On 7 February, DLUHC launched a consultation on a new competency and conduct
standard for senior housing managers. A draft Direction to the
Regulator of Social Housing requires introduction of a new Consumer
Standard that Registered Providers, including local authorities,
would be expected to meet. The Standard defines 'senior housing
managers' and 'senior housing executives' as 'relevant individuals'
to whom certain requirements would apply. RPs would have to:
- have an up-to-date written policy setting out their approach to
managing and developing the skills, knowledge, experience and
conduct of relevant individuals;
- adopt or develop an appropriate code of conduct for those of
their staff who are relevant individuals;
- 'secure' that relevant individuals have, or are working
towards, a relevant qualification.
A 'senior housing manager' is someone who will usually manage
the direct delivery of housing management services to tenants.
"Senior housing executives will usually be Heads of Services and
Directors who provide strategic direction and have accountability
in relation to housing management services". Where a role covers
more than housing management, the test is whether the manager has a
'substantive' housing management role which takes up a
'significant' portion of their working time which 'in many, but not
all, cases', takes up 'more than half their time'.
The Policy Statement defines the expected qualifications. Once
the proposed arrangements are fully operational, the requirements
on relevant staff would apply after they have been in post for 6
months. A transitional period of 2 years is proposed to cover the
introduction of the arrangements, and the consultation paper also
includes proposals covering staff who hold overlapping
qualifications, for example RICS.
The consultation closes on 2 April. ARCH will be submitting a
response and would like to hear member authorities' views on the
proposals, and particularly on the number of staff likely to be
affected. Please send comments to ARCH Policy Adviser Matthew
Warburton (matthew.warburton@arch-housing.org.uk)
by 22 March.