ASB Management Day for just £275

The seminar day will be taking place at the Studio

As you may be aware, ReACT and ReSOLVE hold free webinars to support and guide users through certain aspects of the software. We have had a lot of interest and questions about our next webinar “Benchmarking and Best Practice” – more than we can cover in 45 minutes. Therefore, we are holding a joint open seminar with HouseMark, for everyone who wants to know about benchmarking, reports and best practice.

We also know budgets are tight, so we decided to keep the price as low as possible and keep your finance directors smiling.

Register now to secure your place.

Everything you wanted to know about ASB Management (but are too busy to ask)

It’s a dedicated day away from the office, allowing you to focus on ASB practices and reporting. You will have the undivided attention of two top experts in their field: Paul Johns (ReACT) and John Wickenden (HouseMark).

Topics include:

• Categories of ASB & Incidents (ASB Measure 02 & 05)                    
• Actions Taken to Tackle ASB & ReACT Stages (ASB Measure 03)
• ReACT Stages (Actions, Instructions & Reviews)                                               
• Case Outcomes & Case Closure (ASB Measure 04 & 06)                  
• Satisfaction Surveys (ASB Measure 07)                                                                  
• HouseMark Preview Report & Upload                                                                    
• HouseMark ASB Benchmarking Overview            

There’s also an extensive question and answer session allowing you to explore specific problems or areas with the consultants. 

Rooftop location, close to New Street station

We have booked The Studio in Birmingham. It’s  – literally – two minutes walk away from New Street station and within easy reach of car parks (if you are feeling brave enough to drive into Birmingham).

We also suspect the Studio is a retired TARDIS from Dr Who – you see a tiny internet café on the ground floor, hiding the large meeting rooms, restaurant and rooftop gardens on the top. There’s lots of natural light, comfortable breakout areas and a bar if you fancy networking afterwards.

No soggy sandwiches

You get muffins on arrival, unlimited tea and coffee and a two-course buffet lunch made from seasonal, local food. You will also be served cookies, fruit and water throughout the day – just to keep your energy levels up through the Q&A session!

One-time offer

Hiring Paul and John together at their standard day rates costs over £1,500. So a seminar place of £275 is a fantastic bargain. Both consultants are in demand and we won’t be able to run this seminar again for some time to come  – especially at that price.

Register now to secure your place.  

Diary Summary

Subject: ASB Management Day (ReACT & HouseMark)              Date: Wednesday 6th October; 10am – 4pm
Location: The Studio, Birmingham
Cost: £275 per delegate, inclusive of training materials, lunch and refreshments

CIH Annual Conference 2010 Review

Kate, Mike and Paul on the ReACT stand at Harrogate

 

by  Mike Blomer  

The social housing world held its annual get together in Harrogate from the 21^st-24^th June with delegates and exhibitors alike speculating about what would be in store for us during the next few years. We had already heard that the TSA would probably fall victim to Government cut backs, that VAT would increase and benefits are to be cut. So with all of this in the background what would conference be like? And would the rumours of the conference leaving Harrogate in favour of Manchester turn out to be true?  

(We now understand that the conference will stay in Harrogate for the next 2 years, with the organisational responsibility moving to the CIH Events Team).  

Matching last year, ReACT shared a stand in Hall A with the Social Landlords Crime and Nuisance Group. This arrangement again proved to be very successful with Kate Hill, Paul Johns and myself ensuring that our part of the stand was staffed at all times. Tuesday morning proved to be the busiest period with the largest number of visitors to the stand over the three days of the event. It was certainly apparent that both delegate and visitor numbers were down on previous years – I will be interested to know the organisers take on this opinion.  

With  threat of cuts in allowances and development funding, we did not expect anti social behaviour to have a particularly high priority – but it did have an airing in the context of deprived communities and David Cameron’s “big society”.  

 The minister was not all that forthcoming. He confirmed that the TSA would be subject to early review (seemingly confirming its demise) and that the housing function of the Local Government Ombudsman could be merged with the Housing Ombudsman Service. In fact he gave a typical politicians address, saying much and giving nothing. We now await the autumn review.  

The social side of the Harrogate Conference was alive and well and, surprisingly for some, dominated by England v Slovenia in the World Cup! Even the conference agenda was temporarily suspended and the game shown live on a big screen in the main hall, with free alcoholic refreshments on offer to the 200 or so watching.  

I was invited by CIH to speak at the Ideas Exchange on “the use of systems for tackling ASB”. Open to exhibition visitors the session was held on all three days. First day there were 20 attending, 18 on day two and on the last day; 22, so it was not overwhelming. But any publicity etc., etc.  

ReACT Team Member Kate Hill, attending Harrogate for the first time said:-  

“Having heard so much about Harrogate my expectations were high and I was a little concerned I might have been let down. To my delight, it truly lived up to all the hype and talk I’d heard; a great buzz surrounded the halls, along with a true reflection of the positive attitudes in the housing industry despite the concerns ahead.   

I’m already looking forward to next year!”

Are you up to speed with your ‘Local Deal’?

Local standards are a high priority for many of us in the housing world at the moment. As a result, I have looked through HouseMarks’ recent revised guide for tenants and landlords on “How to develop and monitor local performances”.

As I visit new and existing customers, it is becoming clear that the TSA is looking for organisations to offer more specialist, local services to meet local needs. The report gives advice for those engaged in the ‘local deal’ about how to meet and reach the local standards set by individual organisations. They aren’t looking for housing associations to begin again, but are asking for a structure built on what already exists; adapting working methods and making use of customer consultations to empower local communities.

Take a look for yourselves and get some useful tips to support your local strategy going forward.

http://www.housemark.co.uk/hmresour.nsf/lookup/PIGuide.pdf/$File/PIGuide.pdf

Have you heard about the ASB Action Team?

They sound like a set of superheroes; the sworn scourge of vandals and graffiti artists everywhere. In reality, they are the new team set up by the Chartered Institute of Housing (and funded by the Government) to help landlords “tackle ASB issues in the wider community” at a strategic level. An added bonus is guidance through the current crop of best practice activities that surround the sector. Their advice is free, and likely to be in demand.

More about the ASB Action Team