Hafod Through The Looking Glass Tenant Involvement in Self Assessment

What is Self Assessment? Self Assessment is looking at what we do and how well we do it: Service Delivery Governance Finance

Listening to Tenants STAR Tenant Satisfaction Surveys Internal Tenant Satisfaction surveys Tenant Assessors for Mystery Shopping Hafod Connect for Service Reviews

Working with Tenants to Shape Services Committee / Board Reports Service Reviews Hafod Connect Mystery Shopping Service Panels Tenant Scrutiny Panel

New Regulatory Requirements The Regulatory Framework For Housing Associations Registered in Wales Opportunity tidy up existing processes More opportunities for tenants

Putting Tenants at the Heart of Regulation Ensuring that housing associations work with their tenants and people who use their services in planning, and assessing the quality of services. Providing information that allows tenants and others to compare the performance of their housing association to that of others.

Effective Self Assessment A strong focus on needs and aspirations. Clear evidence of involvement. Owned and driven by Board Have a strong element of internal and external challenge Focus on strategic issues, not the detail of delivery Form an integral part of an associations Business Planning Be based on clear & solid evidence

Be Prepared No fear of Regulation Opportunity to fine tune what we were doing Introduce tenants into Self Assessment More Board ownership

Corporate Plan Corporate Action Plan Delivery Outcomes / Self Assessment Improvement opportunities Corporate Plan reporting Stakeholder feedback Staff feedback Tenant feedback Staff feedback Tenant feedback Service reviews Board Service users Service Panels Tenant Assessors Tenant Satisfaction Surveys Youth Panel Community Partnership (Community Development) Hafod Connect (Service Reviews)

Hafod’s Approach to Self Assessment Assessment against each Delivery Outcome Staff input (all grades) Explanation of the service What difference the service makes – Outcomes Evidence based Identifying areas for improvement

Delivery Outcomes Self assessment should be based on “delivery outcomes” which focus on: What is being achieved not how it is being achieved. The difference that a housing association is making to its tenants and others who use its services, not its strategies, processes and activities.

Hafod’s Self Assessment Challenge External Challenge from stakeholders Staff Challenge – web based survey Tenant Challenge – Tenant Scrutiny Panel Assessments Collated Areas for improvement noted Results fed to board

A Tenants Perspective - Process Newly formed Tenant Scrutiny Panel Request to look at Hafod’s Self Assessment Hafod supplied Nine of the Self Assessment Delivery Outcomes in advance (Home Ownership dealt with by Home Owners) Tenant Scrutiny Panel met with staff, questions & clarifications Tenant Scrutiny Panel met alone to make the judgement

A Tenants Perspective - Feelings Tenant Scrutiny Panel together for less than six months Overwhelmed by the amount of information Scoring definitions supplied to judge against Tenant judgements were not influenced by the Association Tenant Scrutiny Panel listened to - judgements presented to the Association’s Board

What Happened Next Board Report on Self Assessment: –Summary of Service –Performance (including satisfaction survey results) –Staff Challenge –Stakeholder Challenge –Tenant Challenge The Board assessment

Benefits to the Association Board had full range of Challenges (opinions) on the services provided by the Association Direct feedback from tenants to the Board The process was honest and open ‘warts and all’ The Board felt more confident in the Self Assessment process The staff felt pride in the services provided

Lessons Learnt on Involving Tenants – Before New Tenant Scrutiny Panel Lack of knowledge Overwhelmed by the amount of information supplied Understanding services takes time, not instant More time to explain the work of the Association

Lessons Learnt on Involving Tenants - After (Independent) mentoring for Tenant Scrutiny Panel Members Training & guidance provided Visited another Scrutiny Panel Suggestions on questions to ask Site Visits Meet staff responsible for services Information supplied ‘bit by bit’ Understanding has grown

Any Questions?