Operation Service Stars
Audit Commission Inspections
During the week beginning 2 April 2007 a team of Inspectors from the Audit Commission will be visiting Maidstone Housing Trust. They will be speaking to staff, tenants and leaseholders to assess the quality of service we are providing to our customers. The main purpose of the visit is to see first hand how we work.
As part of this inspection it is likely they will focus particularly on the following service areas:-
- Access, Customer Care and User Focus
- Diversity
- Stock Investment and Asset Management
- Housing Income Management
- Resident Involvement
- Tenancy and Estate Management
- Allocations and Lettings
- Supported Housing
- Leasehold Management, Shared Ownership And Right To Buy
- Value for Money
By comparison the role of the Audit Commission is similar to that of Ofsted, the inspectorate for schools. The Housing Inspectorate aims to recognise good performance and promote excellence, as well as identifying weaknesses to improve the services poor performers provide. Above all, their role is to help housing organisations to provide high-quality services within available resources. After inspection, the service will receive a ‘star’
rating plus a comment on prospects for future improvement too.
The team from the Audit commission is likely to consist of around three people and inspection on the ground will last about a week. A report will be produced which will show areas where good service has been identified and also where they feel there may be room for improvement too. An action plan will be developed with the aim to create an even better housing service for you.
In the meantime we have appointed Marc Blowers, as Head of Service Improvement. Marc's main task will be to work with staff and residents in preparing for the inspection and also reviewing and improving our current services. Soon he will be setting up a number of service review ‘Customer Talkback’
Panels to look at various aspects of the service, including repairs, letting standards and the estate management service too. If you would like to be involved in these reviews, please contact Marc on 01622 212600 to register your interest. It would be good to hear from you!
Alternatively if you have any suggestions for improvements we should consider to making to make the service even better then let Marc know or e mail them to serviceimprovement@maidstonehousing.org.uk
The Audit Commission are an independent public body responsible for ensuring that public money is spent economically, efficiently, and effectively in the areas of local government, housing, health, criminal justice and fire and rescue services.
www.audit-commission.gov.uk
Maidstone Housing Trust is not responsible for the content of external web sites.
date published: 30/03/2006