Organisations undergoing housing inspections by the Audit Commission were being encouraged to find innovative ways of responding to the key lines of enquiry (KLOEs). The current documents set out both the questions being considered by inspectors and descriptors of what inspectors are looking for from organisations providing a 'fair' or 'excellent' service.
The Commission is changing the presentation of the KLOEs by making suggestions to help organisations carry out research and find their own routes to providing excellent services.
Roy Irwin, Chief Inspector of Housing at the Audit Commission, said:
"KLOEs are widely recognised as useful tools which have helped organisations to improve their services and we update them regularly to make them as relevant and as user friendly as possible.
"The descriptors have been useful benchmarks but now service providers should be addressing key questions from their own perspective rather than relying on the descriptors. Responding to feedback from consultation, these changes have been made to clarify that the descriptors are not the only answers.
"We are also keen that housing organisations should be more open to learning from the innovative ideas of other organisations which are highlighted on the notable practice part of our website."
Significant changes to the housing KLOEs include:
KLOEs that relate to linked services will be grouped together.
The documents will be restructured to emphasise the focus on the questions and the role of the descriptors as supporting information not a checklist.
The restructured KLOEs will include links to websites with examples of notable practice and related guidance and service standards.
As part of the ongoing six-monthly reviews, the Commission has also consulted on the two housing KLOEs relating to allocations and lettings and homelessness and housing needs. The updated Homelessness and Housing Advice KLOE will be published by the end of September.
Sixteen innovative projects across the country were set to benefit from £800,000, as part of a package of grants to encourage innovation and good practice in housing. The grants have been awarded under the Housing Corporation's Innovation and Good Practice (IGP) programme.
Bids for IGP funding were invited under five new themes:
One of the projects benefiting from this cash injection is the SHOUT youth and community project by the Oxford Citizens Housing Association (OCHA). Under the theme of 'tackling respect', the project aims to create respect between young and old, by creating empowering activities cutting across the Older People and Respect Agenda through voluntary cross generational working.
The project's main aim is to develop a replicable model, in the context of the Respect Agenda, for social housing providers in partnership with other agencies to set up safe, accessible and creative activities empowering young people to take responsibility in their communities.
Its objectives include:
working with 150 children and young people initially on three OCHA schemes, increasing to 250 on five schemes in the second year;
creating voluntary opportunities for over 100 young people, including those with ASBOs, local secondary school children and university students. They will set up and run young people's and inter generational activities;
using sporting, multi-media and educational activities to encourage health and well-being in the community; and
providing increased support for parents, particularly those with vulnerable children.
Other projects to benefit will include:
Responding to an ageing population: Skills Exchange by the Serpentine Gallery. The project will develop a model for cross-generational views of older people and the kind of housing they want. The Serpentine Gallery will engage with older people through art and architect led discussion groups.
Housing management for the 21st century: Energising housing associations to achieve affordable warmth by National Energy Action South West. This project aims to develop an affordable warmth strategy applicable in a diverse range of homes.
Land availability: Financing land and rural housing schemes by Hastoe Housing Association. Fitting with the rural housing strategy, the project builds on work developed by Hastoe to report on and disseminate more widely different ways of securing land through renting, leasehold, rural housing bonds, community land trusts and tax relief. It will highlight the way forward through good practice and successful initiatives.
Barriers to low cost home ownership: My safe home project by Staffordshire County Council. The project aims to tackle home ownership issues for people with long-term disabilities, and marginalised and other vulnerable people.
The next IGP bid round is due to be announced in the autumn.
Local authority inspection reports issued by the Audit Commission during August included the following:
Hackney Homes (Hackney Council ALMO):
One-star fair service with promising prospects for improvement.
Homes for Haringey (Haringey Council ALMO):
Two-star good service with promising prospects for improvement.
North Somerset Council (Strategic Housing Services):
Two-star good service with promising prospects for improvement.
Southend on Sea Borough Council (Landlord Services):
One-star fair service with promising prospects for improvement.
Registered social landlord inspection reports issued by the Audit Commission during August included the following:
Christian Action (Enfield) Housing Association:
Two-star good service with promising prospects for improvement.
James Butcher Housing Association:
One-star fair service with promising prospects for improvement.
Moseley and District Churches Housing Association:
One-star fair service with uncertain prospects for improvement.
Trafford Housing Trust:
One-star fair service with excellent prospects for improvement.
Unity Housing Association:
One-star fair service with promising prospects for improvement.
Westcountry Housing Association:
One-star fair service with promising prospects for improvement.