Inspection England/Wales

   

Guidance and briefings

• 15 October 2008

  Don't get caught in the the regulation funding loop 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

   

• 30 September 2008

  Quality counts - A brief guide to quality standards and systems 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

   

• 18 September 2008

  The inspection of Housing and Council Tax Benefits (and a reference to the National Fraud Initiative) Network briefing by Ellis Blackmore looks at the inspection process, how LAs can prepare for inspection and the National Fraud Initiative

   

• 17 September 2008

  Short notice inspections (SNI) of housing associations Audit Commission Consultation - HQN response

   

• 11 September 2008

  The Cole Report: delivering cross-domain regulation for social housing Professor Ian Cole was appointed to chair a panel of independent stakeholders tasked with producing recommendations to government on how to extend the scope of the Tenant Services Authority to include local authority social housing. This report presents the set of final recommendations

   

• 11 September 2008

  Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and Tenant Services Authority (TSA) Network briefing by Charlie Hughes summarises the background to splitting up the Housing Corporation's functions of funding and regulation and reminds readers of the reasons and objectives behind this change

   

• 15 July 2008

  Short notice inspections Network briefing and guidance by Ellis Blackmore explains what to do in detail and how to overcome typical obstacles picking out the relevant key points for Network members Additional files: Guidance Briefing

   

• 1 April 2008

  Audit Commission takes on responsibility for housing and council tax benefits inspection The government’s inspection and assessment of housing and council tax benefits has transferred from the Benefit Fraud Inspectorate (BFI) to the Audit Commission as a result of proposals in the Government White Paper of 2006

   

• 6 March 2008

  Round 9 Beacon Award winners Excellence in Local Government

   

• 28 January 2008

  Recent housing management inspections: some data and observations In depth analysis of recent inspection reports by Clive Bayliss. What drives the results? Are the inspectors' consistent? How should I approach inspection in 2008?

   

• 11 January 2008

  Forthcoming inspections On the 25 January the Audit Commission will be writing to all organisations chosen for the next round of inspections. If you need any support on the run up to your inspection HQN can offer a range of services to assist you. These include mock inspections, health checks, staff mentoring, assistance in the preparation of your self assessment and much more. For further information please contact Anna Pattison on 0845 4747 004

   

• 13 December 2007

  Simplification Plan 2007 Update: The Route to Better Regulation As part of the Government's Better Regulation Agenda, this Simplification Plan shows what the Government have been doing - and plan to do - to manage and reduce the cost of Communities and Local Government regulation. This years plan revises and updates the first Plan published in December 2006 and will be revised further in future years

   

• 16 October 2007

  Next steps for new social housing watchdog A new social housing watchdog that will crack down on registered social landlords in England who are giving tenants a poor service, such as long waits for repairs, is being established as an independent, standalone body, Housing Minister Yvette Cooper announced

   

• 5 October 2007

  Housing Association Inspections What we look for Inspection Guide Wales Audit Office consultation; closing date 30.11.2007

   

• 11 September 2007

  Audit commission would set up new office for housing standards The Audit commission announced that it would create a new Office for Housing Standards if it were to become the regulator for social housing. In response to the government's consultation paper Delivering Housing and Regeneration: Communities England and the Future of Social Housing Regulation, the Commission sets out its case for taking on social housing regulation and argues against the creation of a separate organisation to carry out this function

   

• 11 September 2007

  Fully independent housing regulator called for by the Housing Corporation The Housing Corporation today called for a fully independent stand-alone housing regulator, with responsibility for housing associations, local authority housing provision, ALMOs and private sector social landlords

   

• 28 August 2007

  Your questions answered: the Housing Corporation's new performance indicator suite Network briefing by John Wheeldon tackles common problems with definitions, validation, void periods, appointments and STATUS questions

   

• 18 July 2007

  Housing associations invited to join the short notice inspections pilot The Audit Commission's new short notice inspection programme for housing associations (HAs) is set to start this autumn following overwhelming support for the proposals from HAs, tenants, other regulators, trade bodies and consultants for the new approach. The deadline for HAs volunteering to take part in the pilot is 27 July

   

• 12 June 2007

  HQN – Learning from success Network briefing by Alistair McIntosh and Janis Bright tells the story of four organisations that have achieved turnarounds and spectacular results

   

• 29 March 2007

  Regulatory burden reduced by Corporation publications Three publications in the Housing Corporation’s ‘how we regulate’ series issued provide additional explanations of how the Corporation carries out its regulatory work

   

• 16 March 2007

  Corporation proposes to improve its fourth traffic light Housing Corporation proposals to change its fourth performance traffic light approach are set out in a consultation paper on revisions to its regulatory assessment process. The consultation runs from 16 Macrh - 4 June 2007

   

• 26 February 2007

  Inspecting large scale voluntary transfer organisations – lessons from the past 18 months Briefing by Sheila Camp looks at the key themes that emerge from the 29 reports to provide pointers to areas that LSVTs need to give special attention before the inspectors call

   

• 9 January 2007

  Capability review of Communities and Local Government Network briefing by Doug Edmonds summarises the capability review of CLG

   

 

Pre-inspection and self-assessment

• 11 January 2008

  Forthcoming inspections On the 25 January the Audit Commission will be writing to all organisations chosen for the next round of inspections. If you need any support on the run up to your inspection HQN can offer a range of services to assist you. These include mock inspections, health checks, staff mentoring, assistance in the preparation of your self assessment and much more. For further information please contact Anna Pattison on 0845 4747 004

   

• 5 September 2007

  New KLOEs for old? Network briefing by John Wheeldon outlines changes to the Audit Commission's Key Lines of Enquiry and offers tips on self- assessment

   

• 31 July 2007

  Revision of Housing Corporation Assessments In March 2007 the Housing Corporation consulted on changes to Housing Corporation Assessments (HCAs), to broaden the scope of the fourth (Development) traffic light, to encompass how associations manage their assets, and use their financial capacity, with a view to creating and maintaining sustainable communities and decent homes. The above link gives an overview of the responses

   

• 6 July 2007

  Audit Commission Consultation on Pilot Short Notice Inspections of Housing Associations – HQN Response Alistair McIntosh welcomes the pilot’s fast track route from one to two stars but has concerns about inspecting only weaker services from previous reports. Will a full and fair picture emerge?

   

• 30 April 2007

  Resident-led self-regulation: potential and prospects Housing Corporation funded paper which examines the potential and prospects of a new method for putting residents at the heart of regulation – resident-led self-regulation

   

• 8 March 2007

  The Cave Review of housing regulation: responses Network briefing by Janis Bright examines the key themes emerging and provides a summary of points from a range of leading organisations

   

 

Audit Commission key docs

• 20 October 2008

  Councils and ALMOs asked for views on short notice inspections Proposals for new style short notice inspections of local authority housing services and Arms Length Management Associations (ALMOs) have now been launched by the Audit Commission. The consultation will be followed by a pilot programme of short notice inspections and reflects similar plans announced earlier this year for housing associations. Consultation closing date 1 December 2008

   

• 14 October 2008

  Statement of methodology for short notice inspections A summary of the responses to the proposed changes to the methodology for short notice inspections of housing associations

   

• 29 September 2008

  Learning from pilot benefit inspections – web tool Through the AC inspections they have identified a variety of approaches to delivering benefit services, and have produced a web tool with case studies to share their findings and to encourage innovation and improvement across local government

   

• 18 September 2008

  The inspection of Housing and Council Tax Benefits (and a reference to the National Fraud Initiative) Network briefing by Ellis Blackmore looks at the inspection process, how LAs can prepare for inspection and the National Fraud Initiative

   

• 17 September 2008

  Short notice inspections (SNI) of housing associations Audit Commission Consultation - HQN response

   

• 11 September 2008

  Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and Tenant Services Authority (TSA) Network briefing by Charlie Hughes summarises the background to splitting up the Housing Corporation's functions of funding and regulation and reminds readers of the reasons and objectives behind this change

   

• 19 June 2008

  Watchdog introduces new housing spot-checks The Audit Commission is introducing short-notice inspections for housing associations following a successful pilot programme. The shorter inspections will take less time to complete than the conventional inspections, as they will specifically target weaker services. This new approach will reduce the regulatory burden, while at the same time driving through improvements in services to tenants and leaseholders

   

• 20 March 2008

  Audit and inspection fee scales published for 2008/09 The Audit Commission this week publishes its scales of audit and inspection fees for 2008/09 and indicative fee proposals for 2009/10 and 2010/11

   

• 20 November 2007

  Consultation on Comprehensive Area Assessment The Audit Commission, Commission for Social Care Inspection, Healthcare Commission, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary, HM Inspectorate of Prisons, HM Inspectorate of Probation and Ofsted published the first joint inspectorate consultation on the Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA). Consultation period 19 November to 15 February 2008

   

• 13 August 2007

  Housing KLOEs Housing KLOEs update from the Audit Commission's website

   

• 31 July 2007

  Audit Commission Annual Review 2006/07 This Annual Review sets out the progress that Audit Commission have made in 2006/07 in achieving their five strategic objectives

   

• 27 July 2007

  Local Government Audit and Inspection Fees 2007-2008 Auditor General for Wales launches new consultation. Consultation period 27 July - 31 August 2007

   

• 18 July 2007

  Housing associations invited to join the short notice inspections pilot The Audit Commission's new short notice inspection programme for housing associations (HAs) is set to start this autumn following overwhelming support for the proposals from HAs, tenants, other regulators, trade bodies and consultants for the new approach. The deadline for HAs volunteering to take part in the pilot is 27 July

   

• 19 June 2007

  Positive practice information Identified at inspection by the Audit Commission

   

• 1 June 2007

  Positive practice information - March-April 2007 Identified at Inspection by the Audit Commission

   

• 24 May 2007

  The Audit Commission is planning a pilot programme of short notice inspections The Audit Commission is planning a pilot programme of short notice inspections of housing associations following recommendations by the Elton Review. Audit Commission consultation invites comments between 23 May and 6 July to help to shape the methodology of the pilot

   

• 25 April 2007

  Housing Inspection Sounding Board holds first meeting The first meeting of a special Housing Inspection Sounding Board set up in response to the Elton Review takes place on Friday 20 April

   

• 2 April 2007

  Positive practice information Identified at Inspection by the Audit Commission

   

• 22 February 2007

  Audit Commission national studies programme: Making a difference? Summary of the research findings

   

• 12 February 2007

  Housing Corporation and Audit Commission sign memorandum of understanding The Housing Corporation and Audit Commission have taken steps to further strengthen their working relationship by agreeing a memorandum of understanding

   

• 29 January 2007

  Positive practice information Identified at Inspection by the Audit Commission

   

• 8 January 2007

  Local Government, Housing, Criminal Justice and Fire and Rescue Services This document sets out the work that the Audit Commission plans to undertake in the local government, housing, criminal justice and fire and rescue sectors during 2007/08

   

 

CPA

• 15 September 2008

  Comprehensive Area Assessment This is the second joint consultation document from the joint inspectorates setting out a proposed approach to the new Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA). The partner inspectorates are consulting on proposals for the CAA framework to be introduced in April 2009, with first reports published in November 2009 The inspectorates have listened to the feedback from the first joint consultation on CAA, and this has formed the basis for the second. Key changes are the simplification of the main elements into just two, Area Assessments and Organisational Assessments, and the use of the National Indicator Set of 198 core performance indicators The consultation period will run from 29 July to 20 October 2008. The proposals are being trialled at ten sites across the country to test them in ‘real life’ situations. The arrangements for CAA will then be finalised early in 2009 Additional files: CAA consultation Press release

   

• 7 August 2008

  Audit Commission aims for stable and consistent framework as CPA enters its final year The Audit Commission has announced only minimal change to the framework for the last ever round of Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA). The decision follows consultation with English single-tier councils and county councils which indicated that 92 per cent supported the proposed final update to the Harder Test assessment programme established three years ago

   

• 8 April 2008

  Comprehensive Performance Assessments: The Harder test Framework for 2008 - Consultation This consultation seeks views on proposals for the final year of comprehensive performance assessments Additional files: Document

   

• 19 February 2008

  CPA - the harder test Scores and analysis of performance in single tier and county councils 2007

   

• 7 February 2008

  New assessment shows English councils' performance continues to improve The majority of councils are delivering a high level of services to local people, with four out of five offering a 3 or 4 star standard, according to the 2007 Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) results

   

• 17 January 2008

  Consultation on minor changes to CPA framework launched Under proposals launched by the Audit Commission there are to be minimal changes to the framework of the final Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA), which will be carried out in 2008.

   

• 15 January 2008

  Beacon Council Scheme CLG report

   

• 15 January 2008

  The Beacon Scheme and the Role of Central Government Departments CLG report which reviews the range of activities, relationships and contributions made by, and to, central government departments regarding local authority innovation and improvement through the Beacon Scheme

   

• 20 November 2007

  Consultation on Comprehensive Area Assessment The Audit Commission, Commission for Social Care Inspection, Healthcare Commission, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary, HM Inspectorate of Prisons, HM Inspectorate of Probation and Ofsted published the first joint inspectorate consultation on the Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA). Consultation period 19 November to 15 February 2008

   

• 2 August 2007

  Updated CPA signals gradual transition to CAA The transition from Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) to Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) continues its journey this week with the publication of the updated CPA framework for 2007 and use of resources for 2008

   

• 26 June 2007

  The transition from CPA to CAA Network briefing by Greg Birdseye summarises the key stages of the transition and includes the latest information issued by the Audit Commission

   

• 17 April 2007

  Consultation on future of public service regulation launched Audit Commission has launched the first stage of consultation on the Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA). This consultation, which runs until 14th June, marks the beginning of a wide range of discussion and engagement to feed in to the design of the scheme

   

• 3 April 2007

  CPA the harder test – scores for 2006 for single-tier (and county) councils Network briefing by Greg Birdseye summarises the overall outcomes and then describes in more detail the results for housing services

   

• 3 April 2007

  Comprehensive Area Assessment to replace Comprehensive Performance Assessment by 2009 CLG press release announcing work commissioned to develop the detail of CAA, the lighter touch risk-triggered audit and inspection regime that will replace CPA

   

 

Inspection reports

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Tenant Services Authority

• 2 December 2008

  Drive for affordable homes and improved rights for tenants steps up a gear The drive to deliver much needed affordable homes and safeguard higher housing standards for eight million social housing tenants has taken a massive step forward, as the new Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and Tenant Services Authority (TSA) are officially launched by Housing Minister Margaret Beckett

   

• 28 November 2008

  The regulatory and financial map of the affordable housing market Network briefing by Charlie Hughes looks at regulation and funding and also includes both public and private players as we are increasingly operating in a mixed economy

   

• 21 November 2008

  TSA - catalyst for change to improve the lives of ten million people The TSA will be a catalyst for change to improve the lives of ten million people. That was the key message from TSA Chief Executive Peter Marsh in a speech to delegates at the Northern Housing Summit in York

   

• 14 November 2008

  TSA writes to housing associations and local authorities Peter Marsh, CEO Designate of the Tenant Services Authority (TSA) has written to Chief Executives of local authorities and housing associations throughout England, to introduce the social housing regulator in advance of the launch of the new body at the beginning of December 2008

   

• 14 November 2008

  Boards are key to self regulation, says TSA Chairman Boards are key to self regulation, was the message from the Tenant Services Authority (TSA) Chairman, Anthony Mayer, at the Chartered Institute of Housing's Annual Conference, Eastern Region

   

• 6 November 2008

  Tenant Services Authority Change-Makers Announced Tenant Services Authority (TSA) CEO Peter Marsh has announced the new TSA leadership team who will be tasked with changing the landscape of affordable housing in England

   

• 28 October 2008

  TSA - Chairman and CEO of new housing regulator pledge to champion what tenants want The new team in charge of the affordable housing regulator, the Tenant Services Authority (TSA), have told MPs they will use new powers to drive up the quality of services provided by social landlords and make sure tenants have a say in how their estates are run following the TSA’s launch at the beginning of December

   

• 20 October 2008

  Tenants to get a stronger voice at national level Board members for the Tenant Services Authority and Homes and Communities Agency have now been announced by Housing Minister Iain Wright

   

• 16 October 2008

  TSA - new agency to include Local Authorities and ALMOs from launch The Tenant Services Authority, the new social housing regulator centred on the needs and aspirations of tenants, will consult with Local Authority and ALMO tenants and landlords right from its December launch about its new regulation framework

   

• 18 September 2008

  TSA news release The new chairman of the new social housing regulator, the Tenant Services Authority (TSA), has delivered a firm message to housing associations when he said that the social housing sector had 'fallen off the pace'

   

• 23 July 2008

  Tenant Services Authority (TSA) gets ready for action The new social housing regulator – the Tenant Services Authority (TSA) – is now ready for action with the news that Royal Assent has been granted on the Housing and Regeneration Bill in Parliament

   

• 30 June 2008

  Drive for affordable homes and the rights of tenants move forward The government's drive to deliver much needed new affordable homes and safeguard higher housing standards for eight million social housing tenants has taken another step forward as Housing Minister, Caroline Flint has announced the successful recruitment of two top positions at the agencies charged with achieving these goals

   

• 20 June 2008

  Housing and Regeneration Bill update - The Social Housing Regulator Network briefing by Gwyneth Taylor explores the emerging implications of the Bill for the housing sector

   

• 9 June 2008

  Tenants invited to get involved in the boardroom Housing Minister Caroline Flint announced that tenants will have the opportunity to reward good practice and take action against poor social landlords as she launched the recruitment for the board of the new social housing regulator, the Tenant Services Authority

   

• 27 May 2008

  Continuous Recording of Lettings and Sales (CORE) log reviews 2008 announced The Housing Corporation has announced the annual review of the data collected through its CORE system as it moves towards the creation of the new social regulator OFTENANT and the Homes and Communities Agency

   

• 14 May 2008

  First Chair of the Office for Tenants and Social Landlords announced Anthony Mayer will be the first Chair of the new social housing regulator, the Office for Tenants and Social Landlords (Oftenant), announced Housing Minister Caroline Flint

   

• 1 April 2008

  Stakeholder letter from Kate Barker about OFTENANT An update for stakeholders on the transition process to the new housing regulator