Short notice inspections and Comprehensive Area Assessment – the story so far….

1. Short notice inspections and Comprehensive Area Assessment – the story so far…. Sára Kulay Head of Housing and Economic Development, London Region 24th November 2009

2. Agenda for today • Background to SNIs • Key messages from our HA SNI inspection work • LA and ALMO pilot SNI programme • Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) – progress and future plans

3. Short notice inspections - origins • Recommended by the Elton review • More inspections done for the same resource • Reduce the regulatory burden on HAs • Lessen their preparation time and cost • Get HAs to focus on service improvement NOT inspection preparation and swotting • Focus on previously inspected HAs, just doing ‘OK’ – discourage HAs from ‘coasting’ • Focus on weaker performing services

4. The ‘nuts and bolts’ of SNIs… • TSA decide on the shape of the future programme (who, what, where and when) • AC agree the inspection scope with TSA and decide how the inspection will be delivered (detail and timetable) • Inspection scope may vary from ‘wide & shallow’ – assessing overall performance or ‘deep and narrow’ • HA telephoned 5 days in advance – required to provide 5 key documents plus 5 of own choosing within 2 days • Inspection team usually on site for 3 days, with initial briefing and final feedback provided • Draft report on J1 within 2 weeks, with roundtable option • Report on J2 follows 2/3 months later, following assessment of action plan developed with tenants • Resident involvement reflected in planning, on site activity, action planning and HI letter to customers

5. Accord Aldwyck Calico Circle 33 Family (Birmingham) Family Mosaic Luminus Magna Raglan Sadeh Lok Southern Housing Group Trident Pavilion The Short Notice Inspection Programme 2008/09

6. Outcomes of SNIs (1) • The most ‘popular’ TSA selected service areas for SNIs were: • Responsive repairs 9 (out of 13) • Voids / empty property repairs 6 • Resident involvement 5 • Rent collection / arrears mgt 4 • Gas servicing 4 • Capital imps / DHS works 4

7. Outcomes of SNIs (2) • The ‘strongest’ performing services (based on average scores from a min. of 3 inspections) were: • Rent collection / arrears management • Resident involvement • Responsive repairs • Voids / empty property repairs

8. Outcomes of SNIs (3) • The ‘weakest’ performing service areas • Gas servicing - only 1 of the 4 HAs where gas servicing was inspected achieved strengths considerably outweigh weaknesses. Another showed strong performance when inspected as part of the Cyclical Maintenance service area. The remaining2 had weaknesses outweigh strengths • Access & customer care - only 1 achieved the top mark strengths considerably outweigh weaknesses • Value for money - none achieved top marks • Diversity - none achieved top marks

9. Outcomes of SNIs (4) • We have inspected 72 services / areas of activity in 13 SNIs • 5 scored Strengths considerably outweigh weaknesses – 7% • 20 scored Strengths outweigh weaknesses – 28% • 29 scored Balance of strengths & weaknesses – 40% • 18 scored Weaknesses outweigh strengths – 25% • Therefore 65% scored ‘Balance of S&W’ or less • 13 J2 reports have been published • 4 rated as ‘excellent prospects’ & 8 rated as ‘promising’ • 1 rated as ‘uncertain’

10. Some observations (1) • Some HAs were clearly expecting us and /or were prepared! • 5 individual services achieved highest rating of ‘strengths considerably outweigh weaknesses’ – so it is attainable • Gas servicing and the 3 x-cutting areas (diversity, access, VFM) continue to prove a challenge to HAs – why is this? • Self assessments, while not mandatory, are useful to inspectors - give an indication of the level of self awareness within the organisation • Follow-up work required where ‘weaknesses outweigh strengths’ – likely to vary from HA to HA

11. Some observations (2) • Selecting the right documents to submit is a real challenge. Many ‘selected’ documents focus on policy and process – not on performance and customer outcomes • Some HAs sent too many documents / numerous attachments – these were returned with a polite request to prioritise the most important information for the service being inspected • Expect repairs, gas safety and resident involvement to remain most popular themes (link to National Conversation results) • Gas servicing to be included in all future repairs inspections • SNIs ‘save’ AC between 35-40%, enabling more inspections to be carried out.

12. LA and ALMO SNI Pilots • Pilots on site March to June 2009 looking at wider range of housing services • Range of housing services covered: • ALMO services • Landlord services • LA non-landlord services including private sector housing, new housing delivery and homelessness • Evaluation now taking place, including pilot organisations • Report to Audit Commission Board in December 2009 • Question – will short notice inspections be used for LA/ALMO housing services in future? • SNIs would complement (not replace) standard service inspections

13. Comprehensive area assessment • Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) came in from 1st April 2009 • New means of assessing performance at a local level – based on a continuous dialogue NOT an inspection event • Has an area focus, rather than an organisational basis • Key question: how well are people being served by their local public services? • Brings together views of major inspectorates and local people, plus national and local performance information • Two main elements – area assessment (all local public services) and organisational assessment for councils, PCTs, fire and police • Will provide a means of focusing, rationalising and coordination inspection activity across public bodies

15. Why CAA? Big issues need joined up, coordinated action Citizen experiences Need to concentrate on outcomes achieved for local communities Reflect what matters most to local people, with particular focus on people whose circumstances make them vulnerable But needs to stimulate continuous improvement And must continue to provide independent assurance that local bodies are effective and providing value for money

16. Area assessment Answers three questions: How well do local priorities express community needs and aspirations? How well are the outcomes and improvements needed being delivered? What are the prospects for improvement? These questions will be by four themes that run through the assessment: sustainability, inequality, vulnerable people and value for money Green and red ‘flags’ will signal exceptional performance, improvement or innovation and significant concerns about future outcomes Judgement agreed across inspectorates

17. CAA and housing Housing is a fundamental need A successful place is only so with a housing ‘offer’ that meets the needs of local people Housing integral to the well being of an area in its affect on the: Local economy – employment opportunities, disposable income Personal health Educational performance and skills development Community cohesion Housing issues will be at the core of the area assessment

18. How housing is covered in CAA ‘How well are housing needs being met?’ Areas face different challenges and priorities needing differing levels of approach and intensity Housing markets Assessment of needs Supply and delivery of new housing Existing stock Vulnerability and homelessness Housing conditions Neighbourhoods Concentrations of deprivation Long term agenda needing extensive partnership approach

19. Findings will be made accessible for local people

20. Thank you for listening