What will delegates learn?

• The purpose of tenant scrutiny and how it supports accountability and service improvement
• How to plan and scope a scrutiny review that is achievable and evidence-led
• The roles of residents and staff, and how to work effectively together
• How to gather and test evidence, including using data, documents and resident insight
• How to write clear findings and recommendations that are more likely to be acted on
• How to present outcomes, follow up progress and demonstrate impact.

This course will cover

• Resident involvement: where scrutiny fits and why it matters now
• Choosing a topic: priorities, risk, complaints themes and service performance
• Setting clear aims, questions and terms of reference
• Building a scrutiny plan: timescales, resources and stakeholder engagement
• Evidence gathering methods: documents, data, interviews, surveys and benchmarking
• Fairness and objectivity: avoiding bias and keeping scrutiny constructive
• Producing a strong report: findings, recommendations and action planning
• Making scrutiny “stick”: monitoring delivery, reporting back and measuring outcomes
• Common pitfalls and how to avoid them
• Sharing best practice examples and practical tips.

Who should attend?

• Resident scrutiny panel members and tenant board/committee members
• Resident involvement and community engagement staff
• Staff supporting scrutiny activity or working with involved residents
• Housing officers and service leads who contribute to or respond to scrutiny reviews
• Anyone who wants to strengthen the impact and credibility of tenant scrutiny in their organisation.

Michael Guest is a well-established and sought-after consultant and trainer in housing. His expertise and experience extend across the housing sector, with specialisms in Governance, Housing Management, Change in the Sector and Resident Engagement.

He is known for his highly professional, yet relaxed and approachable working style that lends itself to learning and development assignments. This is combined with working comfortably at political and governance levels, through executive, management, and operational staff and with involved residents and communities.

After holding a number of senior management positions in housing, Michael has for over 30 years been Director of Michael Guest Associates Ltd., providing consultancy and training to the sector. A key aspect of this work is as part of HQN programmes since its inception.

Michael is a Chartered Housing Professional, Chartered Management Consultant, and a Chartered Manager. A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Housing he is a:

• Regular Chair of and Lead Assessor on its Experienced Professional Route Professional Interview Panels for Chartered Membership
• Member of the Executive Route Professional Interview Panel for Chartered Membership
• Registered CIH Mentor for Senior Housing Professionals
• Member of the CIH Housing Academy.

He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Leadership, the Royal Society for Public Health, the Chartered Management Institute, the Institute of Consulting, was awarded an MSc. (with Merit) in Leadership and Management in 2017, an MSc. (with Distinction) in Housing Studies in 2020 and a Postgraduate Certificate in Corporate Governance (with Distinction) in 2020.

Outside of housing, Michael is Chair of the Board of a Learning Partnership company of schools, Retained Voluntary Advisor to a Leaseholders’ (Right to Manage) Company, and National Level Coach with an Institute of Advanced Motorist Group.