Accreditation
The Group and its members are accredited by a
number of organisations. Some are regulatory, some voluntary. Here
are more details about them.
Housing Corporation
The Housing
Corporation is the previous government agency that funded new
affordable homes and regulated housing associations in England.
It closed on 30th November 2008 and was replaced by two new
agencies:
- Homes & Communities Agency
- Tenant Services Authority
Homes & Communities Agency
The Homes and
Communities Agency (HCA) is the national housing and regeneration
delivery agency for England. Its role is to create thriving
communities and affordable homes.
It works nationally but support the delivery of the
ambitions of our local partners to provide better places that offer
great homes and good jobs in well-served communities where people
enjoy living and can afford.
Homes & Communities
Agency website.
Tenant Services Authority
The Tenant Services Authority (TSA) is the new independent
regulator for affordable housing. Initially the TSA will operate
under the legal powers of the Housing Corporation whilst it
consults on the powers set out in the 2008 Housing and Regeneration
Act.
The TSA will be consulting with tenants across 5 million
households and their landlords - including local authorities, ALMOs
and housing associations - to develop the new standards framework
and implement the new powers granted in the Homes and Communities
Act. The TSA intends to ‘switch on’ its new powers for Housing
Associations in December 2009 and across the local authority sector
in April 2010.
Tenant Services Authority
website.
TSA Regulatory Judgement, December 2008.
Housing Ombudsman Service
The Housing Ombudsman Service considers
complaints against member organisations, and deals with other
housing disputes. All registered social landlords in England are
members by law. It will consider any complaints about shortcomings
in the way homes are managed, but only after the complainant has
completed the internal complaints procedure of the landlord or
agent.
Housing Ombudsman
Service website.
National Housing Federation
The National Housing Federation represents 1,300
independent, not-for-profit housing associations in England and is
the voice of affordable housing. Its mission is to support and
promote the work that housing associations do and campaign for
better housing and neighbourhoods.
National Housing
Federation website.
iN business for neighbourhoods
Friendly neighbours, local shops,
schools, healthcare, jobs, places to relax and good public
transport - that’s what makes a place somewhere you’d be happy to
bring up children and grow old. Where you see the 'iN business for
neighbourhoods' logo, you will find a housing association that has
made a set of promises – to customers, neighbourhoods and
excellence. Somer Housing Group's members have made this promise to
put neighbourhoods first.
iN Business for
neighbourhoods website.
Supporting People
The Supporting People programme offers vulnerable people the
opportunity to improve their quality of life. It aims to do
this by providing a stable environment which enables greater
independence.
It delivers high-quality and strategically planned
housing-related services which are cost effective and reliable, and
complement existing care services. The planning and development of
services will be needs led. Supporting People is a working
partnership of local government, service users and support
agencies.
Supporting People website.
National Foyer Federation
The Foyer Federation was established in 1992 to stimulate and
promote the development of the Foyer concept in the UK. The
Federation provides a range of services to operational and
developing Foyers, raises awareness of Foyers' work, and represents
the movement at all levels of decision-making throughout the
UK.
Investors in People
IiP
is the only quality mark to
focus on people and has become widely recognised since its launch
in 1990. Assessors look at how well an organisation manages and
develops its staff to improve performance and meet objectives.
Somer Housing Group achieved
IiP
in 2007 and will be reassessed
every three years to make sure it is still up to the standard.
Investors in People
website.
Positive About Disabled People
The Disability Symbol is a recognition
given by Jobcentre Plus to employers based in Great Britain who
have agreed to take action to meet five commitments regarding the
employment, retention, training and career development of disabled
employees.
Jobcentre Plus website.
Construction Clients' Charter
By signing up to the Construction Clients’ Charter,
construction industry clients make a clear statement of their
commitment to improve their own performance. Charter Clients do not
just pay lip service to culture change but are prepared to measure
their progress against an agreed programme with increasingly
demanding targets.
Charter website.
matrix
The matrix Standard is the national quality standard for
any organisation that delivers information, advice and/or guidance
on learning and work. The standard consists of eight elements, four
focused on the deliver of the service and four focused on how it is
managed.
matrix
Standard website.
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