There’s no denying that the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on how many of us work. Overnight, offices closed, home/remote working policies were implemented, and organisations began to roll out agile/flexible working practices. Whilst this new way of working has been incredibly beneficial for many, it’s vital that housing organisations of the future build on this change, learning the lessons from the pandemic and continuing to adapt.

This virtual event, organised by the CIH Yorkshire and Humberside Group, will explore recent research on the impact of hybrid working and discuss how housing associations are adjusting to this ongoing change, developing new organisational cultures in a post-pandemic world.

Join our anti-social behaviour (ASB) experts Janine Green, ASB consultant and trainer, and Chris Grose, head of housing advisory services, Capsticks, to explore the elements that help to create a genuinely excellent ASB service.

The session will explore some practical measures to improve services, tenant engagement and satisfaction to deliver the best outcomes for your local communities.

With the Renting Homes (Wales) Act due to be implemented on 15 July 2022, this is your opportunity to get to grips with crucial changes – from the legal aspects of occupation contracts, new procedures for abandonment and joint-contract holders to the operational side of preparing teams for the widespread changes. This masterclass has it all. 

With legal insight from the Welsh Government’s expert team supporting implementation, you’ll learn precisely how new legislation will look in practice and have a chance to discuss this with other colleagues across the sector.

Why watch?

• Provide you with up-to-date knowledge about the Renting Homes (Wales) Act, what it means in practice and how you and your organisation can best prepare for its implementation
• Set you and your teams up to prepare and respond positively, making the changes work for you and your organisation.

Who should watch?

• Housing association tenancy management staff
• Strategy and policy teams
• Legal and governance professionals
• Tenancy engagement staff
• Local authority housing teams
• Private landlords
• Environmental protection staff.

The Government has committed to providing an £8.6 billion funding package to build circa 120,000 new affordable homes in England as part of the £11.5 billion Affordable Homes Programme (AHP) from 2021-to 2026. The task is tall for Homes England’s strategic partners to get spades on the grounds and create various residential options for people across the country.

Watch the event to:

• Gain insight into how working in partnership can help to deliver housing targets in the South West
• Discuss the key challenges, opportunities, times lines, partnerships and procurement.

We'll begin the event by exploring some of the main headlines and findings from across the year, taking a deep dive into homelessness, accessing homeownership, investment in affordable housing and changes in the benefits system.

In our first Building Better Boards event of 2022, we’ll be joined by former CIH president 2017-2018, Alison Inman and CIH chief executive Gavin Smart as they explore the major issues across all four UK nations. Against the backdrop of pandemic recovery, Alison and Gavin will share their expert insight on developing good governance, championing professional standards and inspiring positive change.

This event is exclusive to CIH members and will be particularly relevant to chief executives, board chairs, board members, company secretaries, governance officers and managers, and local authority councillors.

Why attend?

• Participate in the conversation with our expert speakers – share your ideas and insight, challenge perceptions and join the debate
• Communicate with fellow governance professionals and board members and discover new innovative ways to guide your organisation
• Network and collaborate in our virtual lounge – a relaxed setting that allows you to move between tables and chat with other delegates.

In this masterclass, you will hear about new research from the Existing Homes Alliance looking at the practicalities of introducing minimum energy efficiency standards to the owner-occupied sector and implications for mixed tenure areas. You’ll also have the opportunity to learn about the Scottish Government’s new Fuel Poverty Strategy.

Why watch?

• Get practical tips to help tenants maximise their income
• Have an insightful discussion with other delegates on the implications of introducing minimum energy efficiency standards
• Join professionals from across the UK to hear about the work in the Scottish housing sector.

However, much of the debate focuses on the challenges and fundamental arguments around taking a human rights approach to housing.

On 1 February, CIH Scotland launched guidance, written by Gillian Young (Newhaven Research), that provides practical insight and advice for landlords on the steps they can take to provide housing as a human right today and crucially recommendations for the Scottish Government on what policy and legislative measures are required to realise housing as an enforceable human right.

Panellists include:

• Gillian Young, Co-Founder and Director, Newhaven Research
• Callum Chomczuk, National Director, CIH Scotland
• Nile Istephan, Chief Executive, Eildon Housing Association
• Alice Simpson, Director of Assets and Governance, Homes for Good
• Michael Cameron, Chief Executive, Scottish Housing Regulator

We discussed the following:

• The value of CIH membership
• An overview of what mentoring is and its benefits to mentors and mentees 
• The importance of mentoring as an integral part of organisational culture
• How championing mentoring can support the Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) plan of an organisation
• How mentoring can add value by investing, and being aligned with, people development strategies
• Insight into the benefits of mentoring to senior, mid and junior employees
• How the positive impact of mentoring can increase employee engagement
• The benefits of reverse mentoring to individuals and the organisation

You'll hear from the leading academics, Dr Amanze Ejiogu and Dr Mercy Denedo and their report; stigma and social housing in England. Their report revealed how much the stigma against social housing and its tenants are interlinked with other issues, like poverty and race, and the need for a range of approaches to tackle it. You'll hear an update on the consultation results and take stock of what action is being taken by social landlords and professionals and the early impacts.

Anneka Gill, head of transformation, will be talking to us about how Morgan Sindall has developed training and the practical ways they are helping contractors understand the issue and the impact they have when they work in the homes of social housing tenants.

In a consultation launched in December 2021, the Regulator for Social Housing outlined its plans for new tenant satisfaction measures (TSM) as part of a series of changes it is implementing following the Social Housing White Paper.

This masterclass will help you understand the tenant satisfaction measures (TSM) in more detail and how the Regulator sees these fitting into future consumer regulation. You'll explore the potential impacts for your organisation and how you work with your tenants and residents.

Learning outcomes:

• Explore in detail the TSM
• Understand how the Regulator wants these to work and how these will fit with broader regulation
• Useful discussion with other delegates the implications of the tenant satisfaction measures
• Your comments and discussions will also help to inform CIH’s response to Regulator’s consultation.

What is EESSH2?

The Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing Two (EESSH2) was formed to support the removal of poor energy efficiency and help achieve the Scottish Government's climate change emissions reduction targets.

This event will look at progress towards EESSH2, elements of the standard, air quality, alignment with the net-zero target, and how the standard fits with changes needed across other tenures. We'll also explore improvements that could be made when strengthening the standard.

Learning outcomes:

• Improved understanding and ability to plan for investment in social housing
• Learn the importance of working with residents and building occupiers to deliver change
• Make sure you understand the potential of what could be done with your stock
• Is fabric first the correct approach for achieving net-zero?
• Provide clarity on the Zest recommendations and what they identify as needing to be worked on.

This session shared practical advice and real-life examples of how other providers are approaching the digital future, and working towards a technology-first philosophy with residents at the centre.

This virtual event will provide an opportunity for anyone working in the sector to develop their professional journey, build networks, and establish valuable connections in an interactive virtual space specifically designed to engage young and upcoming professionals.

You'll learn about the extent of the challenges facing supply chains in four key areas:

• Building new homes
• Day to day maintenance
• Retrofitting and asset management
• Fire safety

Hear the latest insight from the housing sector on challenges within these areas and find out about some of the potential solutions.