JOB OF THE WEEK: HAVE YOUR TOP JOB HERE!
12 March 2010

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TEIGN HOUSING STARTS £20m MAINTENANCE PROGRAMME
12 March 2010

Teign Housing has started a £20 million maintenance programme on the majority of its 3,600-plus homes across South Devon. Mike Hanrahan In 2009, the social housing provider completed a £45 million improvement programme as part of the transfer promise when Teignbridge District Council transferred its housing stock in 2004. The promised improvement programme bought all of Teign Housing's homes up to and beyond the criteria set out by the Government’s Decent Homes Standard. The new five-year maintenance programme, which started in September 2009, will now make sure this standard is kept up and continues to improve. Mike Hanrahan, Teign Housing's chief executive, said: "We want to make sure we provide our customers with good quality homes that they want to live in. “The very nature of buildings means that elements such as roofs and windows need regular maintenance and need to be replaced over time.” He added: “The regeneration work we're starting in Teignmouth's town centre this summer, is a good example of how we want to approach the maintenance of our homes and buildings. “It's not always financially viable to keep repairing elements that are out of date. So, whether it's a set of windows or the entire structure of a building, as is the case with the Teignmouth buildings, we will evaluate the best use of resources to keep giving people quality homes." Teign Housing has entered into a five-year partnership with local contractors Gibbs & Lugg and Rok to will help deliver the programme. A group of customers, staff and contractors has also been set up to monitor the quality and performance of the programme over the next few years.

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HOUSING & HEALTH WORKING TOGETHER
12 March 2010

The inextricable link between health and housing was highlighted at the county's first interactive conference designed to explore the relationship between good housing and improved health for people living in Gloucestershire. Key community figures teamed up with a range of policy makers including Two Rivers Housing’s management team and Jan Marriot, director of clinical change at NHS Gloucestershire, along with service users and tenants from across the region, to discuss a range of issues including why the key to good health stems from good housing. The conference was well attended as a result of a series of meetings held in Gloucestershire that identified the need for improved working relationships between the health and housing sectors in the region. The overall aim being to ensure the delivery of a shared vision that will benefit everyone. Held at the Anglo-Asian Cultural Centre in Gloucester, the conference was designed to reflect Gloucestershire's multi-cultural and diverse landscape and take account people and communities that had similar and different housing and health needs. The first of many conferences of this importance, the purpose of the event was to unite the region and determine the way forward in the interests all parties. Tenants and service users attended and were able to voice their concerns about accessing information and services, as well as the need for joined up services. A key point that emerged from the session was that healthy and safe housing conditions could have a significant impact on the health and well-being of individuals and communities. It was acknowledged that improved communication, targeted funding and the pooling of resources would all contribute towards the success of partnership working between the health and housing sectors. Presentations from a diverse and high profile range of speakers demonstrated how the formation of effective partnerships can lead to the improved general wellbeing of this region and a sharing of the burden on the NHS. Guest speakers included Shena Latto of the Housing and Support Partnership and Michael Heap, chair of Fosseway Housing and the Gloucestershire Voluntary Sector Assembly. Drawing on the vast knowledge and experience at the event, delegates were able to focus on working practices between the two sectors and the areas most in need of improvement, which would lead to positive changes for service users. Garry King, CEO of Two Rivers Housing, said: “We are delighted to have been able to bring together tenants, residents, health and housing experts to identify what we need to do to improve our communities. “As a housing provider operating predominantly within rural communities, many of the issues which arose around access to information and services really hit home.” He added: “We are excited about the prospect of working in partnership with other local health organisations to bring services to local communities. “We need to work together and be more creative about how we make the most of our combined resources and skills.' A follow-up event is planned for Spring 2010 where the focus will be on strategic and local level operations, to ensure a more holistic approach to improving the services tenants and residents receive throughout the county.

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AFFORDABLE HOUSING VITAL TO RURAL COMMUNITIES
12 March 2010

Creating affordable housing is vital to keep rural communities “vibrant and sustainable”, according to the Government's Rural Advocate Dr Stuart Burgess. Dr Stuart Burgess He was speaking at the South West Area Young Farmer's Club convention Agricultural and Rural Affairs Committee forum held at Torquay's Livermead Cliff Hotel at the weekend. Dr Burgess released his annual Rural Advocate Report last week to Prime Minister Gordon Brown and spoke as part of a high-profile panel of speakers on the forum. His report highlighted eight issues and he explained creating affordable housing was about “how to make sure that 21st century rural communities are vibrant and sustainable”. Dr Burgess said: "It can only be that we take seriously affordable housing. If you can't afford to live in rural areas all my evidence points to young people moving away." He explained 30,000 people left rural areas each year and that many young people returned from university unable to buy houses because of being priced out of the market. Dr Burgess also called for improvements to rural transport, jobs, employment and skills to be made. He added: "Poverty in rural areas is hidden poverty, if you brought together all the people in the countryside who live below the poverty line it would be two million people, and that would be equivalent to the conurbation of Birmingham and there would be a national outcry. "Because poverty is dispersed it is more difficult to get a handle on it.” Dr Burgess was speaking as part of the panel that was chaired by John Lee, chairman of the South West Sustainable Food and Farming Board, Andrew Slade, the executive director of the South West Regional Development Agency, Nick Chase, the head of policy and research at Action with Communities in Rural England, Ed Aceman, Young Farmers Representative and Graeme Cock, director of Mole Valley farmers.

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BOURNEMOUTH TO BUILD NEW COUNCIL HOMES
12 March 2010

Bournemouth residents will see new council housing by the end of 2010 as construction gets underway to provide the first new-build social housing in seven years. The first block will be laid on 10 March 2010 at 10am at the site in Mallard Road, marking the start of construction work to provide 10 flats and 2 family houses. Councillor Douglas Spencer, cabinet member for housing and social support, said: “Our priority as a council is to provide more affordable housing in the borough. I’m extremely pleased that this development is moving along quickly so that we can offer residents in Bournemouth quality and affordable accommodation in a central location.” The development, which will cost a total of £1,123,468 has been made possible thanks to a successful bid for a government grant of £540,000 with the remainder funded through prudential borrowing. Contractor Parsons & Joyce have been appointed to provide the new homes which will be built to a high standard with a focus on energy efficiency. Work is due to be complete by October 2010.

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TAFF HOUSING HAS THE ‘MIDAS TOUCH’
12 March 2010

Taff Housing Association has become the first organisation in South Wales to achieve ‘Gold Status’ from Investors in People (IIP). The IIP standard is well recognised and has been achieved by many organisations for the work they do on learning and development with their staff. IIP realised that some organisations wanted to demonstrate progress beyond the regular standard and have recently introduced Bronze, Silver and Gold Status for those who can demonstrate excellence in areas such as leadership and management, business strategy, involvement & empowerment and continuous improvement. Taff underwent a rigorous assessment process, involving in depth interviews with staff at all levels. They were questioned on over 160 evidence requirements until the assessor was satisfied there was confirmation that these additional standards were met. Taff Housing Association chief executive, Elaine Ballard said: “We always aim for excellence, but this was a particularly tough assessment, and we were thrilled to have come out of it with Gold. “Our staff really enjoyed the process, and are proud to work for an organisation able to achieve such a significant award.”

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HOUSING NEWS: JOBS AND TENDERS ROUND-UP
12 March 2010

Housing News is advertising the following jobs and tenders on its regional newsletters: JOBS West Kent Housing Association is seeking a Policy/Service Improvement Manager. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/london. Closing Date: March 18. Hammersmith United Charities is seeking a Trustee - Housing Specialist. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/london/job. The Northern Housing Consortium is seeking a Chief Executive based in the North East, salary £108k + benefits. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/northeast. Closing date: March 15. The Northern Housing Consortium is seeking a Procurement Manager based in Sunderland, salary circa £31k + benefits. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/northeast. Closing date: March 22. Lune Valley RHA is seeking board members across north Lancashire and north Yorkshire. For more information, go to: www.housingnews.co.uk/northwest. Almond Housing Association is seeking a Housing Manager. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 12. Almond Housing Association is seeking a Corporate & Development Administration Assistant. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 12. Almond Housing Association is seeking a Debt Recovery Officer [Part Time]. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 12. Melville Housing Association is seeking a Property Manager. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 15. Melville Housing Association is seeking a Housing Assistant (Temporary). For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: March 12. TENDERS To reach the best candidates in the social housing sector, advertise your top jobs in one of our eight regional newsletters or go national to over 40,000 readers. For more information, call Hucksters on 01892 784804.

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