This online training course will give you an opportunity to reflect on the causes and impact of stigma, reflect on your own language and behaviours and develop positive ways to champion your professional reputation, the reputation of your organisation and the wider sector. Importantly, it will help them identify how to challenge negative stereotypes in a positive way.
The stereotyping of social housing and the people who live in it is still a major cause of stigma in the UK. Recent reports such as the Social Housing Green and White Papers have provided tenants’ accounts of the disrespectful and dismissive treatment experienced from their landlords. The impact of the language and behaviour of housing professionals was also highlighted in a survey by See the Person, in addition to how landlord services are designed and delivered.
Often, we don’t deliberately aim to stigmatise or stereotype others – however, language, attitudes and behaviours can inadvertently add to the negative experiences of residents. We must consider our own actions whilst also challenging the media and government to avoid negative stereotyping.
As we move forward and new rules come into effect by the Regulator of Social Housing, there will be clear expectation that you will have a relationship with your tenants based on transparency, fairness and respect – positive language, attitudes and behaviours are an important part of this.
What will I learn?
The course will be very practical, using a mixture of online training, scenarios, breakouts and activities.
- What is stigma?
- What is a stereotype?
- Stigma and social housing
- The current operating environment
- Unconscious bias
- The impact of stigma and stereotyping
- Challenging stigma
- Reducing stigma
- Government
- Media
- Housing providers
- Housing professionals
- Being an advocate for the profession
- Working with residents to develop mutual respect and understanding
- Professional standards for housing
- Build an understanding of the impact of stigma and stereotyping
- Understand the impact of language, behaviour, and conduct
- Have the ability, and understand the most appropriate way, to challenge others who contribute to the stigma and stereotyping of social housing
- Be able to recognise and avoid stigmatising language and behaviour
- Develop techniques to be an advocate for the profession
- Have the building blocks to develop a positive culture that encourages trust, respect and transparency
- Be ahead of the game ready for the new regulatory regime for social housing.
Who should attend?
This course is beneficial for heads of service and managers, housing officers, resident engagement staff, and repairs staff.
This session is relevant for everyone, whatever your job role or position, who works with residents and wants to tackle and challenge stigma and stereotyping.
Please note: The content of this course is predominantly England based; however, if you require Scotland, Welsh or Northern Ireland content, we can accommodate this. When booking your place, please let us know in the learning needs box on your booking, and we'll be in touch to discuss.
Benefits of attending
Here at CIH, we want to provide everyone in housing with the skills and knowledge needed to keep up with the ever-changing environment. Our online training has been developed by expert professionals on critical topics and allows you to apply the learning to your day job.
Debbie has worked in the social housing sector for over 30 years within both local authorities and housing associations before moving on to join the professional body – the CIH – where she was Head of Practice with a key focus on translating government policy into practice.
In that role she developed expertise in a number of areas including housing and asset management, resident engagement, equality diversity and inclusion, health and safety (specifically building safety post Grenfell). She has also co-led research into the future of social housing, stigma and stereotyping in housing and the role of the housing professional.
Debbie is recognised as a leader in developing and embedding professional standards with sector bodies and individual organisations and developed the CIH professional standards for housing and, as part of this work has a strong interest in how organisations can develop strong values-led cultures, create inclusive behaviours and act as ambassadors for the profession. Debbie is an experienced public speaker, chair, and trainer.
How to book your place
You can book your place by selecting 'Pay now' at the top of this page and completing our online application form. You will need to sign in or create a 'My CIH' account. You can find instructions below.
Before booking, please ensure you have your payment details to hand, and a PO number if your organisation is paying for your training.
To apply for this training course you will need to register for a My CIH account.
To create your account, visit My CIH page and click the 'Sign up now' link to follow the steps to create your account. You can read our step-by-step guide to creating an account.
If you already have a My CIH account, just follow the sign in by entering your email address and password as usual.
Are you having trouble logging in or creating your account? Please read our step-by-step guide or call our membership services team on 024 7685 1700 or email membership.services@cih.org.
