IBS OPENSystems announced the release of its new Benefit notification letter suite. The project was set up to improve the decision letters issued by local authority Housing Benefit services.
By using the new IBS suite, local authorities will be able to send letters using a large variety of customer languages, in large print and in Braille, making it easier for the elderly and vulnerable to understand what help they are entitled to.
Authorities will also be able to determine their own layout for information schedules sent to landlords who are receiving Housing Benefit on behalf of their tenants. Additionally, there is the facility to email notifications to customers and landlords.
Perth & Kinross Council went live with its use of Consilium Technologies TASK Contractor to manage the delivery of its building maintenance services.
Implementation of the system commenced in October 2004. The Council had previously been using a small bespoke system and had chosen TASK Contractor to provide a completely integrated solution. Modules selected included Works Order Management, Labour Costing, Barcode Reader for Stores and the Ledgers.
The TASK solution enables the Council to manage every stage of the job lifecycle, and provides all required management reporting information.
Orchard Information Systems released details of a new risk-minimising asbestos management solution that has been specifically developed for organisations that include social housing landlords.
The software, claimed to be the leading integrated housing and asbestos management solution, as distinct from a problem highlighter only, enables organisations to proactively manage asbestos in accordance with the standards set out in the Methods for the Determination of Hazardous Substances (MDHS100) standards.
Although legislation governing the proactive management of asbestos came in a year ago, Orchard's own research suggests many housing groups are yet to bring in an in-depth solution to managing the problem.
Under the new duty to manage asbestos, property owners who now fail to keep meticulous and secure records for up to 40 years could face large liability costs. Removal of all asbestos is recognised as uneconomical and impractical. Computerised record keeping and risk management techniques, however, are now necessary for analysing large volumes of data and deciding what remedial actions are necessary.
IT specialist Cadcorp was awarded a £22,000 contract by Sunderland HA to provide it with geographic information software. The system uses Ordnance Survey mapping to identify areas of housing need and information shares across the Group's intranet.
Aspire Housing and Staffordshire Council pilot tested a new unit produced by Tunstall to help ensure tenants take prescribed medication. The software incorporates a sensor that sends out a signal when a tenant does not respond to reminders to take prescribed medication.