Welcome to HQN and The Housing Quality Network

   

Audit Commission key docs

• Fundamental review of inspections to support new housing standards

  17 December 2009

  The TSA and the Audit Commission have signalled a fundamental review of the approach to inspections to better target landlords with performance challenges and where tenants may be getting unsatisfactory services from their landlord

• Fair processing notice full text

  13 November 2009

  The Audit Commission conducts data matching exercises to assist in the prevention and detection of fraud. This is one of the ways in which the Audit Commission meets its responsibility of promoting economy, efficiency and effectiveness in the use of public money

• Good Practice Case Studies

  9 October 2009

  Audit Commission examples of positive practice and innovation, creative ways of overcoming barriers and resistance to change, and ways of making better use of resources

• Audit Commission website

  20 May 2009

  The recent Audit Commission website re-launch has resulted in many of the Audit Commission links on our website no longer linking to the correct documents. We are working to resolve this and in the mean time click on the title of this item to take you to the new Audit Commission website

 

Performance management

• Wider performance measures for the housing market renewal programme

  23 October 2009

  This paper identifies wider performance measures which could be used to measure sustainability of local housing markets, in the context of the HMR programme

• Responses to the second stage of TSA National Conversation

  9 October 2009

  First set of formal responses to TSA discussion paper. More will follow shortly and a report on the feedback will also be available in October

• Don't get caught in the regulation funding loop

  29 May 2009

  For assistance with board appraisal and training, governance, performance improvement, inspection, business planning, options appraisals and funding solutions HQN is available to help at all stops

• Audit Commission website

  20 May 2009

  The recent Audit Commission website re-launch has resulted in many of the Audit Commission links on our website no longer linking to the correct documents. We are working to resolve this and in the mean time click on the title of this item to take you to the new Audit Commission website

• Housing IT solutions

  9 October 2008

  Network briefing by Louise Russell sets out the work that needs to be undertaken in the planning and pre-procurement stages when considering the introduction of a new integrated housing management system

• Quality counts - A brief guide to quality standards and systems

  30 September 2008

  Network briefing by Cathy Jackson provides an overview of some of the key quality standards used by housing organisations, and whether anecdotal evidence would suggest that those organisations which have achieved externally assessed quality marks have improved their ratings in audit commission inspections

• Roles and responsibilities in the local performance framework

  29 July 2008

  This document provides an overview of what councils, Local Strategic Partnerships, Government Offices, Inspectorates and central government departments will be doing to implement the new local performance framework following sign-off of Local Area Agreements in June 2008

• Best Value in Housing: What makes LAs improve and sustain their performance?

  8 June 2005

  HQN, in association with the NHC, were commissioned to undertake a study of the factors that lead housing authorities to improve and sustain their performance

 

Guidance and briefings

• Short notice inspections – the first nine months – part two

  13 January 2010

  Network briefing by John Wheeldon

• Short notice inspections - the first nine months

  5 January 2010

  Network briefing by John Wheeldon

• What does excellence look like? Value for money

  3 December 2009

  Network briefing by John Wheeldon

• Regulating social housing: the TSA's proposals

  16 November 2009

  Network briefing by Kate Murray

• What does excellence look like? Asset management and major works

  3 November 2009

  Network briefing by John Wheeldon

• What does excellence look like? Allocations and lettings

  20 October 2009

  Network briefing by John Wheeldon looking at the attributes of excellent three-star organisations inspected by the Audit Commission in 2007 and 2008. This briefing covers allocations and lettings

• What does excellence look like? Access and customer care

  15 September 2009

  Network briefing by John Wheeldon looking at the attributes of excellent three-star organisations inspected by the Audit Commission in 2007 and 2008

• What does excellence look like? Gas servicing

  18 August 2009

  Network briefing by John Wheeldon looking at the attributes of excellent three star organisations inspected by the Audit Commission in 2007 and 2008. This briefing covers gas servicing

• New routes to better outcomes

  7 August 2009

  Two part publication from the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) comprising an analysis on Improving public services through local partnership and a practitioners' handbook

  Additional files:

  • Click here to download new routes to better outcomes part 2

• What does excellence look like? Resident involvement

  16 June 2009

  Network briefing by John Wheeldon looking at the attributes of excellent three star organisations inspected by the Audit Commission in 2007 and 2008. This briefing covers resident involvement

• Audit Commission website

  20 May 2009

  The recent Audit Commission website re-launch has resulted in many of the Audit Commission links on our website no longer linking to the correct documents. We are working to resolve this and in the mean time click on the title of this item to take you to the new Audit Commission website

• It's time to get real... Use mystery shopping and reality checking to check what your services are really like

  7 May 2009

  Whether you are preparing for inspection or looking to drive service improvement, HQN offers a cost effective, credible and independent health check of your front line housing services designed to complement your existing performance management mechanisms and quality checks

• Guidance for short notice inspections

  28 April 2009

  Network briefing by HQN associate, Ellis Blackmore, which includes ideas for the development of outcome focussed self assessment, and invites feedback on good practice which can be shared with other organisations

• Rewarding awards?

  11 July 2008

  Network briefing by Cathy Jackson provides a flavour of some of the key awards that are available

 

BV reviews

• Round 10 Beacon winners announced

  4 March 2009

  The national Beacon Scheme recognises and rewards excellence in local government and public services. The scheme is eligible to local councils and their best value authority partners. Forty three beacon awards in round ten cover 56 authorities, across 12 themes including homes for the future, cohesive and resilient communities, supported independent living for disabled adults and digital inclusion

• Quality counts - A brief guide to quality standards and systems

  30 September 2008

  Network briefing by Cathy Jackson provides an overview of some of the key quality standards used by housing organisations, and whether anecdotal evidence would suggest that those organisations which have achieved externally assessed quality marks have improved their ratings in audit commission inspections

 

Efficiency

• Value for money toolkit - 2010 edition

  2 March 2010

  Network toolkit updated by Steve Wood and Robin Tebbutt

• Measuring and reporting value for money gains: a guide to compiling the data for National Indicator 179

  3 July 2009

  All councils are required to report the total value for money (VfM) gains they have achieved through National Indicator 179. This guidance sets out the basic principles and requirements for measuring and reporting VfM gains, along with information on the efficiency agenda for the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review period

• Need to squeeze out excellent value for money during these challenging times?

  3 November 2008

  There’s no time like now to reinvigorate your strategies for achieving greater efficiency and value. Whether you’re at the start of your journey and need to get to grips with the whole agenda, whether you have undertaken reviews and need to understand your priorities, or whether you’re ready to make the move from ‘good’ to ‘excellent’, HQN has a team of housing finance and performance management specialists who can bring their expertise to your benefit in taking VfM forward

 

Action plans

• National improvement and efficiency strategy

  23 November 2009

  CLG

 

PIs and benchmarking

• Analysis of English local authority housing management performance 2008/09

  19 February 2010

  Performance continues to improve but management costs are rising and tenant satisfaction levels are stalled

• Analysis of 2008/09 TSA performance indicators for housing associations in England

  1 February 2010

  Network briefing by Clive Hall

• Performance Indicators 2009

  2 December 2009

  The 2009 PI results for associations, together with a range of additional information and comparative 2008 and 2007 results

• Analysis of 2007/08 Housing Corporation performance indicators for housing associations in England

  4 September 2009

  Network briefing by Clive Hall which compares the median scores for a group of performance indicators (PIs) collected by the Housing Corporation (HC) for 2007/08. It divides the results by class of association and, where possible, compares the results to those of earlier years

• Measuring and reporting value for money gains: a guide to compiling the data for National Indicator 179

  3 July 2009

  All councils are required to report the total value for money (VfM) gains they have achieved through National Indicator 179. This guidance sets out the basic principles and requirements for measuring and reporting VfM gains, along with information on the efficiency agenda for the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review period

• Summary of responses to the consultation on the deferred National Indicators

  19 February 2009

  This summary of responses provides local authorities and their partners feedback to the views conveyed by respondents and the subsequent actions the government has taken. The deferred national indicators consultation provided local authorities and their partners the opportunity to comment on the technical definitions for 13 deferred and revised indicators due for introduction in April 2009

• Analysis of English local authority housing management performance 2007/08

  19 February 2009

  The latest briefing in our annual series of performance indicator analyses by Hal Pawson

• National Indicators for Local Authorities and Local Authority Partnerships: Updated National Indicator Definitions

  17 February 2009

  This CLG document provides a series of National Indicators that have been updated since the Handbook of Definitions was published in April 2008

• Latest key housing association performance indicators published

  18 November 2008

  Results on average across the sector and across the range of PIs are consistent with last year’s results. However there remain significant differences between those at the upper and those at the lower ends of the performance spectrum

• Target shake up delivers stronger focus on issues that matter to the public

  30 June 2008

  The results of a comprehensive shake up of council targets and priorities are now published. The priorities - agreed in partnership with central government - show the pattern of issues across England that councils will now have to grapple with over the next three years. Councils will now need to devote considerable energy to ensuring their communities feel safer, that tackling serious violence and anti-social behaviour is a major priority, and that tackling unemployment and teenage pregnancy is comprehensively addressed

• Performance indicators for the year ending 31 March 2009

  12 May 2008

  This document provides clarification on the Housing Corporations performance indicator suite for the year ending 31 March 2009

• National Indicators for Local Authorities and Local Authority Partnerships: Handbook of Definitions

  12 May 2008

  This publication gives final detailed definitions for 198 national indicators following consultation on their proposed definition

• National indicators for local authorities and local authority partnerships: update on publication of the final definitions for the national indicator set

  27 March 2008

  This publication gives final detailed definitions for 138 of the national indicators out of the total of 198 that were announced in October 2007 together with a short update on arrangements for publication of the final handbook

• The Housing Quality Network revised performance indicator handbook for councils 2008

  18 March 2008

  Part three Housing Benefit performance – based on performance during 2007/8

• Revised performance indicator handbook for housing associations

  14 November 2007

  The handbook has been revised, updated and new material written by HQN Associate John Wheeldon

 

KLOEs

• Updated strategic approach to housing KLOE for use from 12 April 2010

  21 January 2010

  The key lines of enquiry (KLOE) and the descriptors and evidence documents below are for use on inspections that are on-site from the week commencing 12 April 2010

• The strategic approach to housing – consultation on a new Key Line of Enquiry

  1 September 2009

  Network briefing paper by Gill Leng, Executive Director highlights the changes in the approach and focus proposed by the Audit Commission and other changes HQN feels are significant for local authorities and their partners