HR at the association.
Jo has worked in Social Housing in Oxfordshire for over twenty years, with expertise in anti-social behaviour, injunction and possession applications and complex tenancy issues.
Jo has a BSc (Hons) Degree in Early Childhood and Educational Studies, from Oxford Brookes University.
The designated safeguarding lead for SLHS, passionate about improving mental health services for young people, adults and our older people.
With lived experience of Neurodivergence, Jo also works freelance for a peer support service for people with Autism and ADHD.
Jo is a Trustee Board Member for Response, the Mental Health Service in Oxford.
Outside of work, Jo is a keen photographer and a mum to one very energetic boy who loves the outdoors!
Housing Support Officer
Janet Blewitt
Janet works in a peripatetic role for the scheme, providing support to the team. Janet carries out routine Support Assessments, signposting residents for additional support and helping residents to maintain their independence and promote their wellbeing.
Janet has a strong background in Adult Social Care, working for many years as a Registered Manager for Oxfordshire County Council, managing carers and carrying out assessments for Care Packages.
Janet has NVQ Level 4 Adult Social Care, NVQ Assessors Award and Registered Manager qualification.
Janet worked for Oxfordshire University Hospital Trust, where she worked as a Manager for the Patient Discharge Service. Janet keeps chickens at home and enjoys gardening and spending time with her family and grandchildren.
Activities Officer
Dawn Brennan
Dawn has a strong background in education where she worked for 22 years in the Special Educational Needs (SEN) environment. Starting out as a Teacher's Assistant in Primary school and culminating in managing a team of secondary school Intervention Tutors.
Dawn's main duties included carrying out inductions, staff training, mentoring and appraisals. Alongside this, Dawn planned, taught and administrated SEN student Interventions. Dawn has also worked as an Exam Invigilator.
Dawn comes from a family who are very arts and craft orientated, her main hobbies include baking and cake decorating which she has enjoyed for many years, whilst also maintaining an allotment.
Working at McMasters House has enabled Dawn to combine my skills and hobbies whilst working in a fabulous environment. Dawn has enjoyed getting to know the lovely residents and really looks forward to the weekly activity sessions together.
Maintenance Officer
Shane Roche
Shane is our scheme Maintenance Officer and is responsible for our day to day responsive repairs and maintenance. He is responsible for our estate and grounds maintenance and ensuring our scheme is safe and well maintained.
Shane has a strong background in multi-trade environment, previously working in maintenance roles for the NHS, BMW and RAF Benson.
Shane has a genuine empathy for our residents and his friendly and approachable attitude is second to none. Shane is a loyal and dedicated member of the team and flexible can do, problem solving attitude are some of his strongest attributes.
Outside of work Shane loves spending time with his family and is a keen Arsenal Fan.
Medequip Connect
24 Hour Emergency Response Team
All of our residents have the reassurance of knowing that when there are no staff on site Medequip are available to deal with any emergency situation.
Each property has emergency pull cords installed in every rooms. For those that require increased support, personal pendant alarms can be worn if needed.
If there is an emergency call via the system, Medequip will assess the situation twenty four hours a day, and send out a mobile warden or contact emergency services and/or carers/relatives as appropriate.
During office hours, our own staff are updated throughout the day and can also attend emergencies and provide follow up support where required.
Malcolm Fearn
Chair of Trustees
Malcolm worked in the motor industry at a senior level before taking early retirement in the late 1990s.
Since then Malcolm has chaired a number of organisations in the public and charitable sectors including:
*Oxford City Primary Care Trust; * Thames Valley Probation;
* PACT - Parents and Children Together (an adoption and fostering charity);
* and spent two years chairing a small part of the NHS called Supporting Public Health (preparing it for a possible privatisation).
Jeremy Burgess
Trustee
Jeremy has previously acted as Chairman. He has experience as Chief Executive of Brunel Housing in Bradford, and as a quantity surveyor.
Jeremy is currently involved with the Oxford Rotarians as well as his work here at McMaster House. Jeremy is passionate to see the Society developing its role as a unique provider of social housing in Oxford.
Jeremy is currently our longest standing Trustee.
Martin Mellors
Trustee
Martin has extensive experience in the housing and health sector.
Having completed a degree in Management and a post graduate diploma in Housing at Oxford Brookes University, he worked in a range of local and national housing associations, as well as at a housing charity in Australia.
Having held senior positions leading teams providing specialist housing services and commissioning services for the NHS, Martin is currently Chief Executive for a small housing association in Oxfordshire for older people, Thame and District Housing Association.
Helen Robinson
Trustee
Helen is a recent addition to the Board and is very pleased to be involved with the association as housing is a matter close to her heart.
Helen was born in Cambridge but moved to Jamaica for a few years before her parents and family returned to Oxford where she has lived ever since, moving around the city a few times.
Helen has a strong background in anti-social behaviour and enforcement working for Oxford City Council for 15 years and retiring in January 2024.
Helen’s first role was with some local accountants before joining the Civil Service where she was promoted before taking redundancy in her 40's.
Helen moved into working for housing associations setting up and running housing for homeless teenagers and young parents and providing support to help them move on in their lives.
Helen was promoted to Operations Manager before moving across to manage a floating support team at another RSL. Helen has a strong understanding of housing and safeguarding issues, with strong relationships with many local support agencies and Thames Valley Police.
Helen’s main enjoyment comes from being a hands-on Grandma, reading, gardening and visiting gardens.
Jean King
Trustee
Rev Jean King is a Retired Supernumerary Minister, working for many years at Rose Hill Methodist Church.
Jean has worked for many years in the community and has a good grasp of the issues and challenges facing our communities.
More information to follow.
Stephen Wain
Trustee
Stephen Wain had a long standing career in Fire and Rescue Services for Oxfordshire County Council.
Since retiring, Stephen established his own Fire Safety Consultancy service and now works as a Fire Safety Consultant. Stephen has acquired a knowledge of the needs of older persons, those with additional support requirements. Steve has an understanding of how these needs impact on how providers need to respond to day to day safety issues and how quality housing is so important in securing the best quality of life.
Steve has lots of experience around aids and adaptations and how these can improve the health and safety for residents.
Become a Trustee
Our Board members are volunteers who are committed to improving the homes and lives of our residents. They oversee all of the strategic and financial matters involved with the housing association and are keen to develop and keep up to date with the necessary changes to make our small community thrive in years to come.
Come and Join Us!
We are currently seeking Trustees to join our Board to help us broaden our skills and expertise. If you are interested in joining at this exciting time, please contact for more information.
Please click the link on the left and complete an application form. You can also email a copy of your current CV detailing your area of expertise and provide a covering letter detailing your motivation for wanting to become a trustee at our Sheltered Housing Scheme.
email: enquiries@saintlukeshs.uk