Stepping Up to Scrutiny – in practice
TPAS Conference 2014
Ann Marie Stanley,
Scottish Government
Marian Reid, CIH Scotland
Setting the Scene
• Housing (Scotland) Act 2001
– Statutory requirement for tenant participation
strategies
– Rights to be consulted on key areas of service and
standards of service
• Housing (Scotland) Act 2010
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Scottish Social Housing Charter
Standards and outcomes
Self-assessment by landlords
Annual Return on the Charter (plus Annual Report)
Role of Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR)
Aim / Purpose of the Charter
Improve quality & value of services provided
States what customers can expect from landlord
Focus landlords on achieving outcomes that matter to
their customers
Establish basis for Regulator to assess & report on
landlords performance
What should tenants expect?
• To be consulted by the landlord & agree how they will
be involved in the self assessment
• Know what approach the landlord is taking to
involve tenants in the self assessment
• Have opportunities to be involved meaningfully /
effectively in assessing their landlords performance &
the collection of information on the ARC
• Have opportunities to be part of regular &
continuous performance monitoring
Stepping Up to Scrutiny
Commissioned by the Scottish Government
Three years - 34 housing organisations
Programme covers tenants, staff and Board
Key stages:
– Background to scrutiny/understanding performance
information
– Preparation for scrutiny
– Pilot scrutiny exercise
– Debrief session
Support Charter Implementation
• Longstanding Scottish Government commitment to support
Charter implementation through a scrutiny learning
programme
• Tenant Scrutiny is new to Scotland and keen to support a
consistent, quality approach to developing scrutiny
activities in Scotland
• Supports service improvement by giving tenants the
knowledge to understand, question and compare how well
their own landlord is performing
• Keen to see landlords introduce regular and systematic
scrutiny arrangements as part of their overall performance
monitoring systems
Objectives include
Embedding a culture of scrutiny in organisation
(including governance arrangements)
Empowering tenants – understanding scrutiny, able to
give peer support
Strengthening connections - between scrutiny and
performance management, vfm
Clarifying role and boundaries
Discussion point……….
Where are you on the Participation Pyramid?
Control
Influence
Partnership
Consultation
Information giving
Scrutiny … some definitions
Dictionary: Critical observation or examination
CIH: where customers’ priorities, views and
engagement with relevant processes are at the
heart of housing organisations’ framework for
directing, accounting for, monitoring, accessing
and modifying their own behaviour and
performance
Centre for Public Scrutiny: The activity by an elected
or appointed organisation examining and
monitoring a public sector body with the aim of
improving the quality of public services
Scrutiny.. Not just Housing…
Understanding the Scrutiny Role
Participation = Day to Day
Scrutiny = independent, influence, impact…
Governance = Board
Coverage includes:
Implications of Charter
Getting to grips with performance data
Supporting tenants in monitoring landlord performance
Understanding long-term trends & VFM
Role of Boards/councillors
How to involve other services users/customers
Action planning for scrutiny
Monitoring progress and moving forward
What this means in practice
Imparting knowledge and information
Improving skills
Enthusing participants!
Added value of potential qualification
- L3 Award in Tenant Scrutiny
Discussion points……
How are you currently involved as tenants/customers?
How effective is this?
What progress has your landlord made towards
scrutiny?
Progress to date
Currently working with over 13 organisations across
Scotland (with more in pipeline)
Average 9 tenants, 13 staff and 11 Board per organisation
Some challenges emerging – e.g. capacity of smaller RSLs,
pilot scrutiny exercise
Has your organisation/have you taken part?
Lessons so far…
Scrutiny works best where TP strategies are well
established
Tenants need support to get involved (and stay
involved)
Momentum needs to be maintained post-programme –
have a plan!!
Won’t answer all your questions - will generate
discussion and new ones!
Good practice points emerging
Moving forward………
• What other support do tenants need to take
part in scrutiny?
• Any other points?
For further information contact:
Marian Reid, CIH Scotland
Tel: 0131 225 4544
Email: [email protected]