Members of the group have requested an update session on the Professionalisation review, and we’re delighted to have Nici and Leah from DLUHC join us to provide an update and respond to your questions.

The session will be facilitated by HQN Associate, Jane Atherton with guest speakers Nicola Hosfield and Leah Payne of DLUHC and will cover:

·        Context: the professionalism agenda and DLUHC’s Social Housing Quality Programme

·        The overarching Competence and Conduct Standard requirements – current thinking around content and what the standards will require of organisations

·        Mandatory qualifications – current position on:

• Roles in scope
• Qualifications that will meet the requirements
• Transition period and ongoing time limits for acquiring qualifications.

·        Next steps: public consultation, issuing direction to the regulator, bringing new requirements into force

·        Q&A.

If you’re new to the network or haven’t attended a best practice group before, this is what your housing colleagues are saying about them:

“Every meeting that I’ve attended has given me a new idea to take away or helped me understand how I could improve my service”

“The best practice groups have been really useful. They offer reassurance on our processes, new ideas and a chance to meet new and familiar colleagues working in housing”

“A safety net to ensure nothing is forgotten or overlooked. So many things change in legislation or best practice it’s good to hear what others are doing to challenge your own thought process”.

“The best practice groups are fantastic. I’ve been inspired by many of the shared ideas, information and knowledge that colleagues bring”

Best practice groups are a great way of engaging with your network/hub members.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Jane Atherton

Jane is an experienced Organisational Development (OD) professional. A Chartered Fellow of the CIPD, she has a proven track record in senior roles delivering strategic OD and HR. She is passionate about all things employee engagement and is proud to have supported businesses to achieve top spots in The Sunday Times Best 100 Companies to Work For, along with National Training Awards and Investors in People.

She became an independent consultant in 2018, runs her own business called Hooga Consulting, and is an Associate of HQN.

She is also Chair at Ashton Pioneer Homes in Tameside, Greater Manchester.

Nicola Hosfield, DLUHC

Nicola is an experienced civil servant, currently leading on implementation of the Social Housing Quality Programme within the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. She is a policy professional with a background in social research and has worked on a diverse range of government policy, including commercial broadcasting, the sustainability of public interest journalism, equality and discrimination law, policing and open data. She has worked closely with a wide range of Arms Lengths Bodies including as the government sponsorship lead for the Housing Ombudsman Service, Ofcom, and the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

Leah Payne, DLUHC

Leah is a policy adviser, currently delivering the professionalisation standards in the social housing sector at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. Whilst at the Department, she has worked on the home buying and selling reform programme and delivery of affordable home ownership programmes such as First Homes. Before working in the Civil Service, Leah worked for a local authority delivering statutory homelessness prevention and relief services.

Cancellations must be made in writing, and will be acknowledged by HQN Limited. Delegates may be substituted at any time.