An Audit Commission inspection report released during January 2007 concludes Carrick Housing (Carrick District Council ALMO) provides an excellent three-star service with promising prospects for improvement.
The inspection team gave the service three stars because it found services are customer focused with a culture of involving residents in developing all aspects of service delivery. High performance over a wide range of service areas has been sustained, with some examples of innovation and further investment in priority areas.
Kieran Colgan, the Audit Commission's Lead Housing Inspector for the South West, said:
"Since our last inspection, Carrick Housing Limited has continued to deliver high-quality day-to-day services to tenants, while also delivering continuous improvement by being innovative and by taking opportunities to develop services for the future. It is this approach that others should try to copy."
The report concludes that:
Satisfaction with services is very high. Services are customer focused, tenant participation is well-developed and there is strong commitment to equality and diversity.
Performance on repairs and maintenance is strong, with some examples of service innovation. Work to bring properties up to the Decent Homes Standard has had a positive impact.
Estates are generally clean and tidy and there is an effective approach to tenancy management, including anti-social behaviour.
Carrick Housing is delivering services that represent good value for money. It has a strong track record of improving performance, a high level of self-awareness and a clear vision and leadership of the organisation.
However, performance management is not effective in all areas. A challenging agenda for improvement and change has been set. There is uncertainty over contractor capacity in the area and significant financial pressures.
To help the service improve, inspectors recommended that the ALMO should:
Improve capacity, cost-effectiveness and value for money through, for example, training and development and the regular testing of the service's value for money.
Effectively manage risk to the organisation by, for example, ensuring there are effective systems in place to carry out safety checks to tenants' homes.
Other local authority reports issued by the Audit Commission during the month included:
Newham Homes (Newham LB Council ALMO):
Two-star good service with promising prospects for improvement.
Northwards Housing (Manchester City Council ALMO):
Two-star good service with excellent prospects for improvement.
Purbeck District Council (Strategic Housing Service):
One-star fair service with uncertain prospects for improvement.
Stratford-on-Avon District Council (Strategic Housing Service):
Two-star good service with promising prospects for improvement.
An Audit Commission report released during January 2007 finds that Three Valleys Housing delivers a poor zero-star service with uncertain prospects for improvement.
The Association was formed through the transfer of housing stock from Erewash Borough Council. It manages over 5,300 properties, mostly rented housing. In April 2006, the Housing Corporation made three compulsory appointments to the Association's Board because of serious concerns about its governance and viability. Three Valleys Housing has recently made significant changes at Board and senior officer level, including appointing a new Chair, Chief Executive and Director of Finance.
The inspection report reveals that the association is weak in its approach to customer care, diversity and value for money. One of the few strengths identified in the report is the way the Association is managing improvement work to tenants' homes. Its management of performance however is poor.
Deborah Good, senior manager for the Audit Commission, said:
"The quality of services delivered by the association to date has been inconsistent. However, there is now a clear agenda for change and a real commitment from senior managers and the Board to deliver improvements for its customers. A re-inspection of the service will take place, after the Association has had chance to implement recommendations made in the report."
Weaknesses identified in the report include:
Some positive aspects are noted in the report, including:
Recommendations for improvement made in the report include:
Other Audit Commission housing association inspection reports released during the month included:
South Liverpool Housing:
Two-star good service with promising prospects for improvement.
South Liverpool Housing is a registered social landlord working in the Speke and Garston areas of Liverpool. It was registered in September 1999 to take 4,400 general needs properties as part of a stock transfer from Liverpool City Council.
The Highland Council's homelessness service was given a fair rating following an inspection by Communities Scotland.
The Council has the largest geographic area in Scotland. The number of social-rented housing in Highland is lower than the national figure. Alongside this there has been a 73% increase in the number of homeless people applying to the Council over the last four years.
Almost 2,400 applications were assessed by the Council in 2005/06. It assessed fewer people as having priority need than the national average, and the Council recognises it has a number of challenges to overcome if it is to deal successfully with all homeless people by the national target date of 2012.
Fanchea Kelly, Communities Scotland's head of inspection, said:
"Inspectors were aware of the challenge of delivering consistent homelessness services across a large, and often remote, geographic area.
"The council is working on a plan to improve its homelessness services and Communities Scotland is confident that the weaknesses identified during the inspection will be addressed."
The inspection of the Highland Council took place in August and September 2006. The inspection covered homelessness services only and the Council was awarded a 'fair' C grade. The report concludes there are some strengths, but also many areas where improvement is required, or where there are a small number of significant weaknesses.
www.communitiesscotland.gov.uk
