ARCH has responded to the DLUHC consultation proposing a new Competence and Conduct Standard, which closed on 5 April.  The Standard would require councils to have a Code of Conduct for housing management staff and require all senior housing managers to be appropriately qualified. 

Our response is generally in support of the proposals but argues for a longer lead-in time before the qualification requirement becomes mandatory, to allow time for the necessary training programmes to be put in place and minimise the likely disruption to services if large numbers of senior staff are off work receiving training at the same time.  More flexibility is also needed to allow for sickness cover, maternity and paternity leave and temporary secondments.

The full response can be read  here.